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Unit Four Grade 11 Biology - Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems > Ecology > Flashcards

Ecology Flashcards

1
Q

What is Ecology?

A

An approach to living things

Ecologists study relationships

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2
Q

What is Ecosystem Ecology?

A

The study of the interactions between the living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of a defined region

We us ek wooed be f interaction to assess ecosystem health & make predictions

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3
Q

How do we make Ecology predictions?

A

Models (simplified version of reality)

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4
Q

Healthy systems are in a Dynamic Equilibrium. What is that, and how is it maintained?

A

When change happens, but overall balance is maintained, by feedback loops.

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5
Q

What happens when equilibrium is not maintained?

A

The system is unstable, ecosystems can collapse (cannot support life).

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6
Q

What is the Biosphere?

A

Layers that contain & support life on Earth

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7
Q

What is the Lithosphere?

A

Rock & minerals

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8
Q

What is the Atmosphere?

A

Gases

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9
Q

What is the Hydrosphere?

A

All H2O of all kinds

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10
Q

What are Biomes?

A

Large regions with characteristic temperatures and precipitation
Ex. Desserts vs. Deciduous Forests

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11
Q

What does difference in resources do?

A

It impacts diversity of living things

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12
Q

What is an Ecosystem?

A

A small region, characteristics of Abiotic qualities and the living things it supports

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13
Q

What is a Community?

A

Groups of different interacting species (biotic)

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14
Q

What is a Population?

A

A groupof organisms of the same species in the same place … and at the same time

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15
Q

What is an Organism?

A

One individual of a species

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16
Q

______ must be made available to lining things as _______ _________ (ie. _______)

A

ENERGY must be made available to lining things as ORGANIC MOLECULES (ie. GLUCOSE)

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17
Q

What are Autotrophs?

A

“Self feeders”, they make their own nutrients

AKA producers

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18
Q

What are PHOTOautotrophs?

A

Organisms that use Photosynthesis (Light Energy) & CO2 to make Glucose (&O2)
Plants
Phytoplankton
Bacteria

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19
Q

What are CHEMOautotrophs?

A

Organisms that use inorganic materials (Fe, H2O, Zn, H2S) and heat (Hydrothermal Vents) to do Chemosynthesis (make organic nutrients)

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20
Q

What are Heterotrophs?

A

“Other” feeders. Consumer producers/consumers to get their energy/nutrients
AKA Omnivores

21
Q

Who are Primary Consumers?

A

Organisms that eat Producers

Usually herbivores, ear plants

22
Q

Who are Secondary Consumers?

A

Organisms that eat Primary Consumers

Carnivores, eat animal tissue

23
Q

Apart from Primary and Secondary Consumers, what other types are there?

A

Tertiary

Quaternary

24
Q

Who are Omnivores?

A

Organisms that eat Plants & Animals

Or two or more tropic levels

25
Q

Who are Detritivores?

A

An organism that eats dead or decaying plants or animals

26
Q

What do Ecological Models do, and what are at the base?

A

They illustrate the movement of matter & energy

The base of any model are Autotrophs

27
Q

Food Web stats

A

Food chains are the simplest models
Food chain length is related to energy availability

Solar Radiation & moisture ultimately determine
Chain length
# Organism abundance
Biodiversity (variety of living things)

Food Chains provide an opportunity to predict the outcomes of disturbances to the system

28
Q

Food Web stats

A

More complex models, they illustrate more interactions *makes systems look more stable

They are made of two or more food chains
Harder to make predictions

Can also include Detritivores & Decomposers

29
Q

What is Biomagnification?

A

When toxins become concentrated at higher Tropic levels

30
Q

What is Bioaccumulation?

A

When repeated exposure results in build-up of toxins in one organism’s body

Eg. A bird eating plastic off the sea surface

31
Q

Why is some solar energy not taken in by plants?

A

Some is reflected back into space because of participates/clouds
Some is absorbed by the atmoshpere (greenhouse gases: CO2, H2O, CH4 etc.)
Some is reflected off Earth surface because of the Albedo Effect
Surfaces that reflect more have high Albedo, Surfaces that absorb have low Albedo

32
Q

What is Net Primary Productivity?

A

The Biomass Producers accumulate through Photosynthesis

33
Q

What are the three types of Ecological Pyramids?

A

Numbers
Biomass
Energy

34
Q

Pyramid of Numbers stats

A

They show the number of organisms at each Trophic level
They are usually constructed to scale
Ex. 100 organisms, dimensions 5x20

35
Q

Pyramid of Biomass stats

A

Shows the dry mass in Kg of organisms per Trophic level… often in a given area
They are constructed to scale

36
Q

Pyramid of Energy stats

A

Shows the amount of Energy in K Joules or K calories

They are always upright pyramid shaped because of the limits in energy transfer

37
Q

What percentage of Energy at each Trophic level makes it to the next?

A

10%

38
Q

How is Energy lost at each Trophic level?

A 
Chemical Bonds
    Urea, Uric Acid, Ammonia
    Feces
    H2O, CO2
Heat
    Cell Respiration
Activity
    Finding Food
    Finding H2O, Shelter
    Finding Mates
    Fleeing Predators

This makes up for 90% of Energy in a Trophic level

39
Q

How do we figure out how much energy gets passed down from Trophic levels?

A

By using this equation:

(Energy in A) x 0.1 = Energy in B

Or the rule of 10, divide going up levels, multiply going down level

40
Q

Spindle Pyramid stats

A

Pyramid of Numbers, usually in Terrestrial Ecosystems, the producer isn’t the biggest level

Eg. (Going up) Tree, Insects, Birds - (small, large, medium)

41
Q

Inverted Pyramid stats

A

A Pyramid of Biomass in Aquatic Ecosystems. Upside down pyramid, where the producers are the smallest level - they contain the least Biomass. But due to their high reproduction rate, they are able to replace themselves repeatedly

Eg. (Going up) Phytoplankton, Zooplankton, Whale (small, medium, large)

42
Q

How do Negative Feedback loops work?

A

They have an “On” and an “Off” sequence

43
Q

How do Positive Feedback loops work?

A

They amplify the initial stimulus - when they’re turned on, they stay on

44
Q

What do Healthy Feedback systems look like?

A

Populations that remain at the size that the environment can support (called its carrying capacity)
Healthy Feedback systems maintain Moisture, Energy and Nutrient levels that fluctuate, but still support the Community

45
Q

What do all Healthy Ecosystems have?

A

Biodiversity, a variety of different species or types of species, and as many Trophic levels can be supported

46
Q

What is a Trophic Cascade?

A

When an organism is removed, and there are far-reaching consequences for the whole ecosystem

Eg. Wolves from Yellowstone, Otters from the North Pacific

47
Q

What are Ecosystem Engineers?

A

Animals that Maddie the habitat in such a way that supports other organisms in the ecosystem

Eg. Beavers turn rivers into rich wetlands that provide habitats for amphibians, fish and aquatic birds
Elephants stop trees in the Savannah from taking over

48
Q

While Trophic Cascades can generate an enormous number of problems in disturbed ecosystems, what do they also do?

A

Point to the most effective solutions

Unit Four Grade 11 Biology - Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems (3 decks)

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