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Intro to Environmental Science > Evir. Science Exam #2 > Flashcards

Evir. Science Exam #2 Flashcards

1
Q

The Earth is materially ____ but energetically _____

A

closed, open

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2
Q

Cycles can be in the

A

hydrosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere, or biotic organisms

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3
Q

Residence Time

A

the amount of time the nutrients stay in the sink

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4
Q

Photosynthesis Equation

A

H2O + CO2 ➡ O2 + C6H12O6

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5
Q

Cellular Respiration Equation

A

O2 + C6H12O6 ➡ H2O + CO2

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6
Q

Why does cellular respiration need oxygen?

A

To break the bonds

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7
Q

The purpose of cellular respirations, with the carbon cycle?

A

To release the chemical energy of a sugar molecule

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8
Q

Order of the Nitrogen Cycle

A
  1. Atmosphereic Nitrogen (N2)
  2. Nitrogen Fixation
  3. Ammonia (NH3)
  4. Nitrification
  5. Nitrate (NO3-)
  6. Denitrification
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9
Q

Deforestation affect which cycle

A

Carbon cycle

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9
Q

Deforestation affects which cycle(s)

A

Carbon cycle

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10
Q

Fossil Fuel Combustion affects which cycle(s)

A

Carbon cycle and Nitrogen cycle

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11
Q

Fertilization affects which cycle(s)

A

Nitrogen cycle and Phosphorous cycle

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12
Q

Mining affects which cycle(s)

A

Phosphorous cycle

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13
Q

Nitrogen Cycle is need to

A

make protein and nucleic acids

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14
Q

Plants can’t use nitrogen directly from the atmosphere so it must be converted into a usable form by what process

A

Nitrogen Fixation

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15
Q

Nitrogen Fixation

A

Bacteria converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium
N2 ➡ NH4+

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16
Q

Assimilation

A

Ammonium is taken up by plants and consumed by animals to make biological molecules (no bacteria used)

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17
Q

Nitrification

A

Nitrifying bacteria converts ammonium into nitrates
NH4+ ➡ NO3+ (Adds oxygen)

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18
Q

Denitrification

A

Denitrifying bacteria converts nitrates back to atmospheric nitrates back to atmospheric nitrogen gas
NO3- ➡ N2 (Takes oxygen away)

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19
Q

In the Nitrogen Cycle, which step does not involve bacteria?

A

Assimilation

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20
Q

The Phosphorus Cycle is needed by

A

all organisms to make DNA

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21
Q

Which cycle does not have an atmospheric component?

A

Phosphorus Cycle

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22
Q

Organize the 6 sizes of life from largest to smallest

A

Biosphere, Biome, Ecosystem, Community, Population, Individual

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23
Q

What are the 3 main types of biomes?

A

Terrestrial, marine, and Freshwater

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24
Q

Biomes are defined as distinctive types of ecosystems determined by:

A

Climatic factors such as temperature and precipitation

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25
Q

What are the 3 zones?

A

Polar, Temperate, and Tropical

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26
Q

Mountains and coastlines are

A

geographic features

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27
Q

Range of Tolerance

A

the range of a limiting factor within which a species can survive and reproduce

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28
Q

Range of tolerance is a

A

population concept

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29
Q

Limiting Factor

A

the critical resource whose availability determines species population size distribution

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30
Q

Population

A

all individuals of a species which live in the same geographic area and interbreed

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31
Q

Range

A

geographic area where a species or one of its populations can be found

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32
Q

Population Distribution

A

location of spacing of individuals within their range

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33
Q

Clumped Distribution

A

Individuals found in groups within the habitat
(Seen in more social species)

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34
Q

Random Distribution

A

Individuals spread out irregularly
(Wind-blown seeds that germinate where they land)

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35
Q

Uniform Distribution

A

Individuals spaced evenly due to territorial behavior or other mechanisms
(Seen like in farming)

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36
Q

Population Density

A

the number of individuals per unit area

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37
Q

If the population density is too low

A

it is hard to find mates

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38
Q

If the population density is too high

A

it increases competition, spread of diseases, and fighing

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39
Q

Growth Rate Equation

A

Birth Rate - Death Rate = Growth Rate

40
Q

Annual Population Growth Equation

A

b/N x 100

41
Q

Biotic Potential

A

when a population will reach its maximum per capita rate of increase without environmental limits

42
Q

Exponential Growth occurs

A

in a population when there are no limits and is typically seen when a species enters a new environment or with an influx of new resources (J-shaped graph)

43
Q

Carrying Capacity (K)

A

maximum population size a particular environment can support indefinitely which is determined by growth factors and can increase or decrease as resource availability changes

44
Q

Logistic Population Growth

A

population growth rate slows as the size approaches the carrying capacity (S-shaped graph)

45
Q

Density-Dependent Factors

A

effects increase as populations grow such as disease, competition, and predation

46
Q

Density-Independent Factors

A

affect a population regardless of its size, and can decrease the population such as storms, fires, flooding, and an avalanche

47
Q

r-selected species

A

adapt well to unpredictable environments; has a high biotic rate; can increase or decrease quickly in response to environmental changes

48
Q

Which selected species has sudden population growth that can cause overshoot & crash or boom-bust cycles?

A

r-selected species

49
Q

K-selected species

A

reproduce slowly; has a lower biotic potential; more likely to have a stable population size close to carrying capacity; less adaptable in the face of environmental change

50
Q

Top-Down:

A

Control is from predators (high on the food chain)

51
Q

Bottom-Up:

A

Control is from the bottom of the food chain

52
Q

Community Ecology

A

the study of all the species and how they interact with each other, which includes human interaction as well

53
Q

Energy

A

the foundation of every ecosystem; captured through photosynthesis; passed from organism to organism through food chains

54
Q

Trophic Levels

A

represent feeding levels in a food chain; organized on what consumers eat; some feed at more than 1 trophic level

55
Q

Why are there seldom more than 5 trophic levels?

A

Only a small percentage of energy is passed which leaves very little of the original energy captured by the producers

56
Q

Food Webs

A

food chains linked together shows connections in the community more complex food webs provide greater stability

57
Q

Niche Generalist

A

occupies a broad niche and can utilize a wide variety of resources

58
Q

Niche Specialist

A

very specific habitat or resource requirements restrict where it can live

59
Q

Competitive Exclusion Principle

A

one species excludes another from a portion of the same niche as a result of competition for resources

60
Q

Species Richness

A

the total number of different species in a community

61
Q

Which one of the following cycles currently has the greatest impact on global climate change?

A

Carbon Cycle

62
Q

Which of the following latitudes will have an arid climate?

A

30 North

63
Q

Which one of the following does NOT increase atmospheric carbon dioxide levels?

A

Producers

64
Q

Denitrification involves the conversion of nitrate into _____ by bacteria, which returns nitrogen to the _____.

A

nitrogen gas

atmosphere

65
Q

What is one of the most extreme K-selected species?

A

Florida Panther

65
Q

Why doesn’t exponential growth continue indefinitely?

A

Available resources will eventually become scarce as more individuals use them.

66
Q

Under what condition do distinct populations of gray wolves occur within a geographic range?

A

when the species’ range is broadly distributed

67
Q

What is an example of a factor affecting the population distribution of a species?

A

Topography

68
Q

Mutualism

A

A symbiotic relationship between individuals of two species in which both parties benefit

69
Q

Species Evenness

A

relative abundance of each individual species

70
Q

Keystone Species

A

Impacts its community more than its community would crumble

71
Q

Symbiosis

A

Close biological or ecological relationship between 2 species

72
Q

Parasitism

A

Organisms live and feed in or on other organisms, usually parasite does not killl its host, does harm host and may contribute to its death (+, -)

73
Q

What is an example of mutualism?

A

Flowers and bees

74
Q

What is an example of parasitism?

A

Mosquitoes and mistletoe

75
Q

Commensalism

A

1 species benefits, the other is unaffected (+, 0)

76
Q

What is an example of commensalism?

A

Whales and Barnacles

77
Q

Predation

A

Organisms hunt, kill, and consume prey, many predators hunt various species, and have adaptations to help them hunt (+, -)

78
Q

Competition

A

Interaction among organisms vying for the same limited resourec in an ecosystem (- , -)

79
Q

Intraspecific

A

between individuals of the same species in a population

80
Q

Interspecific

A

between individuals of different species in a population

81
Q

Resource Partitioning

A

Division of resources so potential competitors may coexist

82
Q

Trophic Cascades

A

Changes in abudances of organisms at 1 trophic level can influence energy flow at multiple trophic levels

83
Q

Ecosystem Engineer

A

A species that physically reorders the habitat

84
Q

Biome

A

an area classified according to the species that live in that location

85
Q

Biosphere

A

made up of the parts of Earth where life exists

86
Q

Ecosystem

A

a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscape, work together to form a bubble of life

87
Q

What 2 factors determine what a biome is characterized as?

A

Temperature and Precipitation

88
Q

Tundra

A
  • Above 60°N and S
  • Growing Season: < 3 months
  • Rainfall: 100-500 mm/yr
  • Temperature: < 5°
  • Cold winters/ short summers
  • Migrating herbivores, small mammals, predatory birds, polar bears, snow owls, caribou
  • Penguins and Seals in the South Pole
  • Moss and Lichen
89
Q

Boreal Forest

A
  • Above 60°N and S
  • Growing Season: < 4 months
  • Rainfall: 500-1,500 mm/yr
  • Cold, dry winters
  • Large mammals, small animals, migrating birds
  • Bears, rabbits, wolves
  • Conifers and Eastern Larch (drought resistant
90
Q

Temperate Forest

A
  • 30° to 60° N and S
  • Growing Season: From the last and 1st hard frost
  • Rainfall: 750 -1,000 mm/yr
  • Temperature: 5° - 20° C
  • Deer, bears, and small woodland animals
  • Black bears, fox, skunk squirrels, songbirds
  • Topsoil rich in organic material
91
Q

Grassland

A
  • 30° to 60° N and S
  • Rainfall: 250-750 mm/yr
  • Periodic fires
  • 90% altered into agricultural lands
  • Grazing animals, small mammals reptiles, birds of prey
  • Snakes, prairie dogs, antelope, hawks
  • Limited tree growth
  • Richest organic soil horizon
92
Q

Mediterranean Scrub

A
  • By the Ocean (random)
  • Rainfall: 250-500 mm/yr
  • Mild, moist winters and hot, dry summers
  • Thin soil, not fertile
  • Dense growth of evergreen shrubs
  • Stoney Leafed plants
93
Q

Parts of an environmental gradient

A

Zone of Stress and Zone of Optimal Range

94
Q

What’s another name for a grassland?

A

Steppes

95
Q

What are the 3 biomes that are fire adapted?

A

Savannas, Deserts, and Grasslands

96
Q

Savanna

A
  • Extends to 25° N/S
  • Rainfall: 760-1,200 mm/yr
  • Warm, constant temperature
  • Adapted to periodic fires
  • Low nutrient soil from leaching
  • Zebras, lions, hyenas, giraffes, elephants, hippos, koalas, kangaroos
97
Q

Tropical Rainforest

A
  • 0 to 25° N/S
  • Growing Season: year-round
  • Rainfall: < 2,000 mm/yr
  • Warm, constant temperatures
  • Nutrient-poor soil
  • Tigers, sloths, toucans, parrots, monkeys orangutans, lots of beetles, lots of amphibians

Intro to Environmental Science (3 decks)

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