14 - Ecology and Earth Science Flashcards
This deck explores the dynamic interplay between Earth's living and non-living systems. It investigates fundamental ecological concepts, including ecosystem function, energy flow, and evolutionary processes. It also delves into Earth's geological history, examining plate tectonics, the rock cycle, and the forces shaping our planet's surface, such as volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis. (116 cards)
1
Q
Define:
An ecosystem
A
It is the collection of biotic and abiotic factors in an area.
Biotic factors include living things like plants, animalsand bacteria. Abiotic factors include non-living things like soil, water and sunlight.
2
Q
List:
The three main categories of factors in an ecosystem.
A
- Autotrophs
- Heterotrophs
- Non-living matter
Autotrophs make their own food, heterotrophs consume other organisms for food and non-living matter includes all abiotic factors.
3
Q
List:
The two main types of ecosystems.
A
- Terrestrial
- Aquatic
Terrestrial ecosystems exist on land, while aquatic ecosystems occur in water.
4
Q
Define:
biomes
A
Large collections of ecosystems defined by their distinctive precipitation, temperature, vegetation and wildlife.
5
Q
Describe:
taiga
A
The largest terrestrial biome, characterized by coniferous forests and has long, cold winters.
6
Q
Describe:
tundra
A
A type of biome characterized by small grasses, shrubs and small mammals.
It does not support trees due to harsh and cold weather.
7
Q
Describe:
deciduous forest
A
Ecosystem featuring forests of broad-leaved trees and diverse animal species. They experience four seasons and sustain a rich variety of life.
Also called temperate deciduous forest or broadleaf forest.
8
Q
Define:
temperate grassland
A
Ecosystem with grass as dominant vegetation, grazing animals, four seasons and rich soil.
Savannas, distinct from temperate grasslands, are warm grasslands in Africa with two main seasons: wet and dry.
9
Q
List:
The three main types of aquatic ecosystems.
A
- Freshwater
- Marine
- Brackish
Freshwater ecosystems have low salt concentrations, marine ecosystems are located in the ocean, and brackish ecosystems occur where saltwater and freshwater meet.
10
Q
Identify:
An example of a freshwater ecosystem.
A
Pond
Freshwater ecosystems include ponds, lakes, rivers and streams.
11
Q
Identify:
An example of a marine ecosystem.
A
Coral reef
Also called the tropical rainforests of the ocean.
Marine ecosystems are present in the ocean.
12
Q
Identify:
An example of brackish water ecosystem.
A
Mangrove
Brackish water ecosystems occur where saltwater and freshwater meet.
13
Q
Identify:
An example of a closed ecosystem.
A
Terrarium
Closed ecosystems do not exchange matter and energy with other environments.
14
Q
Explain:
What does a food chain represent?
A
Feeding interactions in an ecosystem, showing who eats whom.
15
Q
Identify:
Who forms the base of the food chain?
A
Producers or autotrophs.
16
Q
Define:
A trophic level
A
The category of feeding that the organism occupies with relation to the food being produced.
17
Q
List:
The five trophic levels.
A
- Producers
- Primary Consumers
- Secondary Consumers
- Tertiary Consumers
- Quaternary Consumers
18
Q
Define:
autotrophs
A
Organisms that create or produce their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.
19
Q
Define:
primary consumers
A
Organisms that feed on producers, typically herbivores.
20
Q
Define:
secondary consumers
A
Organisms that feed on primary consumers and can be either carnivores or omnivores.
This trophic level is where predators start to appear.
21
Q
Define:
tertiary consumer
A
Organisms that feed on secondary consumers.
They are typically predators.
22
Q
Define:
quaternary consumers
A
Apex predators that feed on tertiary consumers and below.
They are at the top of the food chain with few predators.
23
Q
Define:
herbivores
A
Organisms that feed exclusively on plant matter.
24
Q
Define:
carnivores
A
Organisms that feed exclusively on meat or other animals.
25
# Define:
omnivores
Organisms that feed on both **plants** and **meat**.
26
# Explain:
What do **food webs** represent?
All of the **food chains within an ecosystem** and their interconnected relationships.
27
# Define:
symbiosis
Any kind of relationship or **interaction between two different species** where at least one organism benefits.
28
# Define:
endosymbiosis
**Symbiotic relationship** where a smaller organism lives within the cells, tissues or structures inside a **host** organism's body.
## Footnote
'Endo-' in endosymbiosis refers to 'within', 'inner' or 'containing'.
29
# Define:
ectosymbiosis
A **symbiotic relationship** where one organism lives on the **surface** of another.
## Footnote
'Ecto-' in ectosymbiosis refers to 'outer', 'outside' or 'external'.
30
# List:
The three types of **symbiotic relationships**
* Mutualism
* Commensalism
* Parasitism
31
# Describe:
mutualism
A symbiotic relationship where **both organisms benefit** by providing needed resources to the other.
## Footnote
Example: pistol shrimp and goby.
32
# Describe:
commensalism
A symbiotic relationship where **one organism benefits** and **the other is neither helped nor harmed**.
## Footnote
Example: cattle egret and cow.
33
# Describe:
parasitism
A symbiotic relationship where **one organism (the parasite) benefits** and **the other (the host) is harmed**.
## Footnote
Example: Braconid wasps and the tomato hornworm.
34
# Explain:
The **difference** between a *predator* and *prey*.
* A **predator** captures and eats another organism.
* A **prey** is the organism being captured and eaten.
35
# Define:
coevolution
When the fitness of two different species is tightly linked, and these **species evolve in response to evolutionary changes in each other**.
36
# Identify:
Which **adaptation** allows a polar bear to **blend in** with its snowy environment?
camouflage
37
# Describe:
warning coloration
A specialized body coloration used to **warn predators** or signal danger.
38
# Describe:
**Fluctuation** in population dynamics
A situation where **stability is lost**, leading to rapid growth or decline.
## Footnote
Fluctuation can have cascading effects on related species, such as predators and prey.
39
# Define:
**Immigration** in the context of population dynamics
When an individual or group comes to a new area.
## Footnote
This term is often confused with emigration.
40
# Define:
**Emigration** in the context of population dynamics
When an individual or group leaves an area.
## Footnote
Understanding both terms is crucial for studying wildlife populations.
41
# Fill in the blank:
A stable population allows for effective __________ in resource management.
planning
## Footnote
Stability in populations aids those managing ecological resources.
42
# Explain:
The relationship between **human population growth** and **food production**
Human population growth is accelerating due to increased food production capabilities.
## Footnote
Concerns arise about the **sustainability** of this growth.
43
# Explain:
The role **ecologists** play in studying populations
They **survey** ecosystems and **assess** the organisms within them.
## Footnote
This helps in accurately representing **ecological data**.
44
# List:
The three types of **rocks**
* Igneous rocks
* Metamorphic rocks
* Sedimentary rocks
## Footnote
These rock types continually form through **geological processes**.
45
# Define:
magma
**Liquid rock** from which **igneous rocks** are formed.
## Footnote
Magma crystallizes to form igneous rocks.
46
How can **igneous rocks** transform?
* They can form **metamorphic rocks** through heat and pressure
* Weathered and eroded into **sediment**
* Transformed back into **magma**
## Footnote
Igneous rocks have multiple transformation paths.
47
# Explain:
What causes **weathering**?
**Processes of the atmosphere**, water or ice, biological organisms or chemical processes.
## Footnote
Weathering is the first step in forming sedimentary rocks.
48
# Define:
erosion
The process that **moves broken pieces of rock** away, usually caused by water or wind.
## Footnote
Erosion is crucial for **sediment transport**.
49
# Identify:
An example of a **chemical sedimentary rock**.
Stalactites and stalagmites.
## Footnote
These are **chemical sedimentary structures** precipitated into rocks, generally found in caves.
50
# Explain:
What happens to **metamorphic rock** under intense **heat** and **pressure**?
It **recrystallizes** and may form larger crystals or new minerals.
## Footnote
This does not involve melting into magma.
51
# List:
The **geological processes** that can lead to the formation of **sedimentary rocks**
* Weathering
* Erosion
* Compaction
* Cementation
## Footnote
These processes are part of the **sedimentary rock cycle**.
52
# Explain:
The role of **energy** in the **rock cycle**
Energy from Earth's inner heat and solar energy drives **rock-making** and **destruction** processes.
## Footnote
**Tectonic activities** and **weathering** are influenced by these energy sources.
53
# Define:
Tectonic plates
Large sections of the Earth's **crust** that **move** independently.
## Footnote
Tectonic plates are solid and drift on currents of the underlying mantle.
54
# List:
The two main types of **tectonic plates**
* Continental
* Oceanic
## Footnote
Oceanic plates are denser than continental plates.
55
# Identify:
The name of the area where **two tectonic plates meet**
A fault.
## Footnote
The movement of plates creates these **boundaries**.
56
# List:
The three main types of **tectonic plate movement**.
* Convergent boundaries
* Divergent boundaries
* Transform boundaries
## Footnote
Each type of boundary has distinct geological features and processes.
57
# Describe:
What occurs at **convergent boundaries**?
Two tectonic plates **move towards each other**.
## Footnote
Depending on the plates involved, one may **subduct** under the other. The Nazca Plate is an example.
58
# Describe:
What happens at **divergent boundaries**?
Two tectonic plates **move apart**.
## Footnote
* This can create **volcanoes**, **mountain ranges** and **rift valleys**.
* The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is an example of a divergent boundary.
59
# Describe:
What occurs at **transform boundaries**?
Two plates **slide** past each other.
## Footnote
* This movement can create **earthquakes** due to the friction between plates.
* The San Andreas Fault is a famous example.
60
# List:
The seven main **tectonic plates**.
* North American Plate
* Eurasian Plate
* African Plate
* Antarctic Plate
* Indo-Australian Plate
* Pacific Plate
* South American Plate
## Footnote
The Indo-Australian Plate may be separated into Australian and Indian Plates.
61
# List:
Some **geological features** formed by **divergent boundaries**.
* Volcanoes
* Mountain ranges
* Rift valleys
## Footnote
The **East African Rift Valley** is an example of a **rift valley** formed at a **divergent boundary**.
62
# Define:
volcano
A **vent in the top layer of a planet** or moon where molten rock or steam has escaped.
## Footnote
**Volcanology** is the study of volcanoes.
63
# Identify:
The two locations of **molten rock** in relation to the Earth's crust.
**Magma** (under the crust) and **lava** (on top of the crust).
## Footnote
**Magma** becomes **lava** when it escapes through a vent.
64
# List:
The four main **types of volcanoes**.
* Cinder cones
* Composite volcanoes
* Shield volcanoes
* Lava domes
## Footnote
Each type has distinct shapes and eruption styles.
65
# Describe:
A cinder cone volcano
Simplest form of volcano, formed by lava ejected from a **single vent**.
## Footnote
Its **violent eruptions** create a circular or oval-shaped cone of falling **cinders**, often with a **crater** at the top.
66
# Describe:
A composite volcano
Steep-sided and symmetrical volcano, made of layered lava and cinders, with a **summit crater** and one or more **clustered vents**.
67
# Define:
A shield volcano
**Broad and rounded volcano**, formed by slow, fluid lava flows.
## Footnote
Lava can erupt from a central vent or nearby fissures and may include some of the largest volcanoes.
68
# Describe:
Lava dome
It forms when thick **lava piles up near the vent**, expanding outward as it cools and hardens.
69
# Describe:
Volcanic activity
When a substance escapes through the surface of the Earth, including hot gas, lava or rocks.
## Footnote
Can occur continuously or sporadically.
70
# Define:
An eruption
Sudden **discharge of volcanic material**, often violent and unexpected.
71
# Define:
**extinct** volcano
A volcano that scientists predict **will never erupt** again.
## Footnote
**Rejuvenation** can occur, making an extinct volcano active once more.
72
# Define:
earthquake
Sudden and violent **shaking of the ground** caused by movement within the earth's crust.
## Footnote
This movement is typically due to the release of energy along faults.
73
# Identify:
The instruments used to measure **seismic waves**.
Seismographs
## Footnote
Seismographs record the motion of the seismic waves when they arrive at their location.
74
Where do most **earthquakes** occur?
Along **faults** within the earth, particularly at **tectonic plate boundaries**.
## Footnote
Earthquakes can also occur on **intraplate faults**.
75
# Define:
tsunami
A series of **very large water waves** caused by **underwater earthquakes**.
## Footnote
Tsunamis can reach heights of up to 100 feet and cause significant destruction.
76
# Define:
seismic waves
Propagation of **mechanical energy** through the Earth's layers.
77
# List:
The four types of **seismic waves**.
* P-waves
* S-waves
* Rayleigh waves
* Love waves
78
# Define:
A **fault** in a geological context
**Line** along which two sections of rock can move against each other.
79
# Identify:
The three types of **faults**.
* **Thrust or Reverse**: One block shifts **upward** compared to the other.
* **Normal**: One block shifts **downward** relative to the other.
* **Strike-slip**: Blocks **slide** past each other.
80
# Explain:
The **difference** between the *epicenter* and the *focus* (hypocenter).
* The **epicenter** is the point on the Earth's surface directly **above the hypocenter**.
* The **focus** (or **hypocenter**) is the point **inside the Earth** where an earthquake originates.
## Footnote
The focus is the location of the earthquake at depth.
81
# Explain:
The role of **aftershocks**.
They **release remaining built-up** elastic strain after the main earthquake.
## Footnote
**Aftershocks** can occur unpredictably for years after the main event.
82
# Fill in the blank:
The **water cycle** is also known as the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_.
hydrologic cycle
## Footnote
The water cycle describes how water moves on, above and below the Earth's surface.
83
# List:
The **states of matter** that water changes through in the **water cycle**.
* **Solid** ice
* **Liquid** water
* **Gaseous** water vapor
## Footnote
These states are part of the **hydrosphere**, which is all the water at or near Earth's surface.
84
# List:
The three main parts of the **water cycle**.
* Evaporation
* Condensation
* Precipitation
## Footnote
These processes describe how water moves through the cycle.
85
# Define:
**Evaporation** in the water cycle
The process by which liquid water is heated and changes to gaseous water vapor.
## Footnote
**Evaporation** is the most common way for water to re-enter the atmosphere.
86
# Define:
condensation
The process through which gaseous water vapor becomes liquid water.
## Footnote
Commonly misunderstood as rain, which is actually a result of **condensation**.
87
# List:
The two ways **condensation** can occur.
* Saturation
* Cooling to the dew point
## Footnote
**Saturation** occurs when air cannot hold more water vapor, while cooling occurs when vapor loses heat energy.
88
# Define:
precipitation
The process by which water returns to Earth's surface from the atmosphere.
## Footnote
**Precipitation** can be in **liquid** (rain) or **solid** (snow, hail) form.
89
# List:
The additional processes in the **water cycle** besides evaporation, condensation and precipitation.
* Sublimation
* Transpiration
* Runoff
* Infiltration
## Footnote
These processes help describe the full **cycle of water** movement.
90
# Define:
sublimation
The instantaneous change from frozen water to water vapor.
## Footnote
Often occurs with snow, which can turn directly into vapor without melting.
91
# Define:
transpiration
The **evaporation** of liquid water from within plants through their leaves.
## Footnote
Water is lost to the atmosphere in the form of water vapor through **stomata** (tiny openings or pores found on plants).
92
# Define:
runoff
The flow of liquid water over the ground due to gravity.
## Footnote
Common during and **after rain** events.
93
# Define:
infiltration
The process of liquid water **percolating** down through the soil into the ground.
## Footnote
Infiltration replenishes **aquifers** and is a slow process.
94
Why is the **water cycle** important?
It recycles water **essential for life** and is tied to climate and weather patterns.
## Footnote
Only about **3% of Earth's water is freshwater**, crucial for all life.
95
# List:
The seven stages of the **water cycle** in order.
* Evaporation
* Condensation
* Precipitation
* Sublimation
* Transpiration
* Runoff
* Infiltration
## Footnote
This sequence helps visualize the continuous movement of water.
96
# Identify:
The name of the process that **breaks down rocks** and minerals.
Weathering
## Footnote
It can occur through **mechanical** or **chemical means**.
97
# List:
The two main types of **weathering**.
* Mechanical weathering
* Chemical weathering
98
# Explain:
The results of **mechanical weathering**.
It causes **physical changes to rocks**, breaking them apart.
## Footnote
The **Grand Canyon** was primarily formed by **mechanical weathering** and **erosion** from the Colorado River.
99
# Identify:
The natural factor that can cause **rocks to crumble** through **temperature changes**.
Repeated **expansion** and **contraction** due to temperature fluctuations.
100
# Identify:
An example of a **plant** that contributes to weathering.
Tree roots
101
# Define:
chemical weathering
A process that changes the chemical makeup of rocks.
102
# Define:
carbonic acid
A compound formed when **carbon dioxide and water combine**.
## Footnote
It is an example of **chemical weathering**.
103
# List:
Formations created by the **chemical weathering of limestone**.
* Caves
* Sinkholes
* Karst formations
104
# Define:
acid rain
**Rain that contains chemicals** from fossil fuel combustion.
105
# Fill in the blank:
**Mechanical weathering** changes the shape of rocks due to \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_.
physical forces
106
# Describe:
The geologic time scale
It is a timeline that shows the **Earth's history** divided into time units based on significant events.
## Footnote
It covers 4.6 **billion years** since the Earth formed.
107
# Define:
relative age dating
It is the process of determining the **age of rock layers** based on their position and the fossils they contain.
## Footnote
The oldest rock layers lie at the bottom.
108
# Define:
absolute age dating
Calculating the actual age of rocks using **radiometric dating**.
## Footnote
This method was developed in the early 1900s. **Radiometric dating** is based on the known decay rate of **radioactive isotopes**.
109
# Define:
The law of superposition
The principle that in undisturbed rock layers, the **oldest layers are at the bottom**.
## Footnote
This concept was recognized by **Steno** in the mid-1600s.
The rock layers of the **Grand Canyon** are the oldest at the bottom and get younger moving up. This is an example of the **law of superposition**.
110
# Explain:
The significance of **extinction events** in the **geologic time scale**.
They often mark the **end of one time unit** and the **start of another**.
111
# Fill in the blank:
The \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Era is known for the age of **mammals**.
Cenozoic
112
# Identify:
The primary characteristic of the **Paleogene Period**.
It is characterized by the **Paleocene**, **Eocene** and **Oligocene** Epochs.
113
# Explain:
What causes **tides**?
The daily rise and fall of seawater is caused by the **force of gravity** from mainly the **moon** and a little bit from the sun.
## Footnote
The **moon** is Earth's closest celestial body that **has the most influence on tides**.
114
# List:
The two types of **tides** experienced daily.
* High tide
* Low tide
## Footnote
**High tide** occurs when water **moves inshore** to reach its highest point, while **low tide** occurs when seawater **retreats** to its lowest point.
115
# Explain:
The impact **tides** can have on **coastlines**.
They can cause both damaging and beneficial effects on coastlines.
## Footnote
Damaging effects include storm surges, as seen in Hurricane Katrina, while beneficial effects include bringing nutrients into estuaries.
116
# Define:
estuaries
Ecosystems where **freshwater mixes with the ocean**, providing unique habitats for various animal and plant life.
## Footnote
Juvenile organisms often seek shelter in estuaries, which are partially protected from ocean tides.
