Biosphere to Ecosystems Flashcards
1
Q
Ecology
A
The study of living organisms, their relationship to one another and to their environment.
Scientists who study ecology are called Ecologists
2
Q
Biosphere
A
The part of the planet where humans and other organisms live. Also known as the Global Ecosystem. It spans 5000 metres above sea level and 8000 metres below sea level. Consists of the Atmosphere, Lithosphere and Hydrosphere.
3
Q
Hydrosphere
A
The aquatic or water-based part of the biosphere. Consists of all water bodies including oceans (saltwater), rivers, ponds and lakes (freshwater). Contains habitats of many aquatic organisms such as fish.
4
Q
Lithosphere
A
The outside crust of the Earth. It is made from rocks and soils and is the source of ions which living organisms need.
5
Q
Atmosphere
A
The sphere made up entirely of gases that keep the environment stable. The gases that form the atmosphere include oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and water vapour.
Helps respiration, photosynthesis and filtering sunlight to protect organisms from harmful and strong sun rays.
6
Q
Ecosystem
A
Communities of plants and animals that interact with each other and with their non-living environment. E.g. all plants, animals, water, temperature, light, soil, etc.
7
Q
-sphere
A
Referring to the suffix version.
Indicating or marking a region or structure of spherical form, especially a region around the Earth
8
Q
Disturbance
A
The interruption of a peaceful setting. Synonyms include: disruption, interference, intrusion
9
Q
Deforestation
A
The action of clearing large and wide areas of trees.
10
Q
Soil Erosion
A
The upheaval and movement of topsoil by agents such as wind, water, agriculture, construction and mining. It is a form of soil degradation.
11
Q
Carbon Dioxide
A
A heavy colourless gas. Forms a part of the atmosphere. Is released during respiration and taken in by plants during photosynthesis. Formed by the burning of fossil fuels and the breakdown of plant and animal matter.
12
Q
Biome
A
A large area with specific characterisations such as climate, geographical region and wildlife. Biomes can be classified as either Terrestrial or Aquatic. Aquatic Biomes are divided into the sub-classifications Marine and Freshwater.
13
Q
Climate
A
The weather conditions in an area in general or over a long period of time.
14
Q
Geography
A
The study of the physical features of the Earth and its atmosphere, and of human activity as it affects and is affected by these, including the distribution of populations and resources and political and economic activities.
The nature of and relative arrangement of places and physical features.
A geographical area; a region.
15
Q
Average Rainfall
A
The amount of rainfall that is expected per year in an area.
16
Q
Latitude
A
Geographical coordinate that specifies the North-South position of a location on Earth. Expressed in degrees and minutes.
17
Q
Altitude
A
The height of an object. Often referred to as a point below or above ground and sea level
18
Q
Community
A
A group of organisms living in the same place.
A particular area or place considered together with its inhabitants.
19
Q
Microorganisms
A
A microscopic living organism that is invisible to the naked eye.
20
Q
Aquatic
A
Water-based or related
21
Q
Terrestrial
A
Earth-based or related.
22
Q
Seaweeds
A
The common name for marine algae that are generally found anchored to the sea bottom and coral reefs. Come in reds, browns and greens.
23
Q
Decomposers
A
An organism that decomposes dead or decaying organic material. Some decomposers include fungi or soil bacterium.
24
Q
Diversity
A
It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, species or other ideologies.
25
Scavengers
Animals or other organisms that consume dead organic matter.
26
Tides
The rising and falling of the sea due to the gravitational pulls of the sun and moon. Tides originate in the oceans and progress toward the coastlines where they appear as the regular rise and fall of the sea surface. Happen usually twice a day.
27
Symbiotic
The interaction between two different organisms living together in a more or less intimate association. A cooperative relationship.
28
Filter Feeders
Aquatic organisms that attain food by straining plankton, nutrients, food particles and /or small organisms from the water using a specialised filtering structure.
Animals that use this method include clams, krill, baleen whales, flamingos, etc.
29
Intertidal
The marking of an area of seashore that is covered at high tide and exposed at low tide.
30
Coral Reef
Coral reefs are large underwater structures composed of the skeletons of coral, which are marine invertebrate animals. Coral reefs are also some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, sometimes referred to as the "Rainforests of the Sea".
31
Photosynthesis
The process during which green plants use the sun's energy and turn it into chemical energy. Generates oxygen and involves the green pigment known as chlorophyll.
32
Algae
A simple, non-flowering, and typically aquatic plant of a large group that includes the seaweeds and many single-celled forms. Algae contain chlorophyll but lack true stems, roots, leaves, and vascular tissue.
33
Plankton
The diverse collection of microscopic organisms found floating in ocean water. Individual organisms constituting plankton are known as Plankters. Many animals are adapted to feeding on plankton, especially by filtering the water.
34
Estuary
Estuaries are the meeting places of rivers and the sea- where freshwater meets saltwater. The freshwater brings rich nutrients from the land, and the mixing of salt and fresh waters allows huge numbers of marine life to exist.
Examples of estuaries include coastal bays, river mouths, salt marshes and tropical mangrove forests.
35
Spawning
Spawning refers to the release or depositing of eggs into the water by aquatic animals
36
Wetland
Wetlands are areas with waterlogged soils. The water may be there all the time or may also be seasonal. They are vital because they act as flood controllers, filters and wildlife habitats.
37
Filter
A porous device for removing impurities or solid particles from a liquid or gas passed through it.
38
Acidic
Containing acid. Has low pH levels (ranging from 1-6)
39
Fertile
producing or capable of producing either vegetation or crops (flora), or young or seed (fauna or human)
40
Herds
A social group or large community of animals of the same species that live together or move together. Animals that move in herds include elephants, cows, horses, etc.
41
Herbivores
Animals whose diet consist only of plants and vegetation.
42
Migration
Seasonal travelling from one region to another.
43
Nocturnal
Refers to being more active at night
| E.g. bats
44
Humus
Refers to the organic component of soil formed by the decomposition of leaves and other plant material by soil microorganisms.
Not to be confused with the dip/spread that is put on crackers
45
Canopy
1. the uppermost branches of the trees in a forest, forming a more or less continuous layer of foliage.
2. a projection or shelter that resembles a roof
46
Nutrients
A substance that provides nourishment essential for the maintenance of life and for growth
47
Proteas
Any of a genus (Protea of the family Proteaceae, the protea family) of African evergreen shrubs often grown as ornamentals for their showy bracts and dense flower heads.
Grow about 1.3 m tall, mainly flower in winter and have broad, leathery leaves.
48
Restios
A wiry reedlike plant of southern Africa, used for thatching and brooms.
Dominates areas with shallow soils.
49
Ericas
Numerous low-growing evergreen shrubs or small trees of the genus Erica. Characterised by smaller leaves and bright, colourful flowers.
50
Geophytes
Plants with bulbs (modified underground stem).
| Lie dormant for years until fire sweeps through the area, then sprout.
51
Aromatic
Has a pleasant and distinctive smell
52
Adaptation
The process in which organisms change to better suit their environments
53
Myrmecochory
When plant seeds are dispersed by ants
54
Serotiny
Plants seal and hold their seeds in a special cone. Only after a fire burns are the seeds released and then germinated by the smoke.
55
Germination
The beginning of growth. The process during which an organism grows and develops from either a seed or a spore.
56
Ecologist
Scientists who study ecology.
57
Ecosystem
A community and its abiotic environment.
58
Abiotic
Non-living; devoid of life; sterile
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Biotic
Living; relating to or resulting from living organisms
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Community
A group of populations living and interacting with each other in an area
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Organism
One living individual
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Population
A group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time
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Species
A group of organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring
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Interbreed
(with reference to an animal) breed or cause to breed with another of a different race or species.
65
Niche
The functional role an organism plays within an ecosystem
66
Habitat
The environment in which a species normally lives (the location of a living organism)
67
Producers
The green plants that make their own food, also known as autotrophs e.g. green plants, algae
68
Autotrophs
Organisms that produce their own food from organic molecules (self-feeding)
69
Cyanobacteria
a division of microorganisms that are related to the bacteria but are capable of photosynthesis. They are prokaryotic and represent the earliest known form of life on the earth.
70
Glucose
Also known as sugar. An important energy source in living organisms and a component of many carbohydrates.
71
Organic Molecules
A molecule of the kind normally found in living systems. Organic molecules are usually composed of carbon atoms in rings or long chains, which are attached to atoms of such elements as hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen
72
Starches
A white, granular, organic chemical that is produced by all green plants. Starch is a soft, white, tasteless powder that is insoluble in cold water, alcohol, or other solvents
73
Lipids
Any of a class of organic compounds that are fatty acids or their derivatives and are insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. They include many natural oils, waxes, and steroids.
74
Proteins
Highly complex substances are present in all living organisms. Proteins are of great nutritional value and are directly involved in the chemical processes essential for life. Proteins are species-specific; that is, the proteins of one species differ from those of another species. They are also organ-specific; for instance, within a single organism, muscle proteins differ from those of the brain and liver.
75
Nucleic Acid
A complex organic substance present in living cells, especially DNA or RNA, whose molecules consist of many nucleotides linked in a long chain
76
Consumers
Organisms that are directly or indirectly dependent on the autotrophs for their food. Also known as Heterotrophs.
77
Heterotrophs
A heterotroph is an organism that cannot produce its own food, instead taking nutrition from other sources of organic carbon, mainly plant or animal matter. In the food chain, heterotrophs are primary, secondary and tertiary consumers, but not producers.
78
Herbivores
Feed on producers e.g zebra
79
Carnivores
Feed on other consumers e.g lions
80
Omnivores
Feed on both produces and consumers e.g humans
81
Decomposers
Feed on dead organisms e.g bacteria
82
Saprotrophs
An organism that feeds on or derives nourishment from decaying organic matter
83
Energy
Energy is a property of objects which can be transferred to other objects or converted into different forms but cannot be created or destroyed. Organisms use energy to survive, grow, respond to stimuli, reproduce, and for every type of biological process.
84
Food Web
Multiple food chains. Takes into consideration that one organism can eat many types of other organisms. What happens in reality. Multiple paths of energy flowing in an ecosystem.
85
Food Chain
The simplified version of food web. One path of energy flowing in an ecosystem. Straight-line from producers, to primary consumers, to secondary consumers and finally to tertiary consumers.
86
Trophic Level
Trophic level, step in a nutritive series, or food chain, of an ecosystem. The organisms of a chain are classified into these levels on the basis of their feeding behaviour. A trophic level is a group of organisms within an ecosystem that occupy the same level in a food chain.
87
Metabolic Processes
The organic processes (in a cell or organism) that are necessary for life. Metabolism: an organism, being a living thing, that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently.
88
Ecological Pyramids
An ecological pyramid is a graphical representation of the relationship between the different living organisms at different trophic levels.
It can be observed that these pyramids are in the shape of actual pyramids with the base being the broadest, which is covered by the lowest trophic level, i.e., producers. The next level is occupied by the next trophic level, i.e., the primary consumers and so on.
Types of Ecological Pyramids: Pyramid of Numbers; Pyramid of Biomass; Pyramid of Energy
89
Biomass
Biomass refers to the mass of living organisms, including plants, animals, and microorganisms, or, from a biochemical perspective, cellulose, lignin, sugars, fats, and proteins.
90
Physiography
The science which treats the Earth's exterior physical features, climate, life, etc, and of the physical movements or changes on the earth's surface, as the currents of the atmosphere and ocean, the secular variations in heat, moisture, magnetism, etc.; physical geography.
91
Aspect
a position facing a certain direction
92
Altitude
Space extended upward; height; the perpendicular elevation of an object above its foundation, above the ground, or above a given level, or of one object above another; as, the altitude of a mountain, or of a bird above the top of a tree
93
Slope
1. a surface of which one end or side is at a higher level than another; a rising or falling surface
2. (of a surface or line) be inclined from a horizontal or vertical line; slant up or down.
94
Photoperiodism
the physiological reaction of organisms to the length of the night or a dark period. It occurs in plants and animals.
can also be defined as the developmental responses of plants to the relative lengths of light and dark periods.
Examples of plants that have photoperiodism are:
- the 4 o'clock flower which blooms in the late afternoon (4 and onwards, fully bloomed by 6 o'clock)
- Vygies and sour figs that open during the hottest/brightest part of the day.
95
Light intensity
Light intensity refers to the amount of light that hits an area over a certain period of time. Measured in the unit 'lux'.
96
Diurnal
active chiefly in the daytime
| e.g. diurnal animals
97
Hibernation
The condition or period of an animal or plant spending winter in a dormant state
98
Aestivation
prolonged dormancy of an insect, fish or amphibian during a hot or dry period
Coupled with burrowing underground.
Creatures prefer areas with low light intensity.
99
Counter-current blood flow
Blood flowing from the body core to the periphery (like the legs & feet) carries heat that can be readily lost through the skin. However, the vein returning blood to the body core lies alongside the artery taking blood to the feet. Heat moves by conduction from the warmer arterial blood to the cooler venous blood. Even though the arterial blood cools on its way to the feet, it is always warmer than the adjacent venous blood. Thus, as blood in the veins moves counter to the blood in the arteries, heat moves across the vessels. Venous blood recovers heat from the arterial blood as the former warms on its way back to the body.
100
Annual Plant
a plant that completes its life cycle, from germination to the production of seeds, within one growing season, and then dies
101
Deciduous Plant
a plant having foliage that is shed annually at the end of the growing season.
102
Evergreen Plants
any plant that retains its leaves through the year and into the following growing season. Many tropical species of broad-leaved flowering plants are evergreen, but in cold-temperate and Arctic areas the evergreens commonly are cone-bearing shrubs or trees (conifers), such as pines and firs.
103
Bulb Plants
a modified stem that is the resting stage of certain seed plants, particularly perennial monocotyledons. A bulb consists of a relatively large, usually globe-shaped, underground bud with membraneous or fleshy overlapping leaves arising from a short stem
104
Corms
a short, vertical, swollen underground stem of a plant that serves as a storage organ to enable the plant to survive winter or other adverse conditions such as drought.
105
Tubers
specialized storage stem of certain seed plants. Tubers are usually short and thickened and typically grow below the soil. Largely composed of starch-storing parenchyma tissue, they constitute the resting stage of various plants and enable overwintering in many species.
106
Rhizomes
also called creeping rootstalk, horizontal underground plant stem capable of producing the shoot and root systems of a new plant.
are unique in that they grow perpendicular, permitting new shoots to grow up out of the ground
107
feeding
The process by which organisms- mainly animals- obtain foods.
108
Death
the irreversible cessation of all vital functions especially as indicated by the permanent stoppage of the heart, respiration, and brain activity
the end of life
109
Excretion
the process by which animals rid themselves of waste products and of the nitrogenous by-products of metabolism
metabolic waste products (such as urea and carbon dioxide) that are eliminated from the body
110
Decomposition
The breakdown of dead matter, which is often called rotting.
Decomposing bacteria and fungi are organisms that help the process of decomposition.
Decomposition is crucial to the cycling of elements, such as carbon from one living organism to another.
111
Nitrification
the process that converts ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate and is another important step in the global nitrogen cycle
Process performed by nitrifying bacteria.
112
Nitrogen fixation
the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into a combined form (such as ammonia) through chemical and especially biological action (such as that of soil rhizobia)
Three forms of Nitrogen fixation includes Blue-green Algae, Nitrogen-fixing Bacteria, and Lightning.
113
Denitrification
The conversion of nitrates into nitrogen gas, which is then released into the atmosphere. This is caused by bacteria and how they obtain their energy.
reduction of nitrates or nitrites commonly by bacteria (as in soil) that usually results in the escape of nitrogen into the air
114
Absorption
The process of absorbing or assimilating
115
Plant Proteins
A meaningful food source of protein which is from plants. This group can include pulses, tofu, soya, tempeh, seitan, nuts, seeds, certain grains and even peas
116
Animal Proteins
complete proteins, meaning they provide all of the essential amino acids our body needs. Animal products provide the highest-quality protein sources.
117
Dead Organic Matter
matter composed of organic compounds that have come from the remains of organisms such as plants and animals and their waste products in the environment.
118
Urea
A waste product of many living organisms, and is the major organic component of human urine.
The liver converts the ammonia to a non-toxic compound, urea, which can then be safely transported in the blood to the kidneys, where it is eliminated in urine.
119
Ammonia
A colourless gas with a very sharp odour. Made both by humans and by nature, ammonia dissolves easily in water and evaporates quickly
Ammonia is produced naturally in soil by bacteria, decaying plants and animals, and animal wastes. Ammonia is essential for many biological processes. Most of the ammonia produced in chemical factories is used to make fertilizers
120
Nitrites (NO2-)
Salts of nitrous acid or compounds containing the group NO2-.
A toxic gas.
121
Nitrate (NO3-)
Nitrate is a chemical compound that includes nitrogen and oxygen. Nitrates are used as fertilizers in agriculture.
122
Nitrogen (N2)
Nitrogen (N2) is a relatively inert gas plentiful in the air.
Nitrogen is one of the primary nutrients critical for the survival of all living organisms.
123
Eutrophication
The process of increasing nutrient levels in an environment that results in an overgrowth of aquatic producers (algal bloom)
