Chapter 9 Flashcards by Reyhaneh Hosseini Rad

what are three basic components of ecosystem?

Producers (P), Consumers (C) and the Abiotic component (A)

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define flux of energy?

Energy flows through ecosystems,
ends up as heat (IR radiation)

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what is primary production?

The rate at which solar energy is stored by photo-
synthetic activity; unit dry mass production per area
and time. (Also includes chemosynthesis)

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What does GPP stand for?

Gross primary productivity (GPP)
Total rate of photosynthesis (and chemosynthesis)

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What is Net Primary productivity?

Net primary productivity (NPP):
Gross production less respiration by the plants.
Energy and matter available for consumers.

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T/F:Most of the products of photosynthesis are used by
autotrophs themselves and by heterotrophs

True

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T/F: Chemotrophy is globally a less important part of
primary production than phototrophy, but can be
locally important.

True

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what are some examples of chemotrophy?

Acid mine drainage, deep ocean hydrothermal vents, hot volcanic springs

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what are the factors affecting Net primary productivity of an ecosystem?

temp & precipitation

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what is the best condition for precipitation ?

the more rain, the more productivity. thus moist & warm

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T/F: Net Primary Production
(NPP) of various
ecosystems shows a
close relationship with
the actual
evapotranspiration

True

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the actual evapotranspiration is actually based on temperature and precipitation

True

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the cooler it is the less net primary production

true

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what is the average yearly net primary productivity of north america

2.17 kg C/m^2/year

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High agricultural productivity in the
prairies often achieved by irrigation.

true

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prevailing winds coming from south west(monsoon)

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nutrient availability depends on…

nutrient mineralization rate
imports

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what is Mineralization rate?

rate at which
nitrate, ammonium and other
nutrient ions are set free from
decomposing organic matter

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pines grow on rather poor nutrient environment

true

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for oceans precipitation is limited, and temperature varies. thus nutrients availability varies

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why does oceans have highest highest productivity along
coastal regions?

high nutrient availability

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what would we expect for high net primary productivity?

high mineral nutrient supply

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define Eutrophic

Productive ecosystem with a
high nutrient availability

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what is Oligotrophic?

Nutrient-poor ecosystem with
a low productivity

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Mesotrophic

Intermediate nutrient availability

what terms are used to refer to aquatic ecosystem?

Eutrophic, Oligotrophic, Mesotrophic

what is carrying capacity?

The maximum number of organisms of a given species (consumers) that can be supported in a given area

T/F: Carrying capacity does not depend on the net primary production

False- it does depend on it

both Secondary production and Carrying capacity depend on net primary production

true

if the population is too large what happens to carrying capacity?

Too large population with respect to carrying capacity leads to a (temporary) population collapse. This may lead to oscillating populations

rabbits in sudbury increased due to carrying capacity years ago.

Population overshoot of consumers can reduce the carrying capacity

True

What happens to energy in the grass that is eaten by an elk?

part of it : 1. leaves the body in form of heat, undigested, or it exuded. 2. part of it is gained(weight gain)

why dung is important?

Dung contains energy. It can be used for heating and cooking. In a treeless environment, dung is often the only available fuel.

which animals rely on dung for energy?

Anellaria sepulchralis(fungus), slugs ( feeding on fox scat), Dung beetles

how much does a white-tailed deer eat?

17% : gained (secondary production) 48%: Respiration (( heat production) 5%: Urine, Methane 5%:

quadric or more percent of all energy is used and stored in feces.

how does weights loss pill affect the energy system?

some targets digestible energy(reduce), some targets metabolizable energy(increase heat production)

what is secondary production?

Production of tissue by heterotrophic organisms, including their offspring

Secondary production depends on the animal ' s growth rate and reproductive rate

True

Secondary production is the greatest for fast-growing animals with a high birth-rate

true

why small mammals are important food for secondary consumers?

1. hight productiviyt 2. reproduc fast 3.grow fast 4. grow fast 5. high mortality rate

American Robin has a fast growing rate , around 13 days

true

Body mass of a young robin increases during its first 10 days by about a factor of 8. To do that, human babies need 10 years

true

what is the affect of agricultural meat production?

maximizes body weight gain

why eating insects are more sustainable?

Eating insects instead of beef is environmentally more sustainable, as small ectothermic organisms have a higher secondary production for a given amount of resources used

insects...

have higher protein production efficiency which is better for insects.

assimilation efficiency?

T/F: Ectotherms gain heat from the environment: variable body temperature

True

why endotherm have a high assimilation efficiency?

high AND constant body temperatures

why endotherms have low net production efficiency?

their use of energy for heating.

why endotherms have a high assimilation efficiency due to the high AND constant body temperatures?

* Digestive reactions fast at high temperatures * Enzyme functioning optimized at constant temperatures

how much energy is passed to the next level in tropical level?

10%

it takes 10,000 pounds primary production to produce one pound of cat.

true

Eating corn utilizes primary production more efficiently than eating corn-fed beef

true

Grass-fed beef is, however, a good way to utilize primary production in areas which cannot be used as arable land. Humans cannot eat grass. But! Carrying capacity is small

true

percentage of agricultural production is higher in western world.

true

In some ecosystem humans can live only by eating heterotrophic organisms

true

what happens to herbivores/vegeteriansat limited primary production?

At limited primary production, herbivores/vegetarians have a higher carrying capacity than carnivores

Environmental sustainability depends on where the production takes place and what the critical environmental issues are in that region(california)

what happens ro primary production ?/

Primary production is either eaten (herbivory) or it dies and is being decomposed

Primary production leads to what?

Grazing food chain or Detrital food chain

describe detrital food chain

The percentage of primary production consumed by herbivores is often quite small, e.g., 3% in a deciduous forest. The rest is consumed by decomposers.

describe Grazing food chain?

In heavily grazed pastures herbivores may consume up to 50% of the production.

Commonly, major part of primary production dies without being eaten.

Detrital foodchain is the major pathway of energy flow in most terrestrial ecosystems

based on the ecological pyramide

Is it possible that an ecosystem has a larger biomass of carnivores than herbivores, and a larger biomass of herbivores than plants

Yes, because the energy flow (production) is more important than the standing crop

In low-productive lakes, heterotrophic biomass exceeds autotrophic biomass. This can be explained by longevity of the heterotrophs and/or additional food sources such as imported organic carbon

what is trophic cascade?

Consumer effect on primary producers

Grazing by wilderbeest stimulates grass growth in Serengeti.

example of trophic cascade

top down / bottom up