Ecology

Question 1

What is Ecology?

Answer 1

An approach to living things

Ecologists study relationships

Question 2

What is Ecosystem Ecology?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

How do we make Ecology predictions?

Answer 3

Models (simplified version of reality)

Question 4

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

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What happens when equilibrium is not maintained?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

What is the Biosphere?

Answer 6

Layers that contain & support life on Earth

Question 7

What is the Lithosphere?

Answer 7

Rock & minerals

Question 8

What is the Atmosphere?

Answer 8

Gases

Question 9

What is the Hydrosphere?

Answer 9

All H2O of all kinds

Question 10

What are Biomes?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

What does difference in resources do?

Answer 11

It impacts diversity of living things

Question 12

What is an Ecosystem?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

What is a Community?

Answer 13

Groups of different interacting species (biotic)

Question 14

What is a Population?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

What is an Organism?

Answer 15

One individual of a species

Question 16

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

Answer 16

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

Question 17

What are Autotrophs?

Answer 17

“Self feeders”, they make their own nutrients

AKA producers

Question 18

What are PHOTOautotrophs?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

What are CHEMOautotrophs?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

What are Heterotrophs?

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Who are Primary Consumers?

Answer 21

Organisms that eat Producers

Usually herbivores, ear plants

Question 22

Who are Secondary Consumers?

Answer 22

Organisms that eat Primary Consumers

Carnivores, eat animal tissue

Question 23

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

Answer 23

Tertiary

Quaternary

Question 24

Who are Omnivores?

Answer 24

Organisms that eat Plants & Animals

Or two or more tropic levels

Question 25

Who are Detritivores?

Answer 25

An organism that eats dead or decaying plants or animals

Question 26

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

Answer 26

They illustrate the movement of matter & energy | The base of any model are Autotrophs

Question 27

Food Web stats

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Food Web stats

Answer 28

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

Question 29

What is Biomagnification?

Answer 29

When toxins become concentrated at higher Tropic levels

Question 30

What is Bioaccumulation?

Answer 30

When repeated exposure results in build-up of toxins in one organism’s body Eg. A bird eating plastic off the sea surface

Question 31

Why is some solar energy not taken in by plants?

Answer 31

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

Question 32

What is Net Primary Productivity?

Answer 32

The Biomass Producers accumulate through Photosynthesis

Question 33

What are the three types of Ecological Pyramids?

Answer 33

Numbers Biomass Energy

Question 34

Pyramid of Numbers stats

Answer 34

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

Question 35

Pyramid of Biomass stats

Answer 35

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

Question 36

Pyramid of Energy stats

Answer 36

Shows the amount of Energy in K Joules or K calories | They are always upright pyramid shaped because of the limits in energy transfer

Question 37

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

Answer 37

10%

Question 38

How is Energy lost at each Trophic level?

Answer 38

``` 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

Question 39

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

Answer 39

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

Question 40

Spindle Pyramid stats

Answer 40

Pyramid of Numbers, usually in Terrestrial Ecosystems, the producer isn’t the biggest level Eg. (Going up) Tree, Insects, Birds - (small, large, medium)

Question 41

Inverted Pyramid stats

Answer 41

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)

Question 42

How do Negative Feedback loops work?

Answer 42

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

Question 43

How do Positive Feedback loops work?

Answer 43

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

Question 44

What do Healthy Feedback systems look like?

Answer 44

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

Question 45

What do all Healthy Ecosystems have?

Answer 45

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

Question 46

What is a Trophic Cascade?

Answer 46

When an organism is removed, and there are far-reaching consequences for the whole ecosystem Eg. Wolves from Yellowstone, Otters from the North Pacific

Question 47

What are Ecosystem Engineers?

Answer 47

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

Question 48

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

Answer 48

Point to the most effective solutions