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AP Science > Ecology > Flashcards

Ecology Flashcards

1
Q

What percentage of our atmosphere does nitrogen make up?

A

78%

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2
Q

How does nitrogen enter our atmosphere?

A

Precipitation

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3
Q

Where does nitrogen go first after entering the atmosphere?

A

The nitrogen-fixing bacteria at the roots of the plants

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4
Q

What happens to Nitrogen at the roots of the plants?

A

Nitrogen is combined with hydrogen to create ammonia.

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5
Q

What is it called when nitrogen is mixed with hydrogen to create ammonia?

A

ammonification

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6
Q

After nitrogen fixation, oxygen is mixed with ammonia. What is this called?

A

Nitrification

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7
Q

After nitrification, nitrogen is in a form called WHAT?

A

Nitrites

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8
Q

Bacteria convert the nitrites into WHAT?

A

Nitrates

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9
Q

Plants can absorb the nitrogen after it takes the form of WHAT?

A

Nitrates

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10
Q

This sphere provides an ecosystem that organisms need to survive, and it contains the Earth’s biodiversity and most of our resources.

A

Biosphere

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11
Q

This sphere is the mass of all the water above and below the surface of the land, needed as water supplies many life forms.

A

Hydrosphere

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12
Q

This sphere is all of Earth’s lands, starting from the ground to the Earth’s inner core. Without this sphere, there would be no earth, and a great lack for resources.

A

Geosphere/lithosphere

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13
Q

This sphere is a mixture of gasses surrounding the earth, important because it provides organisms with air to breathe and it protects us from solar radiation.

A

Atmosphere

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14
Q

What is a limiting factor (definition)

A

A factor that constrains a population’s size, and slows or stops it from growing

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15
Q

Abiotic limiting factors (on the terrace?)

A

Sunlight, temperature, soil, water, and oxygen

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16
Q

Biotic limiting factors

A

Food, bacteria, mates, relationship with other organisms for resources

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17
Q

What are the three forms of aquatic ecosystems?

A

Oligotrophic, eutrophic, and watersheds

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18
Q

This aquatic ecosystem hosts very little vegetation

A

Oligotrophic

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19
Q

This aquatic ecosystem hosts large quantities of organisms (so much its euphoric)

A

Eutrophic

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20
Q

This ecosystem receives precipitation and drains it into water reservoirs

A

Watersheds

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21
Q

Definition of an organism’s niche

A

An organism’s niche is the environmental and physical conditions that the organism requires

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22
Q

What is fragmentation? (fragments, pieces)

A

A form of asexual reproduction in which an organism breaks into individual pieces when it reaches full maturity.

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23
Q

During photosynthesis, a plant absorbs WHAT?

A

Carbon dioxide, water and USES light energy from the sun

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24
Q

What does a plant create during photosynthesis?

A

Glucose(sugar), and oxygen

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25
Q

Why do organisms need nitrogen?

A

Nitrogen plays a major part in amino acids and, therefore, it builds proteins and other body chemicals.

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26
Q

What is cellular respiration?

A

The process in which cells derive energy from glucose using oxygen.

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27
Q

Cellular respiration input and output (equation)

A

Glucose+Oxygen = Carbon dioxide+Water+Energy (ATP)

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28
Q

Photosynthesis input and output (equation)

A

Water+carbon dioxide = Glucose+oxygen

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29
Q

Oxygen symbol

A

O

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30
Q

Hydrogen symbol

A

H

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31
Q

Nitrogen symbol

A

N

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32
Q

Water symbol

A

H20

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33
Q

Carbon dioxide symbol

A

C02

34
Q

Glucose chemical equation

A

C6 H12 06

35
Q

Explain the carbon cycle

A
  • nature’s way of reusing carbon atoms
  • carbon atoms travel from the atmosphere to organisms to the atmosphere again.
  • stored and absorbed by water reserves, organisms, and the atmosphere
  • released in many ways
36
Q

Explain the water cycle

A

Just think!

37
Q

Explain the nitrogen cycle

A

Just think!

38
Q

Give examples of terrestrial biomes

A

Tundra, grassland, rainforest, forest, desert, savanna, temperate rainforest

39
Q

This biome is frequently very cold, although it can get warmer during the summer. The winters have temperatures below 0 Celsius for 6-10 months per year. The biome is so cold, there is a layer of permafrost all year round.

A

Tundra

40
Q

This biome remains warm all year round with average temperatures ranging from 20-25 degrees Celsius.

A

Tropical Rainforest

41
Q

What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?

A

Primary succession is the succession/evolution that occurs in an ecosystem that did not have a previous life. Example: a new island created by a volcanic eruption.

Secondary succession occurs in an area that had previously been inhabited but experienced a disturbance. Example: A forest that experienced a fire, while still remaining relatively intact.

42
Q

Describe biodiversity

A

Biodiversity is a measure of the diversity
of species and genetics in an ecosystem.

43
Q

Why is biodiversity important?

A

Biodiversity is necessary to maintain life on Earth through a sustainable environment with enough resources for all organisms.

44
Q

What is equilibrium in an ecosystem?

A

In equilibrium, the ecosystem has a balance between all organisms and their niches

45
Q

When does equilibrium in an ecosystem occur?

A

Equilibrium occurs when all organisms have all of the resources and living conditions that they need to survive. (All of their niches)

46
Q

Draw a diagram explaining the Borneo story

A
47
Q

Draw a diagram explaining the nitrogen cycle

A
48
Q

Watch a video about the nitrogen cycle

A
49
Q

Watch a video about the carbon cycle

A
50
Q

What is acid rain?

A

Acid rain is any form of precipitation that includes acidic components

51
Q

How does acid rain happen?

A

Caused by a chemical reaction when certain substance rise into the air where they mix and react with moisture, oxygen, and other chemcials to form more acidic pollutants such as acid rain.

52
Q

What is an agroecosystem?

A

Agroecosystems are simpler ecosystems with fewer species and less genetic diversity within a species

53
Q

What is a natural ecosystem

A

A natural ecosystem has more niches and great biodiversity. They are also self-sustaining.

An artificial ecosystem is the opposite as they have low biodiversity, and need to be assisted by humans.

54
Q

Describe bioaccumulation

A

Bioaccumulation is the gradual accumulation of substances in an organism.

55
Q

Describe bioamplification (a.k.a biomagnification)

A

Bioamplification refers to the process of increasing the concentration of a substance as it moves up the food chain.

56
Q

Autotroph definition

A

Autotrophs are able to make their own food from raw materials and energy.

57
Q

Heterotroph defintion

A

Heterotrophs consume producers or other consumers

58
Q

Where can carbon be found?

A

Animals release carbon through breathing and through excretion.
- The soil contains decomposers that release carbon into the soil and atmosphere.
- Carbon is in the lithosphere.
- The ocean absorbs a lot of carbon.
- The ocean contains a lot of phytoplankton that absorb a lot of carbon dioxide for photosynthesis.
- Burning of fossil fuels.
- Deforestation causes the amount of carbon in the atmosphere to increase.

59
Q

Carbon is released again by…

A

Organisms:
- death
-breathing
- excretion
- deforestation

Other:
- volcanic eruptions
- fires
- fossil fuels are burnt

60
Q

How much energy reaching the earth is used by photosynthesis?

A

0.08% of energy reaching the earth is used for photo synthesis.

61
Q

How is photosynthesis related to cellular respiration?

A

Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are both processes of organisms that allow them to receive and/or create energy using certain materials.

62
Q

Symbiosis has 3 parts to it: competition, parasitism, commensialism and mutualism. Explain them.

A

Competition - two or more species in competion for the same resource

Commensialism – where one species benefits while the other is unaffected.

Mutualism – both species benefit.

Parasitism – one species benefits while one is harmed.

63
Q

What biomes are in Canada?

A

Tundra, desert, grassland, and forest

64
Q

What is fragmentation of an ecosystem?

A

Fragmentation is the dividing up of a region into
smaller parts or fragments

decreases sustainability

Some species that require large home ranges may
not have enough area to survive (i.e. bears)

65
Q

Species richness is higher closer to the equator.Why?

A

The equator has a favorable climate, rich in nutrients and sunlight, that promotes the growth of microhabitats and primary productivity

66
Q
  • The lithosphere/geosphere is the solid, outer part of Earth.
  • includes the upper portion of the mantle and the crust
  • the outermost layers of Earth’s structure
A

Say it again

67
Q

Which biome has the highest species richness

A

Tropical Rainforest

68
Q

Equilibrium of an ecosystem

A

The state of an ecosystem with relatively constant conditions over a period of time

69
Q

What is an invasive species

A

An organism that causes harm in an environment where it is not native.

70
Q

What is the difference between a community and a population?

A

A community is a group of populations of different species in an area.
(monkeys and spiders live in the same forest)

A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in an area. (Same species)

71
Q

What is an ecosystem?

A

the community of organisms in an area and the factors with which those organisms interact.

72
Q

What is the difference between pathogens and parasites?

A

Pathogens are organisms causing disease to their host organism.

Parasites are organisms that feed off of their host organism.

73
Q

A sustainable ecosystem is related to the equilibrium of an ecosystem. How?

A

In equilibrium, and in a sustainable ecosystem, the ecosystem maintains a relatively constant set of characteristics.

74
Q

Tolerance range vs optimal range?

A

The tolerance range is the abiotic conditions within which a species can survive.

The optimal range is the abiotic conditions within which the species is best adapted.

75
Q

What is the percentage of transfer of energy from one trophic level to the other

A

10%

76
Q

Which cells perform cellular respiration?

A

All cells

77
Q

Scavenger vs detrivore?

A

Scavengers eat animals that have died.

Detrivores eat decomposing plants and animals

78
Q

Food chains vs food webs?

A

Food chains are only a part of the more complex sets of relationships that exist among species.

Food webs are more complex diagrams as they show all of the food chains in an ecosystem.

79
Q

What is biomass?

A

The total mass of organisms

80
Q

What is the difference between a carbon sink, carbon source, and carbon reservoir?

A

Carbon sink: reservoir that absorbs more carbon than it releases

Carbon source: releases more carbon than it absorbs

Carbon reservoir: maintains a constant amount of carbon

81
Q
A

AP Science (5 decks)

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