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Studying > Ecology > Flashcards

Ecology Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 4 spheres?

A

-Hydrosphere
-Atmosphere
-Lithosphere
-Biosphere

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2
Q

Lithosphere

A

The rocky, outer crust of the Earth

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3
Q

Atmosphere

A

Contains all gases that surround the Earth

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4
Q

Hydrophere

A

Aquatic portions of the Earth

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5
Q

Biosphere

A

The part of Earth with life

Includes top part of the crust, the ocean and atmosphere

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6
Q

What gases is the atmosphere made out of?

A

-Nitrogen (78%)
-Oxygen (21%)
-Other gases (1%)
•Carbon Dioxide
•Water
•Argon

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7
Q

Organism

A

A single living thing

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8
Q

Ecosystem

A

Includes all the biotic and abiotic things in an area

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9
Q

Abiotic

A

Non-living, was never living

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10
Q

Biotic

A

Living, was once alive

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11
Q

Ecology

A

The study of how organisms and non-living things interact in an environment

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12
Q

Population

A

Made of all the organisms in a specific area that are from the same species

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13
Q

Species

A

Type of organism

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14
Q

Community

A

Made of all the populations in an ecosystem, as well as abiotic factors

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15
Q

Difference between a population and a community

A

-A population is made out of organisms from the same species
-Communities have both biotic and abiotic factors
-Communities are made out of populations

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16
Q

Watershed

A

Area of land that drains all water to a specific body of water

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17
Q

Biomass

A

Total weight of things in an ecosystem and it’s productivity

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18
Q

Trophic structure

A

How each organism is placed on the food chain

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19
Q

Positive human impact on litho.

A

-Composting
-Tree planting
-Conservation

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20
Q

Negative human impacts on litho.

A

-Mining
-Pesticides
-Deforestation
-Littering
-Construction

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21
Q

Positive human impacts on hydro.

A

-Sewage treatment plants
-Fish sanctuaries

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22
Q

Negative human impacts on hydro.

A

-Pollution
-Oil spills
-Driving boats
-Building dams
-Overfishing

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23
Q

Positive human impacts on atmo.

A

-Tree planting
-Alternate power sources
-Electric vehicles

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24
Q

Negative human impacts on atmo.

A

-Driving cars
-Factories
-Burning fossil fuels
-Driving cars

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25
Q

Food chain tiers

A

Producers
Primary Consumers
Secondary Consumers
Tertiary Consumers
Decompers

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26
Q

Detritus

A

Organic matter produced by the decomposition of organisms

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27
Q

Detrivore

A

Any consumer of detritus for food

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28
Q

Scavenger

A

A detrivore that breaks the detritus into smaller pieces

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29
Q

Decomposers

A

A detrivore that breaks down the detritus into nutrients and minerals that is returned to the soil to be cycled in the ecosystems

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30
Q

Intraspecific

A

Between members of the SAME species
•Competition for resources (Food, habitat, mates, etc)

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31
Q

Interspecific

A

Between DIFFERENT species
•Competition
•Predation
•Mutualism
•Parasitism
•Commensalism

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32
Q

Competition

A

Two individuels vie for the same resources

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33
Q

Predation

A

One individuel feeds on another (Predator and prey)

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34
Q

Mutualism

A

Two individuels benefitting from each other

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35
Q

Parasitism

A

One individuel lives in or on another and feeds on a host organism

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36
Q

Commensalism

A

One individuel benefits and the other is neither benefitted nor harmed

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37
Q

Food chain

A

A single arrangement of energy flow through an ecosystem

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38
Q

Food web

A

Shows all or many energy flow arrangements in an ecosystem (Has food chains within it)

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39
Q

Autotroph

A

An organism capable of producing its own energy through photosynthesis without having to consume another organism (Producers)

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40
Q

Heterotroph

A

Can not produce their own energy and must consume another organism to recieve energy (Consumers)

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41
Q

Photosynthesis

A

The process of taking carbon dioxide, water and light energy to turn into glucose and oxygen

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42
Q

Cellular respiration

A

The process of taking glucose and oxygen to turn into ATP (usable energy) and releases carbon dioxide and water

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43
Q

Chemical formula for photosynthesis

A

6CO² + 6H²O + Light energy = C⁶H¹²O⁶ +6O²

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44
Q

Molecule name formula for photosynthesis

A

Carbon dioxide + Water + Light energy = Glucose + Oxygen

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45
Q

Chemical formula for cellular respiration

A

C⁶H¹² O⁶+ 60² = 6CO² + H²O + ATP

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46
Q

Molecule name formula for cellular respiration

A

Glucose + Oxygen = Carbon dioxide + Water + ATP

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47
Q

Difference between photosynthesis and cellular respiration

A

-Only producers can undergo photosynthesis
-Both consumers and producers can undergo cellular respiration
-The reverse equation for each other

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48
Q

Nitrogen Cycle

A

-Air is 78% Nitrogen
-Fertilizers contain nitrates and enter soil/water
-Fixation Bacteria fix the nitrates into nitrogen
-Plants obtain the nitrogen from the bacteria/soil/water
-Animal eats the plants
-Animal dies
-Decomposer bacteria break down animal into nitrogen compound
-Nitrogen is released into the atmosphere

-Nitrous oxide from fossil fuels falls as nitric acid in rain water
-Lightning creates soil nutrients
-Bacteria fixes the nitrogen
-Plants absorb
-Animal eats plant
-Animal dies
-Decomposing bacteria break down the animal into nitrogen compounds
-Nitrogen is released into the atmosphere

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49
Q

Water cycle

A

-Water accumulates from either surface run off or subsurface run off
-Water evaporates into the atmosphere
-Clouds form from condensation
-Water precipitates and becomes surface or subsurface run off

-Water within plants enters the atmosphere through transpiration
-Clouds are formed from condensation
-Precipitation causes run off

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50
Q

Accumulation

A

Process in which water gathers in large bodies

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51
Q

Condensation

A

Process which water vapor in the air becomes liquid and forms into clouds

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52
Q

Evaporation

A

Process at which water vaporizes

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53
Q

Surface runoff

A

Water that flows in streams, rivers or canals

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54
Q

Subsurface runoff

A

Water that flows through drains, underground streams or sewers

55
Q

Transpiration

A

Process at which water within a plant evaporates into the atmosphere

(Water enters the plant’s roots and leaves through its pores)

56
Q

Carbon Cycle

A

-CO² gets absorbed by plants in photosynthesis
-Consumers eat the plants and go through cellular respiration, releasing carbon into the atmosphere

-Plants undergo cellular respiration and release carbon into the atmosphere

-Animals die and are broken down into nutrients by decomposes
-decomposes undergo cellular respiration and release carbon into atmosphere

-Burning fossil fuels release carbon

-CO² dissolves in water

57
Q

Phosphorus cycle

A

-Phosphates in rocks
-Inorganic phosphates in soil
-Phosphates in solution
-Percipitated (solid) Phosphates
-Rock
-Uplifting of rock
-weathering rock
-Runoff causes phosphates to enter soil/water

-Phosphate in rock
-Phosphate in soil/water (inorganic)
-Absorbed by plants
-Plant is eaten
-Animal dies and becomes detritus
-Detritus is eaten by detrivore
-Inorganic phosphates in soil either are absorbed by plants or undergo rest of the cycle

58
Q

Forms carbon are found

A

-Carbon dioxide
-Glucose
-Methane
-Fossil fuels
-Limestone

59
Q

Bioaccumulation

A

Increase in concentration of a toxins in the body over time

60
Q

Bioamplification

A

Increase in concentration of a substance as it moves higher in the food web

61
Q

Eutrophic

A

Body of water high in nutrients

62
Q

Oligotrophic

A

Body of water that is low in nutrients

63
Q

Does increase of biodiversity lead to more sustainability?

A

Yes, biodiversity enhances services and functions of the ecosystem

64
Q

Ecological niche

A

The function of a species serves in its ecosystem

65
Q

Inorganic

A

Chemicals that don’t have carbon and/or hydrogen bound together

66
Q

Organic

A

Chemicals that have carbon and/or hydrogen bound together

67
Q

Where does the sun’s energy go?

A

-0.023% absorbed for photosynthesis
-30% reflected by clouds or Earth’s surface
-18% absorbed by atmosphere and clouds
-51% absorbed by land and ocean

68
Q

Pollution

A

Any toxic material entering the environment that causes harm

69
Q

Acid precipitation

A

Caused by SO² and nitrogen oxides and CO² that are released from burning fossil fuels

They combine with H²O in the atmosphere and creates acids which move through the water cycle

70
Q

How does acid precipitation damage AQUATIC ecosystems?

A

-CO² changes to carbonic acid when dissolved in oceans which mixes with limestone which dissolves it, but makes cycle worse in the process

-Decreases the number of producers (plankton) which decreases consumers that eat them and so on

71
Q

How does acid precipitation damage TERRISTRIAL ecosystems

A

-Soil absorbs acid and decreases nutrients available for plants, so fewer plants and less food for consumers
-SO² toxic and makes respitory conditions for humans worse
-Speeds up corrosion of metals causing rust and dissolves limestone/marble statues causes economic loss as they need to be replaced

72
Q

How to fix acid precipitation

A

Reduce burning of fossil fuels

73
Q

How does oil spills effect aquatic ecosystems

A

-Sea birds try to clean off the oil and eat it
•Causes organ damage and kills them
-Organisms with waterproof feathers/fur lose ability to keep warm and die
-Covers plants and blocks sun, making them unable to undergo photosynthesis

74
Q

How to fix oil spills?

A

-Burning the oil
-Skimming
-Dispersal agents
-Bioremediation

75
Q

Bioremediation

A

Use of micro organisms to consume/break down environmental pollutants

76
Q

How does plastic effect aquatic environments?

A

-Will break down into micro plastics and be consumed, causes animals to die
-Animals will get tangled in it
-Very tiny microplastics get into plants with absorbed toxic chemicals
•Toxic chemicals causes bioamplification/bioaccumulation

77
Q

Great pacific garbage patch

A

Huge area of micro and big plastics floating as an island in the ocean

78
Q

How to fix plastics

A

-Don’t litter
-Use renewable plastics
-Skimming
-Ban microplastics

79
Q

How does fertilizer effect the environment?

A

Carrying capacity of plants increase = increase of algae bloom = algal bloom = blocks sun for other plants = plants at bottom dying = decrease of oxygen due to detrivores eating the detritus and going through cellular respiration = death of consumers who eat producers = excess nitrogen toxic to smaller animals

80
Q

How does cutting down forests effect the environment?

A

Carrying capacity decreases
•Less resources, may leave for a different ecosystem
•May die
•May initially eat farm crop

81
Q

Effects of road salt

A

Animals are lured to lick the salt = hit by car and dies

Salt on road = washes/runoff into watersheds = decrease in plants because of increase of toxic metals absorbation and decrease of water absorption = less food or toxic food

82
Q

How does mining effect the environment

A

Strips layer of the Earth = takes away habitat = no detritus = decreases decomposes = decrease nutrients = plants don’t get nutrients = decreased carrying capacity

Machines combust fossil fuels = increase in CO², SO², NO² = acid precipitation = decrease plant growth = less food for consumers = acid rain releases carbon from limestone adding carbon

83
Q

Leaching

A

Process at which nutrients are removed from the soil as water passes through it

84
Q

Carrying capacity

A

The max number of individuels in a species that an environment can carry/sustain
•If population consumes more resources than what can be replenished by the ecosystem, some organisms may die

85
Q

Limiting factors

A

Required resources (biotic or abiotic) that a population needs to support itself

86
Q

Coral Bleaching

A

When coral loses zooxanthellae, causing it to turn white. Caused by high water temperature

87
Q

Elements in fertilizer

A

K P N

(Potassium, Phosphorus, Nitrogen)

88
Q

How does pH affect water?

A

Causes it to be more acedic

89
Q

Equilibrium

A

State of an ecosystem in which the biotic and abiotic features remain relatively constant with small fluctuations over time

90
Q

Biodiversity

A

The variety of life in an area

91
Q

Soil

A

•Complete mixture of minerals, water, dissolved nutrients and decomposing matter

•Home to countless organisms

92
Q

How do farms disturb the cycles?

A

•As crops grow, they absorb nutrients into their tissue

•When crops are harvested, nutrients are removed

93
Q

What will happen if nutrients are not returned to the soil?

A

Soil will be depleted of nutrients

94
Q

Natural fertilizers

A

Made from animal/plant waste

95
Q

Synthetic Fertilizer

A

Made by humans, chemically made in a lab

96
Q

Long term effects of synthetic fertilizer

A

•Highly concentrated nutrients can enter soil rapidly and disturb community of soil organisms

•Can lead to soil that has less organic matter (leads to nutrient depletion)

•Plants become too dependent on it

97
Q

Examples of synthetic fertilizers

A

•Ammonia
•Potash
•Potassium
•Commercial chemical fertilizers
•Synthetic urea

98
Q

Examples of natural fertilizers

A

•Manure
•Sludge
•Blood meal
•Bone meal
•Wood ashes
•Compost

99
Q

Advantages to synthetic fertilizer

A

•Nutrients released quickly
•Can be precisely measured
•Easy to apply

100
Q

Advantages to natural fertilizer

A

•Less danger of overfertilizer
•Release nutrients slowly
•Can improve soil structure
•Benefits soil micro organisms and nutrients cycling

101
Q

Disadvantages to synthetic fertilizer

A

•Production is energy intensive
•Cause water pollution
•Can cause imbalance in soil chemistry and upset balance of soil micro organisms

102
Q

Disadvantages to natural fertilizers

A

•Low concentration of nutrients
•Releasd nutrients slower than desired
•Not easy to measure quantity of nutrients
•More difficult to apply

103
Q

Irrigation

A

When farmers take water from lakes/rivers/ground water to water their crop

104
Q

Drainage tiles

A

Removes water from their crop, allows more air to peneteate soil allowing oxygen to access roots

105
Q

Functions of air spaces in soil

A

•Allow water and nutrients to pass through the soil to reach the roots
•Provide oxygen to plant roots and soil organisms

106
Q

Compacted soil

A

When pressure squeezes soil particles together, reducing air space
•Can be caused by heavy machinery, or simply by walking on the soil

107
Q

How do farmers reduce their impact?

A

•No tillage farming
•Crop rotation
•Crop selection

108
Q

No tillage farming

A

Leaving the ground undisturbed after harvesting instead of plowing remaining vegetation in soil

•May require more pesticides

109
Q

Advantages to no tillage farming

A

•Helps retain nutrients
•Reduces compaction
•Reduces water loss
•Improve soil quality
•Remaning plant stalks protect soil from erosion

110
Q

Crop rotation

A

Rotate or change crops planted on certain area of land on regular basis

111
Q

Advantages to crop rotation

A

•Reduces use of pesticides and fertilizers
•Because different plants require different levels of nutrients, soil retains certain nutrients

112
Q

Crop selection

A

Only growing crops suitable for the area

113
Q

What happens if farmers choose wrong crops

A

•Ground water may be depleted
•Caude ecological problems
•Cause financial problems

114
Q

When is equilibrium established

A

•Energy flows through the ecosystem
•Nutrients are being cycled through food web
•Photosynthesis and cellular respiration respiration are balanced
•Populations are healthy/stable

115
Q

Primary succession

A

Occurs on soil or bare rock when life has been wiped out completely

116
Q

Secondary succession

A

Follows a disturbance that disrupts but does not destroy a community

117
Q

Pattern of succession

A

•Small plants/micro organisms colonize an open landscape
•The plants gradually alter the soil, allows small trees and shrubs to grow
•Shrubs create conditions needed for larger trees to grow
•Animal species return to feed on the producers

118
Q

Benefits of succession

A

•Allows ecosystems to recover from natural disasters/human caused disturbances
•Offers hope that the environment can restore itself after taking damage
•Takes a very long time and the original disturbance must be eliminated

119
Q

Why does climate change effect indigenous communities more than non-indigenous community?

A

•Close connection to the environment
•Rely on natural resources

120
Q

How does increase of water temperature effect indigenous people?

A

Increase of water temperature = Less oxygen in water = less fish

Decrease of fish means less food and money for fisher people

121
Q

Rapid weather change is dangerous for who?

A

Fishers, hunters

122
Q

Ice becoming thin

A

Ice becoming thin = Fewer hunting areas and less transportation in winter = reduce ability to hunt/trade with other communities

123
Q

Thawing permafrost

A

Thawing permafrost = unsafe houses and buildings/damages infrastructure

124
Q

Less native plants species

A

Less native plants species = loss of traditional medicines

125
Q

Dangerous animals looking for food in new communities

A

Dangerous animals looking for food in new communities = less food for consumers

126
Q

Practices indigenous people practice that we can kearn/benefit from

A

•7 Generation solution
•Controlled fires
•No harvest during breeding season
•Consider entire ecosystem when taking from land
*Role of species in an ecosystem must be considered

127
Q

7 generation solution

A

•Based on philosophy, the choices we make today should result in sustainable world for future generations
•When thinking of sustainable resource/management plans, think 7 generations ahead, not just 1 year

128
Q

Considering the ecosystem when taking from the land

A

•Do not consider cutting a tree because there are lots of trees
•Consider if the tree is home to an animal
•Think of leaving the tree to become a home to an animal

129
Q

Controlled fires

A

•Fires traditionally used to reduce risk of more serious fires, to nurture the land to support specific vegetation used for food/medicines and to clear areas for crops/travel
•Narutal biochar is an important fertilizer
•Fire is friend, not foe

130
Q

Biochar

A

Formed when vegetation is left to smolder (burn slowly with smoke, no flame) in layers on the forest floor following a forest fire

131
Q

No harvest during breeding season

A

•Harvest or take organisms only in certain times of the year or age in the organism life cycle to ensure the organism can continue to reproduce
•Hunting should occur outside breeding season and migration times
•Don’t take all the eggs, leave some behind for the future

132
Q

Stewardship

A

To take care/responsibility of something

133
Q

Effects of logging

A

Logging = erosion = increase of sediments = decrease of water clarity = decrease of species

Logging = erosion = increase of nutrients load = algal bloom

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