Ecology Flashcards
(105 cards)
1
Q
Photosynthesis formula
A
C02 + H20 + —> Sugar + Oxygen
2
Q
Cellular respiration formula
A
Glucose + Oxygen —> C02 + H20 + energy
3
Q
What gas is most abundant in the atmosphere?
A
Nitrogen ( N2 )
4
Q
The atmosphere is made up of…..
A
78% nitrogen,
21% oxygen
[ less than ] <1% argon, water vapour, carbon dioxide and other gases
5
Q
How far is the Earth from the Sun on average?
A
149,597,890 km
6
Q
_____ % of the Earth’s surface is covered in water
A
70%
7
Q
Earth travels through space at what speed?
A
107, 229 km/h
8
Q
How old is the earth?
A
between 4 and 5 billion years old!
9
Q
Earth is mostly made up of..
A
Earth is mostly iron, oxygen and silicon
10
Q
The Earth’s atmosphere extends out to ________km
A
10,000 km
11
Q
the atmosphere acts like a…
A
Acts like a blanket and moderates surface temperatures.
12
Q
the atmosphere blocks out..
A
Blocks solar radiation (UV light)
13
Q
97% of Earth’s water is contained in the _____
A
oceans
14
Q
What is ecological niche?
A
The ecological niche is the job of an organism, what it eats, and what eats it.
15
Q
Ecosystem
A
all of the living organisms that share a region and interact with each other and their non-living environment.
An ecosystem is composed of both living and non-living components
16
Q
Biotic factors
A
include all living organisms, their remains, and their products or wastes.
17
Q
Abiotic factors
A
include non-living physical and chemical components such as temperature, wind, water, minerals, and air
18
Q
Individual organisms from many different species share an _______
A
Individual organisms from many different species share an ecosystem.
19
Q
All of the individuals of a single species in a particular area make a _______
A
All of the individuals of a single species in a particular area make a population.
20
Q
Individuals from all of the populations form
the ______
A
Individuals from all of the populations form
the community.
21
Q
example of small ecosystem
A
community of bacteria and fungi living in a rotting log.
22
Q
example of large ecosystem
A
a forest or a lake.
23
Q
Hydrosphere
A
Made up of all the water on Earth
Solid - glaciers
Liquid – lakes, oceans, etc and groundwater
Gas – clouds, water vapour
24
Q
Biosphere
A
The zone around Earth where life can exist
Most can be found on land and in water
Some micro-organisms can live several kms below the earth’s surface
Can have artificial biospheres
25
Radiant energy
comes from the sun (this energy travels through empty space)
26
Thermal energy
energy transferred during heating and cooling
27
About _____ of _______energy is absorbed by the hydrosphere and lithosphere and converted into _____ energy
About 70% of radiant energy is absorbed by the hydrosphere and lithosphere and converted into thermal energy
28
________ energy can keep the earth’s surface warm but organisms can not use this energy to grow and function
thermal energy
29
_________ energy (instead of light energy) is most useful for organisms because it can be stored and released when needed. It is used by all organisms to perform functions such as movement, growth and reproduction.
chemical energy
30
How can some organisms produce chemical energy?
photosynthesis
31
what is the process in which the Sun’s energy is converted into chemical energy?
photosynthesis
32
________ are organisms that photosynthesize their own energy rich food
producers
33
Organisms that can not carry out photosynthesis usually have to depend on ______ for food
producers
34
Most producers are ______ plants
green plants (the green color is due to the presence of chlorophyll which captures light energy)
35
examples of producers in a aquatic ecosystem
Algae and cyanobacteria
36
Cellular respiration
Cellular Respiration is a term for the process of food, in the form of sugar (glucose) is transformed into energy with the metabolic process which takes place within a cell.
Cellular respiration is the complementary reaction to photosynthesis
37
___________ is a chemical process in which energy is released from food
cellular respiration
38
in cellular respiration Sugar and oxygen are rearranged to make _____ and _____
Sugar and oxygen are rearranged to make CO2 and H2O
39
The energy stored in the sugar is released in cellular respiration. It does not require any light energy for the reaction.
TRUE
40
Some organisms can not carry out photosynthesis so they must obtain their energy and building blocks by eating other organisms (they are CONSUMERS)
TRUE
41
Producers can undergo photosynthesis and cellular respiration
TRUE
42
Consumers only undergo cellular respiration
TRUE
43
Where does cellular respiration take place?
Mitochondria
44
Where does photosynthesis take place?
Chloroplasts
45
Nitrogen cycle
Nitrogen fixation
Nitrification
Assimilation
Denitrification
Ammonification
46
Nitrogen cycle DETAILED
Nitrogen fixation - The first step that involves the making of atmospheric nitrogen, lighting can change atmospheric nitrogen into nitrate, but most of the fixation is done by soil bacteria that change atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium.
Nitrification - The process by which ammonium is changed into nitrates from soil bacteria. Nitrates are what plants can then absorb.
Assimilation - The process by which plants get nitrogen, they absorb nitrates from the soil into their roots. Nitrogen is used in amino acids, nucleic acids, and chlorophyll which become part of the plant matter.
Denitrification - Extra nitrates in the soil get back into the atmosphere as atmospheric nitrogen. Certain special soil bacteria perform this task too.
Ammonification - This is a process of the cycle that is the decaying process. When a plant or animal dies, decomposers like fungi and bacteria turn the nitrogen back into ammonium which continues the nitrogen cycle.
47
How is the formation of natural gas related to the formation of coal and petroleum?
- both once compressed and heated which causes them to turn into coal, petroleum, and natural gas.
- both formed with similar processes and can be buried, compressed, or heated to be formed.
- all go through the process by which the organic matter is transferred into fossil fuels.
48
Lithosphere
The lithosphere is the earth's most solid and rigid base, it is the outermost layer of earth's rocks and crust.
49
Hydrosphere
Hydrosphere: A sphere or component of the earth which is made of water, this includes the ocean, rivers, lakes, and streams.
50
Atmosphere
Atmosphere - The whole component of the earth that is surrounded by air or a mixture of gas that surrounds the earth.
51
Biosphere
Biosphere - A part of Earth where biotic and abiotic factors of the environment exist, the region on, above, and below the Earth's surface where life exists is known as the biosphere.
52
Biological control
Biological control is the hardest way to stop the spread of invasive species, you use a predator to reduce the population of invasive species. The natural enemy or predator of the invasive species will naturally hunt it, and it may be an “intentional introduction” to stop the spread of a certain organism.
53
Mechanical control
Mechanical control - With a lack of options, you may need to use mechanical control to cut down or burn invasive plants. invasive animals can be hunted or trapped, limiting the spread of invasive species.
54
Chemical Control
Chemical Control - Chemical control is the use of pesticides, pesticides reduce crop damage and are used on agriculture pests, they help stop the spread of invasive species but they may cause harm to species that are native and cause no harm, and pollute the air, water, and soil. They can pollute streams, and ponds, and contaminate groundwater, which may have an impact on the organisms in the water.
55
What are three ways to controll an invasive species?
chemical control, mechanical control & biological control
56
What is an invasive species?
Invasive species - a non-native species whose intentional or accidental introduction negatively impacts the natural environment.
57
What is a non-native species?
Non-Native species - Species that are introduced but do not have a negative impact on the region
58
What is Biomagnification?
Biomagnification: Biomagnification means the organism that has toxins increases in concentration in organisms higher in the food chain
59
What is Bioaccumulation?
Bioaccumulation: Bioaccumulation is when a toxin builds up inside of an organism faster than it can be removed.
60
EUTROPHICATION
Definition of eutrophication:
An increase in the number of nutrients present in the ocean that impact aquatic life, caused by various activities, such as excessive use of fertilizers in soil that may be transferred during rain from rivers and streams to oceans.
Algal bloom: A rapid growth of algae from too many nutrients available in the ocean.
61
nitrous oxide
A greenhouse gas that is created when the role of denitrification increases leading heat to be trapped in the atmosphere, causing pollution and global warming on earth.
62
Types of Nitrogen
Types of Nitrogen
Atmospheric Nitrogen (N2)
Ammonium (NH4)
Nitrates (NO3)
Nitrites (NO2)
63
What is the law of conservation?
matter can never be created nor can it be destroyed, it can only be transformed meaning it can be moved through the cycle
ex.
Earth is an open system for energy but a closed system of matter.
carbon dioxide and nitrogen can never be created or destroyed and are only moved throughout the entire cycle.
ex. being dissolved in water or used in photosynthesis
64
Farming/use of fertilizers affects on ecosystems
- carbon dioxide to spread into oceans through lakes which causes algal blooms, the growth of algae from a large amount of nutrients.
-Harming the environment and humans.
65
Invasive Species affects on ecosystems
cause harm to the environment, causing the extinction of other species or plants through competition and the invasive species can cause an imbalance in the predator and prey populations.
66
Eutrophication affects on ecosystems
affects the nitrogen cycle, when you use a large amount of fertilizer, rain washes it off and the nitrogen is carried from streams to oceans, it carries nutrients that help a large amount of algae growth,
causing algal bloom. The algae blocks the sunlight that plants in the ocean need to sustain and therefore die.
affects humans as Swimming, swallowing, and drinking algal bloom can cause health problems.
67
Deforestation affects on ecosystems
affects the carbon cycle since carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere,
deforestation will significantly affect the environment because it forms global warming.
68
Fossil Fuels affects on ecosystems
a large amount of carbon dioxide released into atmosphere
a greenhouse gas that causes too much heat in the environment, and global warming is formed.
69
Carrying Capacity
The maximum amount of organisms the environment can sustain, this is shelter, predators, and diseases.
For example, too many predators can lead to a decrease in the prey population or even extinction.
70
Succession
the process of an ecosystem recovering from a disaster
71
Equilibrium
healthy ecosystem/abiotic and biotic factors are constant
72
Keystone Species
A species which other species largely depend on and if it went extinct there would be a drastic change and it would impact the survival of other species.
73
Trophic Cascade
Trophic Cascade: Interactions that control the entire ecosystem.
74
Primary Successions
Primary Successions include volcano eruptions, floods, landslides, nuclear explosions etc Lichen or pioneer species come after some soil is formed and takes years to process.
Unlike secondary successions in primary ones, the soil is destroyed and producers cannot grow.
75
Commensalism
When one species benefits and the other neither benefits nor is harmed.
76
Parasitism
When one organism benefits but the other organism is harmed.
77
Mutualism
Mutualism: A relationship between two
organisms where they both benefit,
78
Competition
Organisms that strive for the same resources in their limited supplies
79
Predation
The preying of one animal from another
80
Biomass
a dry mass of a living or once living organism per unit area.
81
What is the 10% rule?
The 10% rule is applied when an organism eats plants or animals below the trophic level only 10% of the energy is absorbed therefore the organism above the trophic level will require more food, consuming more of the one below, decreasing the population.
The pattern continues decreasing the population of each trophic level.
82
Food webs
Food webs are m ore detailed and show better relationships within different organisms while food chains only express a singular energy that moves through the ecosystem.
83
Ecological Niche
The function a species serves in an ecosystem, including what is eats and how it behaves.
84
example of ecological niches
the niche of a black bear: black bears feed on nuts and berries. They may carry the seeds quite a long distance before the they digest and expel the seeds in a new area where they may germinate. Bears hibernate during the winter. Bears are often host to a variety of parasites and feeding insects
85
Types of Consumers
herbivore
carnivore
omnivore
scavenger
86
herbivore
animal that eats plants or other producers
87
carnivore
animal that eats other animals
88
scavenger
animal that feeds on the remains of another organism
89
food chains
display feeding relationships between species
and
how energy is transferred from one organism to another
90
omnivore
animal that eats both plants and animals
91
Trophic level
refers to the level of an organism in an ecosystem depending on its feeding position along a food chain
92
producer - tropic level
(first trophic level) –
an organism that can make its own food.
93
Primary consumers - tropic level
(second trophic level) –
herbivores
94
Secondary consumers - tropic level
(third trophic level) –
omnivores/small carnivores
95
Tertiary consumers - tropic level
(fourth trophic level) –
larger carnivores
96
Scavengers - tropic level
(any level) –
feeds on the remains of other organisms
97
food chains do not really exist in nature. The real relationships between species are always much more complex.
TRUE
98
A more accurate way to show these relationships is with a ___________ which shows a series of interconnecting food chains in a community
food web
99
Ecological Pyramids
Show the relationships between the trophic levels in ecosystems (the amount of energy, numbers or biomass)
100
The atmosphere contains over _____
80% nitrogen
101
gaia hypothesis
proposes that earth behaveslike a living organism
102
sustainability
ability to maintain ecological balance
103
sustainable ecosystem
an ecosystem that is maintained through natural processes
104
in northern ontario economy is based off of..
agriculture & manufacturing
105
Ammonification
Nh3
