ecology Flashcards
(29 cards)
ecology
the study of relationships: between 2 organisms or organism and environment
criteria’s for life
- be unicellular or multi cellular
- contain genetic material
- be capable of growth and reproduction
- demonstrate ability to respond to stimuli
- ability to adapt to the environment
- have a metabolism meaning it consumes energy and produces waste
levels of ecological organization
1) organism : individual species
2) population: multiple individuals from different species
3) community: multiple population of species
4) ecosystem : abiotic and biotic factors
5) biome: multiple ecosystems that share similar features
6) biosphere : the planet
biodiversity
the variety of organisms on all levels
taxonomy
kingdom phylum class order family genus species
King Philip Came Over For Good Spaghetti
cladograms and dichotomous keys
tools used to display the relationships and classify organisms using characteristics
geochemical cycles
represents the movement of matter through the ecosystem
water cycle
- necessary for all living things
- on earths surface in the atmosphere and in organisms
- this cycle is driven by the sun
main stages of the water cycle
precipitation: water falls to earth as liquid
runoff: water that runs along the surface and collects in bodies of water
infiltration: water that’s underground
evaporation: sun heats water and it rises
transportation: water rides to atmosphere as water vapor from plants
condensation: water condenses to make clouds
living organisms in the water cycle
all organisms take in water and release water
cellular respiration: C6H12O—>6H12O6+6O2
photosynthesis: 6Co2+6H2O—>6H12O6+6O2
negative human impact on water cycle
deforestation: transpiration decreases
paving/building: run off increases while infiltration decreases
pollution
Where is carbon found
macromolecules (main 4), our atmosphere, minerals & rocks, fossil fuel, organic material in soil or aquatic sediment
carbon cycle main stages
photosynthesis: plants take in Co2 and make sugar
cellular respiration: Co2 is released
consumption: eat each other for carbon
combustion: Co2 released from burning
decomposition: decomposers break down carbon and it goes into the soil to make fossil fuel
fossilization: coverts a once living thing into fossil fuel
living organisms in the carbon cycle
decomposers ( break down dead material and return nutrients to soil)
photosynthetic organisms
animal, plants, fungi
negative human impact in the carbon cycle
combustion: too much burning of fossil fuels or woods caused Co2 to go into atmosphere
where nitrogen is found
two macromolecules: protein and nucleic acid
in the atmosphere (N2 but no animals or plants can use N2)
fossil fue
waste
soil
main stages of nitrogen cycle
nitrogen fixation:bacteria or lightning in the soil or water covert nitrogen into usable nitrogen
decomposition: decomposers break down stuff to return nitrogen to the soil
ammonification: bacteria converts nitrogen from waste into ammonia
nitrification: bacteria used the nitrogen in ammonia to turn it into nitrates and nitrites.
denitrification: bacteria converts nitrogen in ammonia back to N2
living organisms in the nitrogen cycle
the nitrogen cycle depends on living organisms
bacteria: most important it converts nitrogen to different forms
fungí: decomposers break down the waste
negative human impact on the nitrogen cycle
fertilizer: adds way too much nitrogen into the soil.
combustion: burning fossil fuel also releases nitrogen into the atmosphere
population
a group of organisms of the same species living in the same place
exponential
population grows without limit (humans)
logistics
population grows quickly then levels off (carrying capacity) (ex. most natural population)
carrying capacity
maximum growth for a population
population density
measure the number of individuals organisms living in a defined space
