Evir. Science Exam #2 Flashcards
(99 cards)
1
Q
The Earth is materially ____ but energetically _____
A
closed, open
2
Q
Cycles can be in the
A
hydrosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere, or biotic organisms
3
Q
Residence Time
A
the amount of time the nutrients stay in the sink
4
Q
Photosynthesis Equation
A
H2O + CO2 ➡ O2 + C6H12O6
5
Q
Cellular Respiration Equation
A
O2 + C6H12O6 ➡ H2O + CO2
6
Q
Why does cellular respiration need oxygen?
A
To break the bonds
7
Q
The purpose of cellular respirations, with the carbon cycle?
A
To release the chemical energy of a sugar molecule
8
Q
Order of the Nitrogen Cycle
A
- Atmosphereic Nitrogen (N2)
- Nitrogen Fixation
- Ammonia (NH3)
- Nitrification
- Nitrate (NO3-)
- Denitrification
9
Q
Deforestation affect which cycle
A
Carbon cycle
9
Q
Deforestation affects which cycle(s)
A
Carbon cycle
10
Q
Fossil Fuel Combustion affects which cycle(s)
A
Carbon cycle and Nitrogen cycle
11
Q
Fertilization affects which cycle(s)
A
Nitrogen cycle and Phosphorous cycle
12
Q
Mining affects which cycle(s)
A
Phosphorous cycle
13
Q
Nitrogen Cycle is need to
A
make protein and nucleic acids
14
Q
Plants can’t use nitrogen directly from the atmosphere so it must be converted into a usable form by what process
A
Nitrogen Fixation
15
Q
Nitrogen Fixation
A
Bacteria converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium
N2 ➡ NH4+
16
Q
Assimilation
A
Ammonium is taken up by plants and consumed by animals to make biological molecules (no bacteria used)
17
Q
Nitrification
A
Nitrifying bacteria converts ammonium into nitrates
NH4+ ➡ NO3+ (Adds oxygen)
18
Q
Denitrification
A
Denitrifying bacteria converts nitrates back to atmospheric nitrates back to atmospheric nitrogen gas
NO3- ➡ N2 (Takes oxygen away)
19
Q
In the Nitrogen Cycle, which step does not involve bacteria?
A
Assimilation
20
Q
The Phosphorus Cycle is needed by
A
all organisms to make DNA
21
Q
Which cycle does not have an atmospheric component?
A
Phosphorus Cycle
22
Q
Organize the 6 sizes of life from largest to smallest
A
Biosphere, Biome, Ecosystem, Community, Population, Individual
23
Q
What are the 3 main types of biomes?
A
Terrestrial, marine, and Freshwater
24
Biomes are defined as distinctive types of ecosystems determined by:
Climatic factors such as temperature and precipitation
25
What are the 3 zones?
Polar, Temperate, and Tropical
26
Mountains and coastlines are
geographic features
27
Range of Tolerance
the range of a limiting factor within which a species can survive and reproduce
28
Range of tolerance is a
population concept
29
Limiting Factor
the critical resource whose availability determines species population size distribution
30
Population
all individuals of a species which live in the same geographic area and interbreed
31
Range
geographic area where a species or one of its populations can be found
32
Population Distribution
location of spacing of individuals within their range
33
Clumped Distribution
Individuals found in groups within the habitat
(Seen in more social species)
34
Random Distribution
Individuals spread out irregularly
(Wind-blown seeds that germinate where they land)
35
Uniform Distribution
Individuals spaced evenly due to territorial behavior or other mechanisms
(Seen like in farming)
36
Population Density
the number of individuals per unit area
37
If the population density is too low
it is hard to find mates
38
If the population density is too high
it increases competition, spread of diseases, and fighing
39
Growth Rate Equation
Birth Rate - Death Rate = Growth Rate
40
Annual Population Growth Equation
b/N x 100
41
Biotic Potential
when a population will reach its maximum per capita rate of increase without environmental limits
42
Exponential Growth occurs
in a population when there are no limits and is typically seen when a species enters a new environment or with an influx of new resources (J-shaped graph)
43
Carrying Capacity (K)
maximum population size a particular environment can support indefinitely which is determined by growth factors and can increase or decrease as resource availability changes
44
Logistic Population Growth
population growth rate slows as the size approaches the carrying capacity (S-shaped graph)
45
Density-Dependent Factors
effects increase as populations grow such as disease, competition, and predation
46
Density-Independent Factors
affect a population regardless of its size, and can decrease the population such as storms, fires, flooding, and an avalanche
47
r-selected species
adapt well to unpredictable environments; has a high biotic rate; can increase or decrease quickly in response to environmental changes
48
Which selected species has sudden population growth that can cause overshoot & crash or boom-bust cycles?
r-selected species
49
K-selected species
reproduce slowly; has a lower biotic potential; more likely to have a stable population size close to carrying capacity; less adaptable in the face of environmental change
50
Top-Down:
Control is from predators (high on the food chain)
51
Bottom-Up:
Control is from the bottom of the food chain
52
Community Ecology
the study of all the species and how they interact with each other, which includes human interaction as well
53
Energy
the foundation of every ecosystem; captured through photosynthesis; passed from organism to organism through food chains
54
Trophic Levels
represent feeding levels in a food chain; organized on what consumers eat; some feed at more than 1 trophic level
55
Why are there seldom more than 5 trophic levels?
Only a small percentage of energy is passed which leaves very little of the original energy captured by the producers
56
Food Webs
food chains linked together shows connections in the community more complex food webs provide greater stability
57
Niche Generalist
occupies a broad niche and can utilize a wide variety of resources
58
Niche Specialist
very specific habitat or resource requirements restrict where it can live
59
Competitive Exclusion Principle
one species excludes another from a portion of the same niche as a result of competition for resources
60
Species Richness
the total number of different species in a community
61
Which one of the following cycles currently has the greatest impact on global climate change?
Carbon Cycle
62
Which of the following latitudes will have an arid climate?
30 North
63
Which one of the following does NOT increase atmospheric carbon dioxide levels?
Producers
64
Denitrification involves the conversion of nitrate into _____ by bacteria, which returns nitrogen to the _____.
nitrogen gas
atmosphere
65
What is one of the most extreme K-selected species?
Florida Panther
65
Why doesn't exponential growth continue indefinitely?
Available resources will eventually become scarce as more individuals use them.
66
Under what condition do distinct populations of gray wolves occur within a geographic range?
when the species' range is broadly distributed
67
What is an example of a factor affecting the population distribution of a species?
Topography
68
Mutualism
A symbiotic relationship between individuals of two species in which both parties benefit
69
Species Evenness
relative abundance of each individual species
70
Keystone Species
Impacts its community more than its community would crumble
71
Symbiosis
Close biological or ecological relationship between 2 species
72
Parasitism
Organisms live and feed in or on other organisms, usually parasite does not killl its host, does harm host and may contribute to its death (+, -)
73
What is an example of mutualism?
Flowers and bees
74
What is an example of parasitism?
Mosquitoes and mistletoe
75
Commensalism
1 species benefits, the other is unaffected (+, 0)
76
What is an example of commensalism?
Whales and Barnacles
77
Predation
Organisms hunt, kill, and consume prey, many predators hunt various species, and have adaptations to help them hunt (+, -)
78
Competition
Interaction among organisms vying for the same limited resourec in an ecosystem (- , -)
79
Intraspecific
between individuals of the same species in a population
80
Interspecific
between individuals of different species in a population
81
Resource Partitioning
Division of resources so potential competitors may coexist
82
Trophic Cascades
Changes in abudances of organisms at 1 trophic level can influence energy flow at multiple trophic levels
83
Ecosystem Engineer
A species that physically reorders the habitat
84
Biome
an area classified according to the species that live in that location
85
Biosphere
made up of the parts of Earth where life exists
86
Ecosystem
a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscape, work together to form a bubble of life
87
What 2 factors determine what a biome is characterized as?
Temperature and Precipitation
88
Tundra
- Above 60°N and S
- Growing Season: < 3 months
- Rainfall: 100-500 mm/yr
- Temperature: < 5°
- Cold winters/ short summers
- Migrating herbivores, small mammals, predatory birds, polar bears, snow owls, caribou
- Penguins and Seals in the South Pole
- Moss and Lichen
89
Boreal Forest
- Above 60°N and S
- Growing Season: < 4 months
- Rainfall: 500-1,500 mm/yr
- Cold, dry winters
- Large mammals, small animals, migrating birds
- Bears, rabbits, wolves
- Conifers and Eastern Larch (drought resistant
90
Temperate Forest
- 30° to 60° N and S
- Growing Season: From the last and 1st hard frost
- Rainfall: 750 -1,000 mm/yr
- Temperature: 5° - 20° C
- Deer, bears, and small woodland animals
- Black bears, fox, skunk squirrels, songbirds
- Topsoil rich in organic material
91
Grassland
- 30° to 60° N and S
- Rainfall: 250-750 mm/yr
- Periodic fires
- 90% altered into agricultural lands
- Grazing animals, small mammals reptiles, birds of prey
- Snakes, prairie dogs, antelope, hawks
- Limited tree growth
- Richest organic soil horizon
92
Mediterranean Scrub
- By the Ocean (random)
- Rainfall: 250-500 mm/yr
- Mild, moist winters and hot, dry summers
- Thin soil, not fertile
- Dense growth of evergreen shrubs
- Stoney Leafed plants
93
Parts of an environmental gradient
Zone of Stress and Zone of Optimal Range
94
What's another name for a grassland?
Steppes
95
What are the 3 biomes that are fire adapted?
Savannas, Deserts, and Grasslands
96
Savanna
- Extends to 25° N/S
- Rainfall: 760-1,200 mm/yr
- Warm, constant temperature
- Adapted to periodic fires
- Low nutrient soil from leaching
- Zebras, lions, hyenas, giraffes, elephants, hippos, koalas, kangaroos
97
Tropical Rainforest
- 0 to 25° N/S
- Growing Season: year-round
- Rainfall: < 2,000 mm/yr
- Warm, constant temperatures
- Nutrient-poor soil
- Tigers, sloths, toucans, parrots, monkeys orangutans, lots of beetles, lots of amphibians
