Exam 1 Flashcards
(118 cards)
1
Q
What is ecology?
A
the study of the distribution and abundance of organisms
2
Q
What is environment?
A
the sum of all the conditions surrounding us that influence life
3
Q
What is environmental science?
A
the field that looks at interactions among human systems and those found in nature
4
Q
What does it mean when we say systems?
A
by systems, we mean any set of interacting components that influence one another by exchanging material
5
Q
What is an ecosystem?
A
a particular location on earth whose interacting components include living, or biotic, components and nonliving, or abiotic, components
6
Q
What do environmental indicators help us do? What are the 5 environmental indicators?
A
they help us describe the current state of an environmental system; the 5 environmental indicators are biodiversity, food production, average global surface temperature and CO2 concentrations, human population, and resource depletion
7
Q
What is sustainability?
A
the practice of living on Earth in a way that allows humans to use resources without depriving future generations of those sources
8
Q
What is the primary focus of ecology?
A
explaining variation in the abundance, distribution, and diversity of species
9
Q
What are 5 approaches ecologists use to answer questions about the natural world?
A
1) theoretical approaches: mathematical models
2) observational studies in the field
3) natural experiments
4) controlled experiments in the lab
5) experiments in the field
10
Q
How does the physical environment influence an organism’s success?
A
It affects the ability to obtain energy and resources and it affects survival.
11
Q
What is salinity?
A
concentrations of dissolved salts in water (e.g. NaCl, Mg, Ca)
12
Q
Are freshwater vertebrates hypertonic or hypotonic to their environment? What are they always struggling to do?
A
Freshwater vertebrates are hypertonic to their environment. They are always struggling to get water out.
13
Q
Are marine vertebrates hypertonic or hypotonic to their environment? What are they always struggling to do?
A
Freshwater vertebrates are hypotonic to their environment. They are always struggling to get water in.
14
Q
What are acidity and alkalinity measured as? Define it.
A
They are measured as pH. pH is the log10 of the concentration of H+.
15
Q
What do bases take up and give up? Acids?
A
Bases take up H+ or give up OH-, while acids are compounds that give up H+ to the solution.
16
Q
How is acid rain formed and what does it do?
A
1) Acidic gases (CO2 and NO) are released into the environment from factories, etc.
2) Gases are carried by the wind and dissolve in rainwater to form acid rain.
3) Acid rain kills plant life, pollutes rivers and streams, and erodes stonework.
17
Q
What do all organisms do? What do most organisms need?
A
All organisms respire. Most need oxygen.
18
Q
What is hypoxia?
A
an area of low oxygen levels
19
Q
Every organism has optimum levels of what?
A
salinity, pH, and oxygen
20
Q
Why are metabolic reactions temperature sensitive?
A
because of the sensitivity of enzyme, which catalyze the reactions; most enzymes become denatured between 40 degrees and 70 degrees Celsius
21
Q
What does temperature effect in cells?
A
the properties of cell and organelle lipid membranes and water loss
22
Q
What is conduction? What is convection?
A
Conduction is when energy has to move physically from hot to cool (heating a metal rod). Convection is when you move energy through air (wind, fan).
23
Q
How is the temperature of organisms determined?
A
by exchanges of energy with the external environment
24
Q
What is latent heat transfer?
A
water absorbs heat as it changes state from liquid to gas
25
What is a pubescence?
hairs on leaf surfaces that reflect solar energy
26
What do stomata do?
they help reduce water loss and allow cooling
27
What are endotherms? What is their tolerance to temperature change?
They rely primarily on internal metabolic heat generation. They have a lower tolerance to temperature change (mammals and birds).
28
What are ectotherms? What is their tolerance to temperature change?
They primarily regulate body temperature through energy exchange with the environment. They have a higher tolerance to temperature change (reptiles).
29
What is heat exchange with environment a function of?
the organism's surface area to volume ratio
30
How do ectotherms regulate body temperature?
by basking, migration, dormancy, and movement to local microsites (burrowing into the soil)
31
How do endotherms regulate body temperature?
They keep warm with things such as feathers, fur, and fat. They cool off by panting, sweating, hibernation, migration. and many other things.
32
What is water?
Water is the medium in which all biochemical reactions necessary for life occur.
33
How do plants deal with low water levels? (4)
They close the stomata, shed leaves in dry seasons, increase thickness of leaf cuticles (sclerophyllous plants), or increase the ratio of root biomass to the rest of the plant.
34
From what to what does energy flow?
Energy flows from producers to consumers to decomposers.
35
What is the first law of thermodynamics?
Energy can be transformed, but it is neither created or destroyed.
36
What is the equation for photosynthesis?
6CO2 + 6H2O --> C6H12O6 + 6O2
37
What happens when energy is transformed?
the quantity of energy remains the same, but its ability to do work diminishes
38
How do you calculate efficiency?
multiply the percent of energy that is not lost in a system; energy could be lost in the form of light, heat, etc.
39
What are autotrophs?
organisms that assimilate energy from sunlight or from inorganic compounds
40
What are heterotrophs?
Organisms that obtain their energy by consuming energy-rich organic compounds from other organisms. The energy ultimately comes from autotrophs.
41
Where does most of the biologically available energy on Earth come from?
photosynthesis
42
In the Calvin cycle, what does the dark reaction produce? Light reaction?
The dark reaction produces carbohydrates, while the light reaction produces ATP and NADPH.
43
What does system analysis show?
It shows how energy and matter flow in the environment.
44
What is the difference between open and closed systems?
In an open system, exchanges of matter or energy occur across systems, while in closed systems, matter and energy exchanges across system boundaries do not occur.
45
What does it mean when someone says a system is in a steady state?
the input of energy equals the output of energy
46
What is weather?
Weather refers to the short term conditions of the atmosphere in a local area. Conditions include temperature, humidity, clouds, precipitation, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure.
47
What is climate?
Climate is the average weather that occurs in a given region over a long period (typically over decades).
48
What is easier to predict: weather or climate?
It not easy to predict weather, but we can make general observations about global, regional, and even local climate.
49
Why does the sun heat Earth unequally?
1) There is a variation of the angle at which the Sun's rays strike Earth --> the equator gets the most solar energy
2) There is a variation in the amount of surface area over which the Sun's rays are distributed.
3) Some areas on Earth reflect more solar energy than others.
50
What is an albedo?
the percentage of incoming sunlight that is reflected from a surface
51
What are the four properties of air that determine how it circulates in the atmosphere?
1) The density of air determines it movement: less dense air rises, while denser air sinks.
2) Warm air has a higher water vapor capacity than cold air. That is why hot summer days in North America are associated with humidity.
3) As air rises higher in the atmosphere, the pressure on it decreases.
4) Latent heat release: the production of heat when water vapor condenses from a gas to a liquid.
52
What is adiabatic cooling? What is adiabatic heating?
Adiabatic cooling is when lower atmospheric pressure allows the rising air to expand in volume, which lowers the temperature of air. Adiabatic heating is the opposite.
53
What is the cycle of Hadley cells?
1) At the equator, the sun heats the moist tropical air, causing it to rise.
2) The rising air experiences adiabatic cooling, which causes water vapor to condense into rain and fall back to the Earth.
3) The condensation of water vapor produces latent heat release, which causes air to expand and rise farther up into the atmosphere.
4) The warm, rising air displaces the cooler, drier air about it north to south.
5) The cool, dry air sinks and experiences adiabatic heating. It reaches Earth's surface as warm, dry air, and then flows back to the equator.
54
What are Hadley cells? Polar cells? Ferrel cells? What do these three cells result in?
Hadley cells are the convection currents that cycle between the equator and 30 degrees north and south. Polar cell go from 60 degrees north and south to the poles. In between the Hadley and Polar cells are the Ferrel cells. These three cells result in the three major climatic zones in each hemisphere.
55
What is the Coriolis effect? Give an example.
It is the deflection of an object's path due to Earth's rotation. For example, water rotates counterclockwise in the Northern hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern hemisphere.
56
What is upwelling? Why is it important?
It is where deep ocean water rises to the surface. This is important because the deep waters bring with them the nutrients from the ocean bottom that support large populations of producers.
57
What is thermohaline circulation and why is it important?
Thermohaline circulation drives the mixing of surface water and deep water. It is crucial for moving heat and nutrients around the globe.
58
What are the 4 steps to thermohaline circulation?
1) Warm water flows from the Gulf of Mexico to the North Atlantic, where some of it freezes and evaporates.
2) The remaining water, now saltier and denser, sinks to the bottom of the ocean.
3) The cold water travels along the ocean floor, connecting the world's oceans.
4) The cold, deep water eventually rises to the surface and circulates back to the North Atlantic.
59
What are rain shadows?
Rain shadows occur where humid winds blowing inland from the ocean meet a mountain range.
60
What is El Niño-Southern Oscillation? How often does this occur?
It is the periodic change in which the interaction of the Earth's atmosphere and ocean cause surface currents in the tropical Pacific ocean to reverse direction. This happens every 3 to 7 years.
61
What are biomes?
Biomes have a particular combination of average annual temperature and annual precipitation and contain distinctive plant growth forms that are adapted to that climate.
62
Describe the tundra biome. What is its growing season? What type of vegetation does it have?
The tundra is cold and treeless, with low growing vegetation. It has a widespread permafrost. Its growing season is very short (June to Sept.). Vegetation is sedges, forbes, grasses, low-growing shrubs, lichens, and mosses.
63
What is a drunken forest?
It is when trees start to lean as permafrost declines.
64
What is the permafrost?
an impermeable, permanently frozen layer that prevents water from draining and roots from penetrating
65
Describe the Boreal Forest biome. What is its growing season? What type of vegetation does it have?
The Boreal Forests (aka taiga) have cold temperatures, low precipitation, and nutrient-poor soil. They're growing season is from April to October. The forests are made up primarily of coniferous evergreen trees that can tolerate winters.
66
Describe the temperate rainforest biome. What is its growing season? What type of vegetation does it have?
It is a coastal biome that has moderate temperatures and high precipitation. It receives about 50-400 cm of rain per year. Growing season is year round and vegetation is very large trees.
67
Describe the temperate seasonal forest biome. What is its growing season? What type of vegetation does it have?
The temperate seasonal forests (aka temperate deciduous forests) experience much warmer summers and cooler winters than temperate rain forests. They're growing season is year round and vegetation includes oaks, maples, and beeches.
68
Describe the woodland/shrubland biome. What is its growing season? What type of vegetation does it have?
The woodland/shrubland biome is characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Growing season is year round, but plant growth is constrained by low precipitation in the summer and by relatively low temperatures in the winters. Vegetation is evergreen shrubs and trees.
69
Describe the temperate grassland/cold desert biome. What is its growing season? What type of vegetation does it have?
The temperate grassland/cold desert biome has the lowest average annual precipitation of any temperate biome. Cold, harsh winters and hot, dry summers characterize this biome. Growth period is year long and vegetation is mostly grasses, maintained by frequent fires and large herbivores, such as bison.
70
Describe the tropical rainforest biome. What is a limiting resource in this biome? How much of the rainforest is lost every second?
Tropical rain forests are warm and wet throughout the year, with little seasonal temperature variation. About 50% of Earth's species live in the rainforest. Light is a limiting resource in rain forests. Half an acre of the rainforest is lost every second.
71
Describe the tropical seasonal forest/savanna biome. When is growth season?
This biome is marked by warm temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons. Growth season is all year and the soil in this biome is very fertile.
72
Describe the subtropical desert biome. What are examples of desert plants?
The subtropical desert (aka hot desert) has hot temperatures, extremely dry conditions, and sparse vegetation prevails. Desert plants include drought-deciduous shrubs, grasses, and short lived annual plants that are active only after a rain.
73
How are aquatic biomes categorized?
by salinity, depth, and water flow
74
What are the four zones in a body of water?
1) littoral zone: emergent vegetation area
2) profundal zone: light does not reach this area
3) limnetic zone: open water; lighted area
4) benthic zone: where water hits sediment
75
What are the 5 levels of biological organization?
1) individual
2) population: individuals of same species in same area at a certain time
3) community: all the populations in an area
4) ecosystem: all biotic and abiotic components in an area
5) biosphere: all of Earth's ecosystems
76
What is population ecology?
the study of factors that cause populations increase or decrease
77
What are 3 population characteristics?
Population size, population density (# per unit area), and population distribution (how individuals are distributed)
78
What are the 3 types of population distributions?
1) random distribution: there is no pattern to the locations where individuals are located (or grow)
2) uniform distribution: individuals are evenly spaced
3) clumped distribution: often observed when living in large groups; enhances feeding opportunities and protection from predators
79
What is the growth rate?
the growth rate of a population is the number of offsprings an individual can produce in a given time minus the deaths of the individual or its offsprings during the same period; it is indicated by r
80
What is the intrinsic growth rate?
the maximum potential for growth
81
What is the equation for an exponential growth model? What kind of curve does it produce?
N(t)= N(0)e^rt; N(0) is # of individuals at start time; r is growth rate; t is time; it produces a J-shaped curve
82
Why is the exponential growth model not good to show real life population growth?
because populations do grow exponentially, but not indefinitely
83
What is the logistic growth model? What kind of curve does it produce?
it describes a population whose initial growth is exponential, but slows as the population approaches the carrying capacity (K); S-shaped curve
84
What is carrying capacity?
Indicated by K, it is the limit of how large a population can be sustained by the limiting resources, especially food.
85
What is a population overshoot and die-off?
If food or other limiting resources become scarce, then the population with experience an overshoot by becoming larger than carrying capacity. This will result in a die-off, or population crash.
86
What is a metapopulation? Why is the connectedness important? What species are more likely to go extinct? What is an example?
A metapopulation is a group of spatially distinct populations that are connected by occasional movements of individuals between them. This connectedness is important for each population's survival. Small, isolated species are more likely to go extinct. An example is the cougars in New Mexico.
87
What are the two opinions on the relationship between population growth and food supply?
Thomas Malthus noticed that the food supply grows linearly every year, while the human population grows exponentially. He believed that eventually there would be a food deficit. Other scientists believe that there will never be a food deficit because humans can increase the carrying capacity.
88
What is demography?
the study of populations and population trends
89
How does population size grow?
Its grows when inputs (births and immigration) are larger than outputs (deaths and emigration).
90
What is the net migration rate?
the difference between immigration and emigration in a given year per 1000 people in a country
91
What is the crude birth rate (CBR)? crude death rate (CDR)?
The CBR is the number of births per 1000 people per year. The CDR is the number of deaths per 1000 people per year.
92
How do you calculate global population growth? nation population growth? doubling time?
global population growth is (CBR-CDR)/10; nation population growth is [(CBR+immigr.)-(CDR+emigr.)]/10; doubling time is 70/growth rate
93
What is total fertility rate? What is among uneducated women compared educated women?
TFR is an estimate of the average number of children that each woman in a population will bear throughout her childbearing years. TFR tends to be higher among uneducated women than educated women.
94
What is replacement-level fertility? What is it in developed countries versus developing countries?
It is the TFR required to offset the average number of deaths in a population so that the current population size remains stable. In developed countries, we usually see a replacement-level fertility of 2.1, while in developing countries, it needs to be higher because mortality among young people is higher.
95
What is life expectancy?
It is the average number of years that an infant born in a particular year in a particular country can be expected to live.
96
What is the infant mortality rate? child mortality rate?
The infant mortality rate is the number of deaths per children under age 1 per 1000 live births. The child mortality rate is the number of deaths per children under age 5 per 1000 live births.
97
What is a population's age structure?
It describes how its members are distributed across age range, usually in 5-year increments.
98
What is an age structure diagram? Compare a developed country's diagram versus a developing country's diagram.
Age structure diagrams are visual representations of age structure. Developing countries would have more young people than older people, while developed countries have about the same.
99
What is the theory of demographic transition?
It states that as a country moves from a subsistence economy to industrialization and increased affluence, it undergoes a predictable shift in population growth.
100
What are the 4 phases of the theory of demographic transition?
1) Phase 1: slow population growth; low growth rate and high death rate
2) Phase 2: rapid population growth; highest growth rate and death rate decreases
3) Phase 3: start to have more stable population growth
4) Phase 4: zero population growth; US is in this phase
101
What is family planning?
The regulation of the number or spacing of offspring through use of birth control.
102
How many of the 12 most populous nations are developing countries?
9 out of 12
103
How much of the world's energy and resources do people in developed countries use?
Even though only one-fifth of the world's population lives in developed countries, they use more than half of the world's energy and resources.
104
What is an ecological footprint? What country has the largest ecological footprint?
the amount of productive land and sea area needed to regenerate the resources a population consumes and to absorb and render harmless the corresponding waste. America has the largest ecological footprint.
105
What is affluence? What is it created by?
It is the degree of wealth each person possesses, such as money, goods, or property. It is created by economic opportunity.
106
What is the IPAT equation?
Impact= Population * Affluence * Technology
107
What is a nation's gross domestic product? What is it made up of?
A nation's GDP is the value of all products and services produced in a year in that nation. It is made up of investments, consumer spending, government spending, and exports minus imports.
108
What is the relationship between a nation's GDP and pollution?
The lower the GDP, the less the pollution. As GDP increases, a nation may reach a turning point at which it can afford machines that work more efficiently and cleanly, reducing pollution.
109
What is life history?
a record of events relating to an organism's growth, development, reproduction, and survival
110
What is life history strategy?
the overall pattern in the timing and nature of life history events
111
What are trade-offs?
Organisms allocate limited energy or resources to one structure or function at the expense of another.
112
What is a survivorship curve?
It shows the number of individuals of a population in a certain stage.
113
What is a Type I survivorship curve?
It is a curve in which there is a high survival in early and midlife and highest mortality rate in old age. It has the highest amount of parental investment. Humans fall in this type. Usually tend to see sexual reproduction in this type.
114
What is a Type II survivorship curve?
It has a roughly insistent mortality. Birds fall in this type.
115
What is a Type III survivorship curve?
It has the highest mortality rate in early life and relatively slow death rate for survivors. Trees fall in this type. Usually tend to see asexual reproduction in this type.
116
What is the difference between semelparous and iteroparous species?
Semelparous species can only reproduce once (octopus), while iteroparous species can have many reproduction cycles (humans).
117
What is cyclic parthenogenesis? Describe the zooplankton's reproduction.
Cyclic parthenogenesis is when a species can reproduce asexually and sexually in cycles. Zooplankton typically reproduce asexually to produce genetically identical offsprings. Un extreme environmental conditions, a female can produce a male to start sexual reproduction.
118
Memorize table 6.1 in last lecture
check
