Key Concepts Flashcards
(20 cards)
Why is photosynthesis important?
- it converts solar energy into chemical energy or sugars
- recycles carbon dioxide into oxygen
Why is cell respiration important?
-breaks down sugars from photosynthesis (digestion) so it can be used by cells
How are photosynthesis and cell respiration connected?
The reactants are the products of the other and vice versa
Why is the water cycle important
Water regulates body temp and maintains body function
Why is the carbon cycle important?
Carbon in its form as carbon dioxide absorbs and traps the suns energy and heat to the earth
Carbon dioxide is essential for photosynthesis
Why is the nitrogen cycle important?
Nitrogen makes up amino acids which are proteins for your body. They make up your hair, skin, tissues, etc.
How can humans impact the nutrient cycles?
Runoff from fertilizer- combines with nitrogen and creates acid precipitation, creates algal blooms
Fossil fuels and habitat destruction/ fragmentation- too much carbon is produced
How do humans impact ecosystems?
Habitat destruction and fragmentation- conversion to urban and agricultural land, loss of wetlands and aquatic ecosystems
Invasive species- outcompete organisms and upset food webs
Pollution- oils spills, plastics causes damage to marine ecosystems
What is a sustainable ecosystem?
Can be maintained through natural processes and can keep characteristics over long periods of time
Doesn’t need human influences
How can abiotic factors affect carrying capacity?
If the resources are plentiful, the carrying capacity can increase
If they are less plentiful, the capacity will decrease
Terrestrial Ecosystem Light Temp Nutrient Water
Light- clear cutting
Temperature- global warming
Nutrient- farming practices
Water- irrigation, bodies of water drained or damned
Aquatic Ecosystem Light Temp Nutrient Salinity Acidity
Light- erosion, stirring up water
Temp- heated waste
Nutrient- runoff
Salinity- salting highways, long term irrigation
Acidity- acid precipitation and fossil fuel burning
Benefits and Harms of Symbiotic Relationships
Mutualism-2 Predation- 1 Parasitism- 1 Competition-1 Commensalism- 1.5
Why should we save wetlands?
Clean Lakes Erosion control Global warming solution Outdoor learning Recreational spot Minimizes flooding Minimizes drought Wildlife Habitat Clean water Disappearing
What affects oxygen levels in water
Temperature, farming practices, decomposition, photosynthesis, respiration
Bioaccumulation
The concentration of a substance in the body of an organism
Bioamplification
The increase of the concentration of a substance in the body of an organism
Algal blooms
When excess nutrients from runoff are in the water
Invasive species: how they thrive
Disease
Predation
Competition
Parasitism
Hybridization- when they interbreed, weakens gene pool
Habitat Alteration- Change the structure of habitat
Impacts if invasive species
Economic- damage to forests costs money
Ecological-compete with native species
Tourism- recreation spots are decreasing because species loss and reduced water
Health- pesticides causing pollution
