Lecture 2

Question 1

Organisms and environmental factors (laws of limiting factors)

Answer 1

Any factor outside of optimal range will cause stress and limit growth, reproduction, and survival of a population

Question 2

Ecology

Answer 2

The study of all processes influencing
- distribution and abundance of organisms
- interactions between living things and the environment

Question 3

species:

Answer 3

A group of individuals that share certain characteristics

Question 4

Population

Answer 4

All members of a particular species occupying a given area

Question 5

A biotic community (biota)

Answer 5

The grouping of populations in an area
- all vegetation, animals, microscopic organisms
Determined by abiotic organisms (light, T, ph, salinity, water, light, etc.)

Question 6

Ecosystem

Answer 6

An interactive complex of the biotic community and the abiotic environment
I.e. forest, grassland, wetland, coral reef
HUMANS ARE PARTOF THE ECOSYSTEM

Question 7

Ecotone

Answer 7

Transitional region between ecosystems

Question 8

Landscape

Answer 8

A cluster of interacting ecosystems

Question 9

Biome

Answer 9

A grouping of all the ecosystems with the same climate and similar vegetation

Question 10

Biosphere

Answer 10

The overal system of all living things

Question 11

Condition (factor)

Answer 11

Any factor that varies in space and time but is not used up

Question 12

Resource (factor)

Answer 12

Any factor consumed by organisms

Question 13

Explain the survival curve

Answer 13

Every species has an optimum range, cones of stress, and limits of tolerance for every abiotic factor

Question 14

Synergistic effects (synergisms)

Answer 14

Factors that interact to cause an even greater effect than expected

Question 15

Matter

Answer 15

Anything that occupies space and has mass

Question 16

Law of conservation of matter

Answer 16

Atoms do not change and are not created or destroyed

Question 17

The exception to the law of conservation of matter

Answer 17

Nuclear reactions split atoms. It’s very rare and not a chemical reaction

Question 18

Organic molecules

Answer 18

Contains both carbon and hydrogen

Question 19

Inorganic molecules

Answer 19

Do not contain both carbon and hydrogen

Question 20

An organism is composed of large compounds - contain 6 key elements: (hint N CHOPS)

Answer 20

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur, and nitrogen

Question 21

Four spheres of the earth

Answer 21

Bio, hydro, atmo, and litho

Question 22

Atmosphere

Answer 22

The thin layer of gas separating earth from outer space

Question 23

Hydrosphere

Answer 23

Source of hydrogen
H bonding: a weak attraction that bonds two H atoms to an O atom

Question 24

Lithosphere

Answer 24

Site of all elements (found as rock and soil minerals)

Question 25

Minerals

Answer 25

Dense clusters of atoms

Question 26

Where do the spheres interact

Answer 26

The atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere interact in the biosphere

Question 27

Energy

Answer 27

The ability to do work

Question 28

Calorie

Answer 28

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water 1°C

Question 29

1st law of thermodynamics

Answer 29

Law of conservation of energy

Question 30

Second law of thermodynamics

Answer 30

Usable energy is lost in any energy conversion

Question 31

Which causes a gain in energy and which releases energy Production vs. breakdown of organic material

Answer 31

Production causes a gain and breakdown releases energy

Question 32

Photosynthesis (compounds -> compounds)

Answer 32

6CO2 + 6H2O -> C6H12O6 + 6O2 6 Carbon dioxide + 6 water -> glucose + 6 oxygen

Question 33

Cellular respiration (define and compounds to compounds)

Answer 33

Organic molecules are broken down inside each cell C6H12O6 + 6O2 -> 6CO2 + 6H2O Glucose + 6 oxygen -> 6 Carbon dioxide + 6 water

Question 34

haber-bosch process (hint: nitrogen)

Answer 34

N2 + 3H2 -> 2NH3

Question 35

Nitrogen fixation

Answer 35

N2 -> NH4

Question 36

Denitrification

Answer 36

NO3- ->N2 (anaerobic process)

Question 37

Nitrogen fixation

Answer 37

Nitrogen gas in atmosphere enters biological system Nitrogen gas to ammonium to used by plants

Question 38

Why can two predators coexist

Answer 38

They rely on different resources and have different niches

Question 39

First step of the nitrogen cycle

Answer 39

1. Uptake of NH4 or NO3 by organisms

Question 40

Second step of the nitrogen cycle

Answer 40

2. Release NH4 by decomposition

Question 41

Third, fourth step of nitrogen cycle

Answer 41

3, 4. Microbial oxidation of NH4 (yields energy in aerobic conditions)

Question 42

Fifth step of nitrogen cycle

Answer 42

5. Denitrification (NO3 respiration) by microbes in anaerobic conditions (NO3 is used instead of O2 as the terminal electron acceptor during decomposition of organic matter)

Question 43

Sixth step of nitrogen cycle

Answer 43

6. Nitrogen fixation

Question 44

Seventh step of the nitrogen cycle

Answer 44

7. Nitrate leaching from soil

Question 45

Methane (CH4)

Answer 45

A greenhouse gas produced in the stomachs of ruminant animals and is increasing in concentrations in the troposphere