OC BIO MIDTERMS Flashcards

1
Q

Ecosystem

A

all the organisms that live in a place, together with their physical environment

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2
Q

Biotic factor

A

any living part of the environment

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3
Q

What methods are used in ecological studies?

A

observation, experimentation, and modeling

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4
Q

What factors shape aquatic ecosystems?

A

salinity, depth, temperature, flow rate, and concentrations of dissolved nutrients

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5
Q

The gases in the atmosphere that trap heat produce

A

the greenhouse effect

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6
Q

Nonliving factors of an environment are called

A

abiotic

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7
Q

dense forests of coniferous boreal forests along the northern edge of the temperate zone

A

taiga

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8
Q

a wetland formed where a river meets the sea

A

estuary

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9
Q

a dense, leafy covering at the tops of all trees in a rainforest

A

canopy

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10
Q

How do models help ecologists understand global systems?

A

By developing a model that shows those systems, the processes that operate within each system, and ways those systems work.

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11
Q

What is climate and how does climate change affect ecosystems?

A

Patterns and averages of temperature, precipitation, clouds, and winds over many years; long term climate changes can make the difference between success and failure of crops, which shape ecosystems

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12
Q

What abiotic factors distinguish different biomes?

A

Elevation and soil

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13
Q

What factors describe aquatic ecosystems?

A

Salinity, depth, temperature, flow rate, and concentrations of dissolve nutrients

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14
Q

What are the major categories of freshwater ecosystems?

A

Rivers and streams, lakes and ponds, and freshwater wetlands

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15
Q

Why are estuaries so important?

A

Estuaries serve as spawning and nursing grounds for many ecologically and commercially important fish and shellfish.

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16
Q

Use the climate diagram to answer the questions.
The bar graph data shows the amount of precipitation, and the line graph shows the average temperature.

Describe the pattern of precipitation in this place. Is it seasonal or year-round?

A

Year-round

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17
Q

Use the climate diagram to answer the questions.
The bar graph data shows the amount of precipitation, and the line graph shows the average temperature.

Describe the annual temperature pattern in this place.

A

Temperature rises during the spring, fall, and summer months, and decreases during winter.

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18
Q

Biosphere

A

consists of all life on Earth and all parts of Earth in which life exists

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19
Q

Ecology

A

The scientific study of the interactions between organisms and between organisms and their surroundings

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20
Q

Species

A

group of organisms that breed and produce offspring

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21
Q

Populations

A

a group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area

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22
Q

Community

A

A group of different populations that live together in a defined area

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23
Q

Abiotic factor

A

any nonliving part of the environment

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24
Q

Atmosphere

A

a layer of all the gases that surround the Earth

25
Q

Hydrosphere

A

all the water of the Earth’s surface as well as the water vapor and rain in the atmosphere and water underground

26
Q

Geosphere

A

solid earth which consists of rocks, continents, and the ocean floor

27
Q

Why is ecology important?

A

We need to understand ecology so that human activity does not continue to damage the environment

28
Q

What are biotic and abiotic factors?

A

A biotic factor is any other living things with which an organism might interact.

An abiotic factor is any nonliving part of the environment

29
Q

How can we model global systems?

A

One way to understand global systems is to develop a model that shows those systems, the processes that operate within each system, and the ways those systems and processes interact

30
Q

What field of science studies the rocks and solid materials that make up our planet?

A

Geology

31
Q

What factors can be both abiotic and biotic? How so?

A

Dirt, because it has bacteria, which is biotic, as well as sand and other sediments, which are abiotic.

32
Q

How do the global systems interact to affect ecosystems?

A

By measuring human and non-human causes of change in global systems, representing processes within each of thee four global systems, and representing changes in global systems that scientists can measure

33
Q

What features of the geosphere could affect ecosystems?

A

The ocean floor, and continents

34
Q

Cause:
Sunlight, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane

A

Effect:
Allows light to enter the atmosphere but traps heat; greenhouse gases

35
Q

Cause:
Earth’s curvature and tilt

A

Effect:
Affects the angle that sunlight strikes the surface.

36
Q

Cause:
Uneven heat distribution

A

Effect:
Creates wind and ocean currents, also shapes global climate system

37
Q

Cause:
Winds, surface current

A

Effect:
Has warming effect on nearby coastal areas

38
Q

Cause:
Slow climate change

A

Effect: Crops will likely succeed

39
Q

Cause:
Giant meteorite hits earth

A

Effect:
long-term major effect on climate

40
Q

Cause:
Rapid climate change

A

Effect: Crops will likely fail

41
Q

What is the difference between weather and climate?

A

Weather can change rapidly and be difficult to predict, Climate is usually more predictable.

42
Q

How is Earth’s climate and average temperature determined?

A

The global climate system is powered and shaped by the total amount of solar energy retained in the biosphere as heat. The global climate system is also shaped by the unequal distribution of that heat between the equator and the poles.;

Average temperature is determined by the balance between the amount of heat that stays in the atmosphere and the amount of heat that is lost to space.

43
Q

What causes ocean currents?

A

Patterns of warming and cooling, by winds, and by the location of continents.

44
Q

A greenhouse is a enclosed glass or plastic structure used to grow plants. How does knowing this help you understand the greenhouse effect?

A

The greenhouse effect is similar to a green-house in that it traps heat, which is good for plants, and also allows sunlight to pass through. It is kind of like the Earth’s greenhouse.

45
Q

What factors shape regional climate?

A

Latitude, the transport of heat and moisture by winds and ocean currents, and by geographic features such as mountain ranges, large bodies of water, and ocean currents.

46
Q

What does climate change involve?

A

Climate change involves change in temperature, clouds, winds, patterns and amounts of precipitation, and the frequency and severity of extreme weather events.

47
Q

How does the angle of sunlight affect the climate of each of the climate zones?

A

The tropical zone gets a direct amount of sunlight, temperatures near sea level are warm or hot all year.

The two temperate zones receive direct, but less direct sunlight compared to the tropical zone. It has very hot summers and quite cold winters.

The two polar zones receive the least direct sunlight, and has barely warm summers, and freezing winters.

48
Q

What abiotic and biotic factors characterize a biome?

A

The organisms living in a biome can vary, due to differing conditions such as elevation or soil

49
Q

What effect does the permafrost have on plants in the tundra?

A

It makes plants have a hard time rooting in the soil

50
Q

Describe the differences in the abiotic factors of the open ocean photic zone compared to the open ocean aphotic zone.

A

The open ocean photic zone is brighter, as its the above-part of the ocean, so it is closer to the sun compared to the open ocean aphotic zone, which is dark, cold, and has a higher water pressure, as it includes the deepest parts of the ocean.

51
Q

What are primary producers?

A

Algae and plants

52
Q

How do consumers obtain energy and nutrients?

A

Consumers are organisms that rely on other organisms for energy and nutrients

53
Q

Using the word elements, explain the difference between an autotroph and an heterotroph

A

Autotrophs produce, heterotrophs consume

54
Q

How does energy flow through ecosystems?

A

A food chain is a series of organisms in which energy is transferred from one organism to another.

55
Q

How could decomposers be added to the diagram?
Which part of the food web do they affect?

A

Decomposers can be added at the very back of the diagram as decomposers break down organic matter, such as a dead animal, and release that matter in the form of nutrients back into the soil.

56
Q

What does the pyramid of energy show?

A

the amount of energy available at each trophic level.

57
Q

What does the pyramid of biomass show?

A

The relative amount of living organic matter in each trophic level

58
Q

What does the pyramid of numbers show?

A

The relative number of individual organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem.

59
Q

How do ecological pyramids help analyze energy flow through trophic levels?

A

Pyramids of energy show the relative amount of energy available at each trophic level of a food chain or food web. The pyramid is widest at the bottom. The shape of the pyramid shows the efficiency of energy transfer between levels