Unit 3 Topic 2 - Ecosystem Dynamics Flashcards
What is the word and chemical equation for photosynthesis
Carbon Dioxide + Water -> Glucose + Oxygen
CO2 +H2O -> C6H1206 + O2
What is an autotroph and what do they do
They are an ecosystems producers, they use energy and inorganic molecules to produce organic molecules
What are the two types of autotrophs
photoautotrophs (use light) and chemoautotrophs (use chemicals)
What are heterotrophs and what do they do?
They are consumers, they obtain organic compounds from autotrophs or other heterotrophs
What are the organic compounds consumed by heterotrophs used for?
ATP production and biomass
what are the five main categories of heterotrophs
Herbivores
Carnivores
Parasites
Detritivores
Decomposers
What is a detritivore?
Animals that feed on dead organic material. (Animal decomposers)
Define Biomass
The total amount of biological matter (dry weight) in a group of organisms
What is the difference between Gross primary productivity and Net primary productivity?
GPP is the rate at which solar energy is used to fix carbon, NPP is the GPP minus the energy used in metabolism
What percentage of energy from one trophic level is typically transferred to the next
10% (90% is lost to metabolism or remains as chemical energy in the eaten organism)
Define biochemical cycling
The process where building blocks of living things are recycled through ecosystems
List and explain the steps of the water cycles
- Evaporation from bodies of water
- Condensation into clouds
- Precipitation as rainfall, snow, etc
- Release from organisms via transpiration and respiration
- run off into waterways
List the ways in which carbon can enter an ecosystem
Combustion of fossil fuels
Respiration
Decay of organisms
Volcanic activity
Released by a solution in water
List the ways carbon is taken up
- Photosynthesis
- Dissolving in water to form carbonates
- Formation of fossil fuels
- incorporation into biomass
Define dentrification
The break down of faeces and dead organisms by decomposers, returning nitrogen to the soil as ammonia
Define Ammonification
the fixing of nitrogen into ammonia by bacteria in the legume roots.
What is Nitrification
When bacteria in the soil convert ammonia into nitrate ions
How does lightning allow nitrogen to enter the soil
It makes nitrogen and oxygen react to form nitrogen dioxide which dissolves in the rain to form nitrate ions.
What is a niche
The role and space an organism fills in an ecosystem / how an organism uses the resources available in its habitat
e.g. An organisms interactions with other species or its feeding relationships
Define commensalism
A relationship in which one species benefits and there is no effect on the other.
What is Amensalism
A relationship where one species in negatively affected and one is not affected. e.g. a cow trampling grass
What is a keystone species
a species that plays a critical role in maintaining the structure of the ecosystem. these are typically but not always apex predators
Define carrying capacity
The maximum population that can be supported indefinitely on an ecosystems available resources
what is a limiting factor
Any factor that limits the size of a population e.g. predators, and available food, water, shelter, nutrients and light
