Unit A

Question 0

Define Equilibrium

Answer 0

A state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced.

Question 1

Define Trophic Levels

Answer 1

A category of living things defined by how it gains energy; the first trophic level contains autotrophs and each higher-level contains heterotrophs

Question 2

Define Atmosphere

Answer 2

The envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet

Question 3

Define Lithosphere

Answer 3

The rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle

Question 4

Define Hydrosphere

Answer 4

All the waters on the earths surface, such as lakes and seas and sometimes including water over the earth’s surface like clouds.

Question 5

Define biodiversity

Answer 5

The variety of life in the world or in particular habitats or ecosystems

Question 6

Define albedo

Answer 6

The proportion of the incident light or radiation that is reflected by a surface, typically that of a planet or moon

Question 7

Define chemoautotroph

Answer 7

An organism, typically a bacterium, that derives energy from the oxidation of inorganic compounds

Question 8

Define indicator species

Answer 8

A thing, especially a trend or fact, that indicates the state or level of something.

Question 9

Define first law of thermodynamics

Answer 9

That energy cannot be created or destroyed it can only change forms.

Question 10

Define second law of thermodynamics

Answer 10

That during every energy conversion some energy is lost as heat.

Question 11

Define food chain

Answer 11

A sequence linking organisms that feed on each other, starting with a food source and continuing in order with each consumer

Question 12

Define food web

Answer 12

A representation of the feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem.

Question 13

Define pyramid of numbers

Answer 13

Represents the number of organisms in that environment

Question 14

Define pyramid of biomass

Answer 14

Represents the amount of biomass in that environment

Question 15

Define pyramid of energy

Answer 15

Represents the amount of energy available at each trophic level

Question 16

Define biotic

Answer 16

Of having to do with the life or living organisms

Question 17

Define abiotic

Answer 17

Characterized by the absence of life or living organisms

Question 18

Define hydrological cycle [water cycle]

Answer 18

The movement of water through the environment from the atmosphere to earth and back

Question 19

Define percolation

Answer 19

The movement of a liquid through a porous material, such as soil particles

Question 20

Define Deforestation

Answer 20

The state of being clear of trees

Question 21

Define Acid deposition

Answer 21

Rain or any type of precipitation that is unusually acidic

Question 22

Define Carbon cycle

Answer 22

The cycle of matter in which carbon atoms move from an inorganic form to an organic form and then back to an inorganic form

Question 23

Define greenhouse effect

Answer 23

The trapping of the suns warmth in a planets lower atmosphere due to the greater transparency of the atmosphere to visible radiation from the sun then to infrared radiation emitted from the planets surface

Question 24

Define carbon reservoir

Answer 24

A Carbon-storing natural feature that exchanges Carbon with other reservoirs

Question 25

Define nitrogen fixation

Answer 25

Two processes in which atmospheric or dissolved nitrogen is converted into nitrite ions

Question 26

Define nitrification

Answer 26

The chemical process in which a nature group is added to an organic compound

Question 27

Define denitrification

Answer 27

Process in which nitrates are converted into nitrites and then to nitrogen gas

Question 28

Explain why the earth is considered to be a closed system

Answer 28

Because energy can move in and out but matter can't

Question 29

Describe the job of ecologists

Answer 29

They are people who study the interactions among biotic and abiotic factors

Question 30

What causes seasons to occur

Answer 30

Seasons depend on the angle of the sun in reference to where they are on the earth

Question 31

Given example of two type of organisms that absorb solar energy

Answer 31

Photosynthetic organisms and cellular respiration organisms

Question 32

What is an ecosystem

Answer 32

They are regions of the biosphere where biotic and abiotic factors interrelate through the flow of energy and cycling of matter

Question 33

What is the biosphere made of?

Answer 33

Atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere

Question 34

What is photosynthesis

Answer 34

It is a process that provides the energy required by the entire system. It stores energy and chemical bonds of glucose CO2 + H2O + energy ---> C6H12O6 + O2

Question 35

What is cellular respiration

Answer 35

It is a process that releases energy stored in glucose. This process is one that all organisms, including plants, must undergo. C6H12O6 + O2 --> CO2 + H2O + energy

Question 36

What is at the base of all ecological pyramids?

Answer 36

Producers (plants)

Question 37

Define autotroph

Answer 37

An organism that is able to form nutritional organic substances from simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide

Question 38

In the food chain which consumer obtains the most amount of energy?

Answer 38

The herbivores

Question 39

What place on earth has no seasons? Why?

Answer 39

Places nearest the equator. Because they have the most solar radiation all months of the year.

Question 40

In relationship to the sun, during the winter months, which direction is Fort McMurray tilted?

Answer 40

The earth would be tilted away from the sun

Question 41

Why is energy lost at each trophic level?

Answer 41

Because energy is always lost as heat and