Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

BIO 20 > Unit A Topic 2: Energy in the Biosphere > Flashcards

Unit A Topic 2: Energy in the Biosphere Flashcards

(60 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

What is dynamic equilibrium?

A

Describes any system with constant change in which the components can adjust to the changes without disturbing the entire system.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the biosphere?

A

The narrow zone around Earth that harbours life, extending from the ocean depths to the atmosphere.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are biotic components?

A

The biological or living components of the biosphere (life forms).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are abiotic components?

A

The non-living components of the biosphere including chemical and physical factors (rocks and minerals).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a population?

A

A group of individuals of the same species occupying a given area at a certain time.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is a community?

A

The populations of all species in an ecosystem.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is biodiversity?

A

The number of species in an ecosystem.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is an ecosystem?

A

A community and its physical and chemical environment.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is a food chain?

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is a producer?

A

An autotroph (an organism that makes its own food and energy) → energy from the sun.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is a consumer?

A

A heterotroph (an organism that must eat producers or other consumers to survive).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is an indicator species?

A

A species sensitive to small changes in the environmental conditions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is a herbivore?

A

An animal that eats only plants.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is a carnivore?

A

An animal that feeds on other animals only.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is an omnivore?

A

An animal that eats both plants and other animals.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is detritus?

A

Waste from plants and animals (includes dead).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is a decomposer?

A

An organism that feeds on detritus.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is a habitat?

A

A place or type of environment with conditions suitable for the survival of an organism or population.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is ultraviolet radiation?

A

Electromagnetic radiation from the Sun that can cause the burning of skin/cellular mutations.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is ozone?

A

An inorganic molecule → layer of ozone found in the stratosphere (helps to screen out ultraviolet radiation).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is a trophic level?

A

A category of living things defined by how it gains its energy (first trophic level = autotrophs and each higher level = heterotrophs).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is an autotroph?

A

An organism that uses the Sun’s energy and raw materials to make its own food (producer).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is a primary consumer?

A

A part of the food chain/web that relies directly on autotrophs for energy (second level).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is a secondary consumer?

A

In a food chain/web, relies on primary consumers for its principal source of energy (third level).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What is a heterotroph?
An organism that is incapable of making its own food (must feed on other organisms to gain energy).
26
What is a food web?
A representation of the feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem.
27
What is photosynthesis?
A process by which green plants and some other organisms use solar energy, carbon dioxide, and water to produce energy and oxygen. ## Footnote Carbon dioxide + water + energy → glucose + oxygen 6CO2(g) + 6H2O(l) + energy → C6H12O6(s) + 6O2(g)
28
What is cellular respiration?
The process where cells break down glucose into carbon dioxide and water to release energy (exothermic). ## Footnote Glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water + energy C6H12O6(s) + 6O2(g) → 6CO2(g) + 6H2O(l) + energy
29
What is chemosynthesis?
The process where non-photosynthetic organisms convert inorganic chemicals to organic compounds without solar energy.
30
What is a chemoautotroph?
An organism that can synthesize organic compounds from inorganic chemicals without using solar energy.
31
What is thermodynamics?
A scientific study of energy transformations, described by laws.
32
What is the first law of thermodynamics?
Although energy can be transformed from one form to another, it cannot be created or destroyed.
33
What is the second law of thermodynamics?
During any energy transformation, some of the energy is converted into an unusable form, mostly thermal energy, which cannot be passed on.
34
What is an ecological pyramid?
A representation of energy flow in food chains/webs.
35
What is a pyramid of numbers?
Counting the number of organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem.
36
What is a pyramid of biomass?
Showing the amount of biomass in each trophic level.
37
What is biomass?
The total dry mass of all living materials in an ecosystem (measure of stored energy content).
38
What is a pyramid of energy?
Measure of the amount of energy available at each trophic level.
39
What are monocultures?
The cultivation of a single species.
40
What is a polar molecule?
A molecule that has a positive and negative end.
41
What is a hydrogen bond?
The type of bond that is formed between the positive end of a water molecule and the negative end of another molecule.
42
What is the hydrological cycle?
The movement of water through the environment from the atmosphere to earth and back.
43
What is transpiration?
The loss of water through plant leaves (water recycling).
44
What is percolation?
The movement of a liquid through a porous material (ex. Soil particles).
45
What is the water table?
The top level of the region below the ground that is saturated with water.
46
What is leaching?
The removal of soluble minerals by percolation.
47
Stromatolites:
Key fossils for understanding the origin and evolution of life →a banded limestone containing colonies of bacteria. Release of iron oxide when iron in the rock sediment reacts with oxygen in the atmosphere. (starts in the water because of the plants that grow in the water, with sediments settling on the floor. Plants create oxygen and then the oxygen bonds with the iron in the sediments on the floor of the body of water. Eventually, when there is no more iron in the water, the oxygen rises and leaves the water to go into the atmosphere and the iron stays in the water.)
48
What is the carbon cycle?
The cycle of matter where carbon atoms move from an inorganic form to organic form and then back.
49
What is combustion?
The chemical reaction where a substance reacts very quickly with oxygen to release energy.
50
What is peat?
Slowly decomposing plant matter produced in low-oxygen environments (bogs).
51
What is the oxygen cycle?
The cycling of oxygen in the biosphere closely linked to the carbon cycle.
52
What is the greenhouse effect?
The process where heat is trapped near Earth’s surface by greenhouse gases.
53
What is global warming?
The gradual increase in the overall temperature of the Earth's atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect.
54
What is albedo?
A term used to describe the extent to which a surface can reflect light that strikes it.
55
What is the nitrogen cycle?
A cycle of matter in which nitrogen atoms move from nitrogen gas in the atmosphere to inorganic forms in the soil, to organic forms in living things, and then back.
56
What is nitrogen fixation?
Processes where atmospheric or dissolved nitrogen are converted into nitrate ions.
57
What is denitrification?
The process where nitrates are converted to nitrites and then nitrogen gas.
58
What are fertilizers?
Materials used to restore nutrients and increase production from the land.
59
What are the steps of the phosphorus cycle?
Steps Weathering: Phosphorus is released from rocks and soil through weathering. Absorption by Plants: Plants absorb inorganic phosphate from the soil. Absorption by Animals: Animals obtain phosphorus by consuming plants or other animals. Return to Environment: When plants or animals die, they decompose, and the organic phosphate is returned to the soil and water.
60
What are nutrients?
Chemicals that are essential to living things.

BIO 20 (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions