Week 3 Flashcards
what are ecosystems of similar types around the world called?
biome
what is an ecosystem composed of?
community + non living environment
What is another name for primary producers?
Autotrophs
describe the role of a primary producer
Primary producers play an important role in the ecosystems. The produce the biological molecules that go up the food chain. Primary producers, in most cases, are photosynthesiors. (algae, plants, ect)
what is an autotroph
Autotrophs refer to self-feeding. They do not need to feed on other organisms. They only depend on C02 and water to give themselves energy and produce molecules that support the whole ecosystem.
C02 + H20 > chlorophyll + sunlight > c6H12+06 + 02
what is this formula for?
photosynthesis
What is this formula?
C6H12+06 + 02»_space; C02 + H20
cellular respiration
what is the rule of 10 in ecology?
its the concept of how much biomass is required to feed predators up the food chain.
100 kg of carrots feed 10 kg of rabbits and that supports 1 kg of foxes.
Each time you go up the food chain, you only attain about 10% of the biomass.
what happens to the other 90% of energy that is not being used when feeding higher ups on the food chain?
most of it turns into metabolic heat, but also, feces and decaying organisms
what are the two basic truths that happen in an ecosystem?
- energy flows only 1 way.
* Materials and Nutrients are constantly recycled. (water, oxygen, nitrogen, ect.)
.
.
what is detritivores (detritus)
barely visible particles in the ocean that eventually become ooze. its what you see in the spring/ fall that make the ocean water less clear. it make it a rich environment… for example clams (filter feeders) feed on detritus as a primary food source
Foodchains are composed of: (6x)
- photosynthesizors.
- herbivores / primary consumer
- secondary
- third order
- detritivores (detritus)
- decomposers
what is the ecology efficiency?
“rule of 10” (the % efficiency of biomass conversion should be 10% less than the previous.
what are two kinds of distribution of marine organisms?
- benthic division (refers to ground) benthos are the animals and algae that live on the ocean floor.
- pelagic division (refers to the actual water mass) the biogeographic realm or zone that comprises the open seas and oceans, including water of all depths.
A devision of the pelagic division is the neurotic province….
what is the neurotic province?
The neritic zone is the relatively shallow part of the ocean above the drop-off of the continental shelf, approximately 200 meters in depth.
the oceanic province is a subdivision of the pelagic division…
what is the oceanic province?
The oceanic zone is typically defined as the area of the ocean lying beyond the continental shelf (such as the Neritic zone), but operationally is often referred to as beginning where the water depths drop to below 200 meters (660 feet), seaward from the coast into the open ocean with its Pelagic zone.
what is the photonic zone?
where the light penetrates a significant amount and allows for photosynthesis
what is the twilight zone?
the area of the ocean that has no more light.
these 4 different kind of Macromolecules are the building blocks of life
Nucleic Acids (DNA/RNA – genetic material)
Lipids
Carbohydrates
Proteins.
What are carbohydrates?
• Sugars (e.g. glucose, lactose,) starches, cellulose (fiber- cell walls of plants. What gives plants structure),
chitin (complex carb that you find in the exoskeleton of crabs and crustations, it is also found in the cell walls of the Fungai kingdom.)
• Functions within marine organisms: short term energy storage, structure.
What are some examples of lipids and what are their functions?
lipid are fats, oils and waxes.
if they are solid at room temp they are a fat or wax.
oils are typically liquid and from a plant origin
all of our cells are typically a double layer of lipid. its very important structurally
important as insulation (buffers organixsms from external thuds, swell as a protector from the cold)
many hormones such as steroids are a type of lipid.
as well as these general functions, in the water, there re 2 specific functions of lipids.
- buoyancy (helps marine animals float onto of the water)
- waterproofing.
What are some examples and functions of proteins:
SHETIT
– protens are made of 20 different animo acids.
- functions within marine organisms:
- structure (muscles, scales feathers.)
- Hormones (chemical signals)
- Enzymes ( biological catalyst) e.g. digestive enzymes
- Hormones (chemical signals)
- Transport (e.g. hemoglobin)
- Immune function (antibodies)
- Toxins (defence system)
What is Keratin a good example of?
a building block protein
