question

The science of the relationship between an organism and its environment

answer

Ecology

question

Differentiate between ecology and a study of man's pollution of the environment

answer

i. Study of what most people would call "nature", It doesn't deal with individual parts but with the whole ii. Ecology is how living and nonliving things affect one another and is science of interrelationships between all organisms and environment iii. A study of man's pollution requires an application of ecological principles to solve a particular problem

question

What functions do ecologists most frequently perform?

answer

i. Study relationships between existing organism and their environment ii. Predict what would happen if some factor were changed iii. Recommend steps to change an environment or the organism in it

question

The total system of interactions between living organisms and nonliving things and factors within a limited area

answer

Ecosystem

question

all the living things within the ecosystem

answer

Biotic Community

question

it is in a constantly moving cycle

answer

Cyclic

question

What are two parts of the water cycle?

answer

i. Transpiration- loss of water from plants ii. Evaporation- water enters the atmosphere

question

water moving on the surface of the earth

answer

Runoff water

question

water that drains into the soil

answer

Percolates

question

when water reaches a layer it cannot penetrate; comes out of the ground as springs or wells

answer

Groundwater

question

"lay of the land"

answer

Topography

question

rock and other substances underneath the soil

answer

Geologic Substrate

question

measure of the concentration of dissolved minerals in the world's oceans

answer

Salinity

question

regularly cut off from the ocean as the tide goes out

answer

Tidal pools

question

are created by lightning or spontaneous combustion; they are beneficial

answer

Ground fire

question

Why are ground fires beneficial?

answer

i. Do not kill vertebrates or larger plants ii. A fire kills the underbrush that would compete with the pine seedling for light, water, and minerals and thus gives the seedling a better chance of survival

question

All members of the same types of living things within an area

answer

Populations

question

A measure of the number of individuals from a population in a defined area or space

answer

Density

question

Two main types of populations

answer

Producers and Consumers

question

An organism that produces its own food; a photosynthetic or chemosynthetic organism; an autotroph

answer

Producers

question

An organism that takes materials from the ecosystem

answer

Consumers

question

The rate of photosynthesis carried on by an ecosystem's producers

answer

Primary Productivity

question

A representation of the nutritional relationship between organisms in an ecosystem

answer

Food chain

question

eat producers (normally herbivores)

answer

Primary consumers

question

usually carnivores (or called first-level carnivores)

answer

Secondary consumers

question

example is bass (or called second-level carnivores)

answer

Tertiary Consumers

question

Dead organic matter (ex. Fallen leaves, dead trees, dead bodies of animals)

answer

Detritus

question

An organism that breaks down dead organic matter into forms that can be used by other organisms

answer

Decomposer organism

question

A diagram showing the quantitative relationships between the biomass or the quantities of organisms in an ecosystem

answer

Ecological pyramids

question

A particular step in an ecological pyramid that shows the flow of energy through a food chain

answer

Trophic levels

question

The total mass of tissue of a population or species (usually measured in a dried form)

answer

Biomass

question

A measure of the scope or range of living organisms in an environment

answer

Biodiversity

question

A method of illustrating multiple nutritional relationships and interactions between populations in an ecosystem

answer

Food webs

question

A situation in which there is no direct relationship between populations in an environment

answer

Neutralism

question

A relationship in which two populations inhibit each other because they both depend on the same resource

answer

Competition

question

Situation in which an organism (predator) kills and eats another organism (prey)

answer

Predation

question

broad term for any close, long-term relationship between two organisms of different species

answer

Symbiosis

question

When one population is inhibited or harmed by a second population and the second population is not affected by the first

answer

Amensalism

question

The parasite depends (often for food) on a living host

answer

Parasitism

question

best-known parasites that live inside their host

answer

Endoparasites

question

live on the outside

answer

Ectoparasites

question

A relationship in which one population benefits from a second population, but the second population is not harmed or helped by the first

answer

Commensalism

question

A form of symbiosis in which the organisms depend on each other for protection and nourishment

answer

Mutualism

question

Neither organism would survive without the other

answer

Obligatory

question

protective coloration or shape to blend in with environment around them

answer

Camouflage

question

clash with environment to earn predators

answer

Warning coloration

question

mimic deadly or foul tasting animal

answer

Mimicry

question

What are the two components of an ecosystem?

answer

i. Abiotic Factors- A nonliving aspect of an ecosystem ii. Biotic Factors- A living thing (population) in an ecosystem

question

List several abiotic factors of your school's grounds or your yard at home

answer

i. Radiation (light and heat) ii. Atmosphere iii. Rotation of the earth iv. Wind (currents in aquatic environments) v. Water vi. Topography (depth of water in aquatic environments) vii. Soil and geologic substrate (mineral concentration in aquatic environments) viii. Gravity ix. Fire

question

Describe the water cycle

answer

i. Through evaporation and transpiration, water from soil enters atmosphere. ii. Clouds form, water falls as precipitation iii. Water may flow into streams and then larger water bodies. Water flowing on the surface of the earth is runoff water. iv. Some water percolates into soil until it reaches impermeable layer and forms ground water v. Ground water flows out as springs/comes up through man-made wells; may also eventually reach lake or ocean

question

What is included in the biotic factors of an environment?

answer

i. Biosphere ii. Ecosystem iii. Community iv. Population v. Individual

question

What are the two main types of populations (based on their nutritional relationships)?

answer

i. Producers (green plants, algae) ii. Consumers [feeders (animals and Protista) and decomposers (fungi and bacteria]

question

What happens to the radiant energy available to plants? How much of it is available to the first consumer?

answer

i. About 50% of light energy available to plant absorbed 1% converted to sugar ii. About 50% sugar energy used for plant's own metabolism iii. 0.5% is available to the first consumer

question

Account for the energy losses between the step in a food chain

answer

i. The uneaten things or things that have molted contain energy that is lost ii. Respiration, excretions, secretions, contain lost energy iii. Much ingest energy is lost

question

List and describe the possible species interactions or nutritional relationships between organism

answer

i. Neutralism- A situation in which there is no direct relationship between populations in an environment ii. Competition- A relationship in which two populations inhibit each other because they both depend on the same resource (competing for food) iii. Predation- Situation in which an organism (predator) kills and eats another organism (prey)

question

List and describe several strategies that animals use to survive

answer

i. Camouflage: protective coloration or shape to blend in with environment around them ii. Warning coloration: clash with environment to earn predators iii. Mimicry: mimic deadly or foul tasting animal

question

Why is it improbable for the relationships between organisms to be the result of the evolution?

answer

i. They are not evolving, they are simply mimicking other populations ii. Dependent on others

question

What role do plants play in the water cycle?

answer

i. Transpiration

question

thin shell around the earth in which all known physically living things exist

answer

Biosphere

question

general term for the area where a type of organisms lives- its "address"

answer

Habitat

question

what an organism does and how it fits into and affects its habitat- its "job" or "occupation"

answer

Niche

question

process of one species replacing another

answer

Competitive exclusion

question

Is energy noncyclic or cyclic? Matter?

answer

Energy= noncyclic Matter= cyclic

question

the movement of a particular chemical substance through the earth's system

answer

Biogeochemical cycle

question

Something that in some way restricts the growth or existence of an organism

answer

Limiting Factors

question

A particular measure of the environment that becomes more limiting as a population increases

answer

Density-dependent factors

question

A particular measure of the environment that limits population growth regardless of the size of the population

answer

Density-independent factors

question

moving into an area

answer

Immigration

question

moving out of an area

answer

Emigration

question

The rate of population growth in which the population size multiples at a constant rate at regular intervals

answer

Exponential growth

question

The maximum population size that a given area can sustain

answer

Carrying Capacity

question

variation that occurs in a population when it has neared carrying capacity and slowed or halted its exponential growth

answer

Logistic Growth

question

live on many difference food source and a wide range of conditions

answer

Generalists

question

organisms with very little flexibility toward their habitat conditions or whose food preferences are very narrow

answer

Specialists

question

4 Principles Regarding Limiting Factors

answer

i. An organism with a wide range of tolerance for all factors will have a wide distribution ii. An organism with a wide range of tolerance for one factor may have a narrow range for a different factor iii. When one factor is not in its optimal range, the range of tolerance for another factor may be reduced iv. The period of reproduction is the most critical time for limiting factors

question

Describe the limits of the biosphere

answer

i. Limiting factors are the factors that in some way limit the growth or existence of an organism. An inadequate supply of Carbon Dioxide would cause it to be a limiting factor. A depleted supply of a certain mineral would cause the mineral to become a limiting factor. A limiting factor is also that which goes beyond than organism's range of tolerance. Too much water can also be a limiting factor. Limiting factors are either density-dependent, meaning they become more limiting as the population density increases, or density-independent, meaning they limit population growth regardless of the population's size.

question

Differentiate between the habitat and the niche of an organism

answer

i. A habitat is where an organism lives while a niche is the organism's job or lifestyle

question

Why does a closed terrarium constantly need light but does not necessarily need water? Why must a closed terrarium contain sufficient animal life?

answer

i. The sunlight provides energy for the plants to grow. The animals eat the plants and produce CO2 (photosynthesis) and waste (fertiliser), which in turn are used again by the plant to grow. Since it is a closed system, no water would be lost, so it is not necessary to add extra water. Energy (in the form of light), on the other hand, is lost from the system as heat. Also, as energy in the form of food is passed up the food chain, part of it is lost in every step. A completely closed system (where no energy is lost) where you still provide light would not work, because the energy in the form of heat would build up, since it can't escape, and the organisms would die. No light at all would also not work, since plants can't use heat for photosynthesis

question

List at least five possible limiting factors for a squirrel living in a city park

answer

i. not enough trees to live in ii. Not enough acorns for food iii. How much water is available iv. Pollution from man v. Correct nutrients for reproduction

question

List two factors that will directly cause population growth and two that will cause population decline

answer

i. Growth: birthrate, immigration ii. Decline: death rate, emigration

question

Why do you think secular scientists get so excited about the prospect of life occurring on Mars or other planets?

answer

i. It would help evolution if they could see life on earlier plants because they believe it might show the in between a that are missing

question

If you could become any animal, would you rather be a generalist or a specialist? Why?

answer

i. Generalist: when food supplies of certain things deplete, I can still eat and survive

question

The predictable, gradual change of a biotic community over a period of time

answer

Ecological succession

question

The type of ecological succession that starts from bare rock and must first form soil

answer

Primary succession

question

The type of ecological succession that starts at a point where soil and some plants are already present

answer

Secondary succession

question

plants growing in the shade of trees

answer

Understory

question

hardwood deciduous forest

answer

Climax vegetation

question

What is the relationship between succession and climax vegetation?

answer

i. A community of vegetation is a biological community of plants, fungi and animals that is stable. It develops from a pioneering community into a climax community. Succession in Ecology is the observation of the growth and change in a vegetation community. So the relationship between succession and climax in vegetation is that succession is the process of observing the change in a vegetation community from a few pioneering plants to a fully developed, stable community known as a climax community

question

Describe a pioneer stage of succession and compare it to a climax stage of succession.

answer

i. Pioneer: few species, large populations of each; smaller organisms; organisms with higher metabolic rates; organisms with short life spans; organisms with simple forms of reproduction; large amounts of nutrients needed and large amounts lost from the ecosystem ii. Climax Stage: many species, small populations of each; larger organisms; organisms with lower metabolic rates; organisms with long life spans; organisms with complicated life cycles; nutrients cyclic within the ecosystem

question

How might a pH change that seems to kill only developing tadpoles in a pond affect other species like algae, snails, and bass?

answer

i. They lose a food source, which results in more competition and therefore a decline in population density.

question

Which would have had a better chance of survival in the period right after the Flood-small animals like rats and mice or larger ones like bears and lions? Defend your answer

answer

i. Smaller ones because there is a better food supply for them. Larger animals would need the smaller animals to feed on

question

2 points of deep ecology emphasizes

answer

i. All life is of equal value. That is, every species has an inherent right to life no matter how small its role in the ecosystem ii. All life forms are interdependent on each other. This holistic view of life views man as just another species that is part of the living earth. He is not separate from it, nor does he have any special rights over any other species

question

2 ways man affects the environment

answer

i. Consumer- man is a consumer since he takes materials from the food chain ii. Manager- man's role in having dominion in which he changes the environment to better meet his needs

question

An organism that, when introduced to an area outside its original range, becomes a nuisance due to excessive growth or reproduction

answer

Invasive species

question

The worship of the universe and its phenomena as god

answer

Pantheism

question

theory that the entire biosphere functions as a single thinking organisms

answer

Gaia movement

question

What are the two main aspects of man's ecological niche?

answer

i. consumer: takes materials from the food chain ii. manager: changes the environment to meet his needs

question

In what ways is man the top consumer in the biosphere? How does man differ in his consumption from all other consumers in the biosphere?

answer

i. Capable of interrupting the flow of energy and materials in an ecosystem at many different points to supply his own needs; herbivore and carnivore; can even consume organisms of the detritus food chain (shrimp, lobster, catfish) ii. can make choices about what he consumes and how much

question

What types of things does man do to manage the ecosystems?

answer

i. clears ground, plants crops; convert land to pasture for domestic animals; dams a stream to prevent a flood

question

What is the primary problem regarding man's use of natural resources?

answer

i. Overuse or abuse by destroying some aspects of his environment

question

The process that concentrates small quantities of a substance into larger quantities as it is passed in a food chain

answer

Biological Magnification

question

dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane

answer

DDT

question

The triatomic form of oxygen that is found in the atmosphere

answer

Ozone

question

The phenomenon in which gases in the atmosphere prevent some of the sun's radiation from returning to space, thus maintaining a warm temperature on the earth

answer

Greenhouse effect

question

The rise in temperature that has been noted over the last century on the earth

answer

Global warming

question

Contamination of the environment with substances or factors that change the environment significantly

answer

Pollution

question

Capable of being broken down by the environment and returned to the normal cycling of substances

answer

Biodegradable

question

cannot be broken apart in the environment (this bad)

answer

Nonbiodegrable

question

What are the two main types of pollutants, on the basis of their decomposition?

answer

i. biodegradable: can break down and return to the normal cycle ii. nonbiodegradable: cannot break down and return to the normal cycle

question

What are hazardous wastes? Give several reasons that they are difficult to deal with

answer

i. Chemicals that are toxic to organisms, are highly reactive or even explosive with other elements, cause corrosion, or are flammable ii. They are carried by the movement of water or by the food chain; extremely strong

question

In what ways can a beneficial substance put in an ecosystem become a pollutant?

answer

i. The substance leaves one ecosystem and collects in another

question

Why is biological magnification a problem with nonbiodegradable pollutants but not with biodegradable pollutants?

answer

i. Biological magnification is the process that concentrates small quantities of a substance into larger quantities as it is passed in a food chain. Nonbiodegradable things will never break down and therefore it is a problem because the waste will spread.

question

A large swamp is to be drained by constructing a concrete-lined channel for the stream that feeds in to the swamp. List some questions that should be answered before work is started

answer

i. where is the swamp water going? ii. is there a way to purify it so it can be used resourcefully?

question

How do the different abiotic factors interact with the water cycle?

answer

i. Water is one of the most crucial abiotic factors. If the sun did not warm the atmosphere, evaporation would stop. The heat of the sun and rotation of the earth cause winds that move moisture- laden air. Moist winds cool atmosphere and move clouds over the land to prevent rain from falling only over the oceans, where most evaporation takes place. And if gravity were not pulling at the rain, then runoffs water, groundwater, lakes, and oceans would not form. Fire burns underbrush and allows more water to reach plant roots and more rain to reach the ground

question

Why are there energy losses between the steps of the food chain?

answer

i. Energy is lost at each stage of a food chain. It is due to the organisms using some of the energy they get to survive. The uneaten things or thing that have molted contain energy that is lost. Respiration, excretions, and secretions contain lost energy.

question

What is the different of density-dependent factors and density-independent factors? Give examples

answer

i. Density- dependent: a particular measure of the environment that becomes more limiting as a population increases 1. Examples: amount of trees for squirrels to nest in, amount of zebras for lions to feed on, and lack of grazing area for bison ii. Density- independent: a particular measure of the environment that limits population growth regardless of the size of the population 1. Examples: hurricanes, droughts, amount of sunlight available for plants

Chapter 19 Biology – Flashcards

Unlock all answers in this set

Haven't found what you were looking for?

Search for samples, answers to your questions and flashcards