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52 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is the main difference between an ecosystem and a community? |
An ecosystem takes into consideration the abiotic factors, while a community only refers to the living populations of species that interact with each other. |
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Define "heterotroph" and give one example. |
A heterotroph is a consumer that consumes other organisms for energy and nutrients. Example: Rabbit |
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Define a "consumer" and give one example. |
A consumer is a heterotroph that specifically feeds on living organisms to obtain energy and nutrients. Example: Bear |
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Define "detritivore" and give one example. |
A detritivore is a heterotroph that obtains nutrients and energy from detritus (decomposing animal/plant matter) by internal digestion. Example: Earthworm |
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Define "saprotroph" and give one example. |
A saprotroph is a heterotroph that obtains nutrients from dead organisms by external digestion. Example: Fungi |
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Define "autotroph" and give one example. |
An autotroph is an organism that obtains inorganic nutrients from the environment and uses them to synthesizes organic chemicals Example: Plants |
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Name an example of a dual heterotrophic-autotrophic plant. |
A venus flytrap is mainly autotrophic; however, it also consumes small insects for nitrogen supply. |
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What kind of organism helps with nutrient cycling in an ecosystem? |
Saprotrophs help decompose organic matter and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem for other organisms to use. |
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Although producers inhabit the first trophic level of all ecosystems, what is the fundamental source of all energy that is on the 0th trophic level? (triggered x_x) |
The sun is the fundamental source of all energy in ecosystems. |
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How many trophic levels do most ecosystems have, and what is the limiting factor in the number of trophic levels in an ecosystem? |
Most ecosystems have four trophic levels, and the limiting factor for the number of trophic levels in the ecosystem is the inefficiency of energy transfer to the next trophic level (10%). |
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What happens when the shape of a pyramid of energy is not pyramid shaped? |
The ecosystem collapses. (All ecosystems' pyramid of energy must be pyramid shaped) |
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What's a less destructive way of measuring biomass in organisms? |
Estimating the dry weight of organisms based on size, density, and % composition of water. |
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Why is the first level of an aquatic pyramid of biomass the least in weight? |
Producers in aquatic ecosystems (plankton) are generally eaten almost as quickly as they reproduce, resulting in a low biomass across the ecosystem at any given time. |
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State the null hypothesis if you are trying to use the Chi Square test to find an association between a rose and a honeybee. |
"There is no association between roses and honeybees" |
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For what purpose would you want to use the Chi Square test? |
The Chi-Square test is generally used to statistically determine if two (or more) species of organisms occur together in nature through symbiotic/predator-prey relationship or simply by just sharing the same ecological needs and thus are found in the same habitat. |
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In what situations is the Chi-Square test at a disadvantage or produce inaccurate conclusions? |
The Chi-Square test does not produce accurate conclusions when either: - The species used are too numerous or too rare - The sample area is too large |
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What kind of sampling would you use to predict the total number of stationary plants in a large area? |
Quadrat sampling is effective in this situation. You would count the number of organisms in a small square area (quadrat) and compare the number of organisms in the area of the quadrat against the total area of the ecosystem you are trying to measure. |
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When dividing up a large area into multiple quadrats for sampling, why is it important to choose quadrats randomly (not distributed closely in relation to each other)? |
It is important to choose randomly as to not add commonly shared abiotic factors into your final prediction. For example, if you chose a cluster of quadrats that are all near a lake, you will get a higher ratio of plants that are favoured by water. |
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Define "evenness" in respect to biodiversity. |
Evenness: how the quantity of each different organism compares with the other. |
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Define "richness" in respect to biodiversity. |
Richness: how many different species are present in your sample. |
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In what way is the Simpson Diversity Index better than simply counting the number of different species in a sample? |
The Simpson Diversity Index is better than just considering the richness of an ecosystem because it also takes into account evenness within its formula. |
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State the null hypothesis for a T-test being performed on population A and population B. |
"Population A and population B are not separate populations." |
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What is the T-test used for when comparing two sample populations? |
The T-test is used for testing the significance of the difference between two sets of data. E.g Can you tell just by looking at two tables of data if the data was collected from the same population and then just grouped into two different tables? |
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Define "standard deviation". |
Standard deviation is a value that describes the total variation from the mean for a data set. A small standard deviation means most of the values fall quite close to the mean. |
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What is the median of a data set? |
The median is the middle/center value of a data set. |
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What is the mode of a data set? |
The mode of a data set is the value that occurs most frequently. |
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What is the minimum sample size for T-test? |
10. |
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What are error bars? |
Error bars are bars that show the deviation of data from the rest of the data. 68% of the data will fall within +/- one standard deviation of the set. |
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All carbon in the carbon cycle will eventually end up in the atmosphere as what? |
Carbon dioxide (CO2). |
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How are humans disrupting the slow segment of the carbon cycle? |
By depleting the underground carbon resources of oil and natural gas much faster than it can be replenished, we are heavily disrupting the slow segment of the carbon cycle. |
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How is erosion significant in the carbon cycle? |
Erosion by water pulls carbon compounds from the land into the sea, which will eventually enter the process of the formation of fossil fuels. |
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To what does the term "diffusion" pertain to in the carbon cycle? |
Diffusion is related to the trade-off equilibrium of CO2 in the ocean relative to the atmosphere. An equilibrium is maintained between the CO2 content in the air and in the ocean. |
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How does CO2 acidicfy oceans? |
When CO2 dissolves in water, it produces HCO3- and a H3O+ hydronium ion, which causes acidification. |
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What is the main carbon source for algae? |
HCO3-, which stems from carbon dioxide dissolving in water, is the main carbon source for algae. |
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Lots of sources contribute to CO2 in the atmosphere, but what are some sources that take CO2 from the atmosphere? |
Plants and algae that undergo photosynthesis, and CO2 diffusion from the ocean and bodies of water. |
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Compare a carbon sink and a carbon source. |
A carbon source releases carbon, but a carbon sink stores carbon. |
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When an organism dies, it switches from a _____ into a _____. |
It switches from a carbon sink into a carbon source. |
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Where is most of the carbon on earth found? |
In sediments, rocks, and fossilized material. |
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What is peat? |
Peat is organic matter that isn't fully decomposed. It is produced under specific conditions (acidic and/or anaerobic conditions in water-saturated soil). |
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What main compound makes up the shells of underwater organisms? |
Calcium Carbonate, or CaCO3. |
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What are some ways that carbon can be released into the atmosphere as CO2? |
(Cellular) respiration, methane that oxidizes into CO2 and H2O, and combustion |
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How is CO2 involved in photosynthesis? |
CO2 is used to synthesize carbohydrates (e.g glucose) in plants along with water. Sunlight is used as energy for the reaction. |
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What are two significant products of cellular respiration? |
Carbon dioxide and water. |
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What happens to any animal or plant matter that is not decomposed by decomposers and turned into CO2? |
It will eventually fossilize. |
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The greenhouse effect doesn't exactly involve surfaces "reflecting" the heat over and over. Describe what actually happens. |
Surfaces absorb the radiation from the sun and radiate some of the energy back. The atmospheric gases trap some of the re-emission and re-emit it back again. |
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What are some of the concerns for the acidication of the ocean? |
Scientists are worried that dissolved CO2 in the ocean could threaten the viability of coral reefs by breaking down their hard CaCO3 strutures. |
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When during the year are CO2 levels naturally less? |
CO2 levels are generally less during the winter due to less photosynthesis. |
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How have humans contributed to the CO2 content in the atmosphere? |
Humans' main contribution to the CO2 content in the atmosphere is from fossil fuel combustion. |
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Is ozone (O3) a greenhouse gas? |
Yes and no; the ozone layer is not considered a greenhouse gas layer, but ozone in minute qualities in the lower atmosphere is considered a greenhouse gas. |
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(More of a trivia question) On our current trend of global warming, when will the ice caps melt entirely? |
Within the next century. |
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What is the Precautionary Principle, and what is its background? |
The Precautionary Principle is a concept that was introduced in Rio, Brazil in 1992. It stated that opposed to the "innocent until proven guilty" theme for stopping fossil fuel operations, it assumed the "guilty until proven innocent" concept such that businesses would have to prove their activity would not cause significant environmental effects before proceeding with operations. |
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Will you do well on this quiz? |
Yes! ^_^ |
