Ecosystem-Biology

Front 1

biomass

Back 1

the total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level

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limiting nutrient

Back 2

when an ecosystem is limited by a single nutrient that is scarce or cycles very slowly, the substance is called a limiting nutrient

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primary productivity

Back 3

the rate at which organic matter is created by producers

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greenhouse effect

Back 4

carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and a few other atmospheric gases trap heat energy and maintain Earth's temperature range. the natural situation in which heat is retained by this layer of greenhouse gases is called the greenhouse effect

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climate

Back 5

average condition

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weather

Back 6

day-to-day condition

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polar zone

Back 7

climate zone in cold areas where sun's rays strike at very low angle
around North and South poles

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tropic zone

Back 8

near equator-sun is directly overhead

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temperate zone

Back 9

ranges from hot to cold depeneding on angle of sun

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Ecology

Back 10

the study of interaction between organisms or interactions between organisms and their environment.

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Biotic

Back 11

living things

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abiotic

Back 12

non-living things
(hint: ab not living)

Hint 12

antibiotics

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atmosphere

Back 13

the gaseous portion of the biosphere, which extends to about 8 km above the ground

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Lithosphere

Back 14

the ground (dirt) portion of the biosphere, which is on the surface of just beneath

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hydrosphere

Back 15

the liquid portion of the biosphere that extends 11 km below sea level.

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Six examples of abiotic things

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1. water
2. oxygen (atmosphere)
3. light
4. temperature
5. soil
6. nutrients

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latitude

Back 17

distance north of south of the equator

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longitude

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distance east or west of the prime meridian

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intensity

Back 19

strength of sunlight

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duration

Back 20

length of daylight

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photic zone

Back 21

aquatic environment- layer of water that light penetrates- 80% of all photosynthesis occurs here

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aphotic zone

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aquatic environment- below the photic zone-no light

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what affects temperature?

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1. altitude- vertical distance above sea level
2. geographic features

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precipitation

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the release of water from the atmosphere (rain, snow, sleet, dew, and fog)

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What is weathering and what does it do?

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Weathering- the geological process that turns rock particles (inorganic) into soil. Alternate freezing and thawing of H20 helps to crack the rock and break off pieces. (water expands when freezing)

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Name one organic and one inorganic part of soil.

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inorganic- rock particles
organic- remains of dead organisms

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humus

Back 27

dark, rich, organic matter found in topsoil

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topsoil

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uppermost layer of soil

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subsoil

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below the topsoil

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Levels of organization in order from smallest to largest.

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Individual organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome, and biosphere.

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species

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a group of similar organisms that are able to interbread and produce fertile offspring.

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population

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all individuals of a specific species within a certain area

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community

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all the populations of different organisms within a given area

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ecosystem

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biotic and abiotic factors interacting, producing a self-sufficient and stable system (the community and environment interacting)

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biosphere

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the combined protions of the Earth where life can be found, including land, water, and air or atmosphere.
-thin layer from ocean bottom to highest point in the atmosphere (length-20 km, 12 mi.)

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heterotrophs/consumers

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organisms that obtain energy from the food they consume

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herbivore

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feeds only on plants

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carnivore

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feeds only on animals (predators)

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scavengers

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feed on dead animals

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omnivores

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feed on both plants and animals

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saprobes

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bacteria and fungi that are decomposers- break down nutrients found in dead plants or animals

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five types of heterotrophs

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1. herbivores
2. carnivores
3. scavengers
4. omnivores
5. saprobes

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sybiotic relationships and the three types

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-two difference organisms interact closely with each other to the benefit of at least one of them
- 1. mutualism
2. commensalism
3. parasitism

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mutualism

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symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit

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commensalism

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sybiotic relationship where one organism benefits while the other is not affected

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parasitism

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symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits while the other is harmed

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habitat

Back 47

that part of the environment in which a particular organism lives

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niche

Back 48

the role of a particular species in the ecosystem

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Competitive exclusion principle and when does compeition arise?

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competition arises when two niches overlap. Principle: no two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time.

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interspecies competition

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between organisms of different species

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intraspecies competition

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between organisms of the same species

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predation

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an interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism

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autotrophs

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self-feeders; make their own food

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producers

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-autotrophs, green plants
-use inorganic compounds to produce organic compounds (food)

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consumers

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-heterotrophs, animals
-use premade organic compounds as good (ex. plants or animals)

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decomposers

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-organisms of decay
-recycle
-breakdown of dead plants or aniamls for food

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first order consumer

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herbivores- eats the plants

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second order consumer

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carnivores- eats the first order consumers~ most organisms have a varied diet

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food chain

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a series of organisms through which energy of food is passed

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food web

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multiple food chains linked together

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second order consumer

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carnivores- eats the first order consumers~ most organisms have a varied diet

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pyramid of energy

Back 62

the amount of energy available in an ecosystem
Bottom: 1 Top: 4
1. 3rd order consumer
2. 2nd order consumer
3. 1st order consumer
4. producers
each level loses about 90% of the energy that was below it (only get 10% of energy)

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pyramid of biomass

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shows the relative (total) mass of the organism at each feeding level

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ecological succession

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-the SLOW process by which an existing community is slowly replaced by another community
-succession works in stages, with a few DOMINANT species having the greatest effect on the environment and each other
-as an ecosystem changes, older inhabitant gradually die out and new organisms move in

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What determines a community?

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Plants determine a community.
Animals' (directly or indirectly) survival is controlled by the plants

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Climax community

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when a community ends with a mature, stable community and does not undergo furth succession. A climax community will remain until an ecological event occurs (ex. fire, flood, volcanoes, humans clear the land)

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primary succession

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-No exisiting soil or life exists
-occurs on surfaces formed by volcanic eruptions or bare rock.

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secondary succession

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existing community is detroyed and land is cleared and forgotten

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pioneer organisms

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the first organisms to inhavit an area- bacteria, fungi, and lichen
-first species to populate an area of primary succession

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benthos

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organisms that live on the ocean floor

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plankton (drifters)

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small microscopic organisms that float ear the surface and are carried by currents
phytoplankton- photosynthetic plants
zooplankton- nonphotosynthetic protists and animals

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nekton

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free swimming- fish, turtles

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intertidal zone

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ocean zone with harsh environment. High tide covers organisms with sea water-low tide exposes organisms to atmosphere

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How do ponds and lakes turn to dry land?

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sediment and dead materials build up on the bottom-materials slowly fill the body of water
lake-->bog (marsh, fen)-->dry land

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organic compounds

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contains carbon and hydrogen

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what are the effects of altitude on climax vegetation and give examples

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from the equator to the Pole (either one) thereis a gradual change of climax community present.
equator (lat. 0) tropical rainforest
lawrence (lat. 40) deciduous forest
canada (lat. 55) coniferous forest
alaska (lat. 70) tundra
Pole (lat. 90) ice/snow

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what human activities have had a tremendous impact on the biosphere?

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1. hunting and gathering
2. agriculture
3. industry
4. urban development

Hint 77

4 ex.

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renewable resources

Back 78

replaceable- can be regernated by natural process
ex. fresh H2o, trees (as a crop)

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nonrenewable resources

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not replaceable-cannot be replenished by natural process
ex. fossil fuels (oil), trees (as an ecosystem)

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substainable use

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using natural resources at a rate that does not deplete them.
ex. stripe bass has a size limit of 36"

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land resources

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provides living space, farming and raw materials for industry

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soil erosion

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the removal of soil by wind and water

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7 importances of forests

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1. helps with the carbon/oxygen cycle
2. stores nutrients
3. provides habitats
4. food
5. moderates climate
6. limits soil erosion
7. protects fresh H2O supplies

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deforestation

Back 84

clear cutting-very damaging
cutting down all the trees in the forest
-this occured in NYS early in the 20th century

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results of deforestation

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severe soil erosion-->loss of soil nutrients-->possible change in soil chemistry

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ocean resources

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fish-tremendous drop in natural fish

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aquaculture

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fish farming

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pollution

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anything added to the environment or affecting the environment to make it less fit for living organisms

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air pollution

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solid or liquid droplets that remain suspended in the air
-sulfur dioxide, sulfur acid, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, nitrogen dioxide
-creates acid rain

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temperature inversion

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layer of warm air traps a layer of cool air. THe cooler air is stationary and mixes all the pollutants. this results in extremely unhealthy air called smog

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noise pollution

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loud sounds that can cause hearing loss

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biodegradable

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broken down by bacteria and other decomposers

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eutrophication

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the accelerated aging process of lakes-succession due to organic wastes (plant or animal materials)

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biological magnification

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the build-up of toxic substance within the organisms as we move up the food chain

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thermal pollution

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changes in water temperature due to industrial use

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biodiversity

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sum total of the genetically cased variety of all organisms in the biosphere

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ecosystem diversity

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variety of habitats, communities, and ecological processes in the world

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species diversity

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# of different species in the biosphere
-about 1.5 million

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extinction

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organism disappears for all or part of its range

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endangered

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population goes down so it is in danger of extinction

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habitat fragmentation

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splitting of an ecosystem into pieces
-usually the result of human development, maybe the result of a natural process

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invasive species

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human activity allows the introduction of a foreign species
ex. frog-hawaii
asian longhorn beatle-long island

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List of ten major biomes

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tropical rain forest, trocial dry forest, tropical savanna, desert, temperate grassland, temperate woodland and shrubland, temperate forest, northwestern coniferous forest, boreal forest, and tundra

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tropical rainforest

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-hot and wet year-round, nutrient-poor soils
-ferns, evergreen trees

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tropical dry forest

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-generally warm year-round, alternating wet and dry seasons, rich soils
-tall trees used as canopy during wet seasons

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tropical savanna

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-warm temperatures, seasonal rainfall, compact soil
-tall grasses

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desert

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-low precipitation, variable temperatures, soil rich in minerals

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temperate grassland

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-warm to hot summers, cold winders, moderate precipitation, fertile soils
-large grasses and herbs

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temperate woodland and shrubland

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hot, dry summers, cool moist winters, nurtrient poor soils
-evergreen shrubs

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temperate forest

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-coniferous trees (seed-bearing cones), cold winters, warm summers, year-round precipitation, fertile soils

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northwestern coniferous forest

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-mild temperatures, abundant precipitation, acidic soils
-hemlock and redwood trees

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boreal forest

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-long cold winters, short mild summers, moderate precipitation, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
-coniferous trees

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tundra

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-strong winds, low precipitation, long cold, dark winters, short and soggy summers, developed soils
-mosses, lichens, short grasses

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chemosynthesis

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procwhen organisms use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates, performed by several types of bacteria

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detritivores

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feed on plant and animal remains and other dead matter

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trophic level

Back 116

what each step in a food chain or food web is known as