Science 1206 Ecology Chapter 2

Front 1

Organic

Back 1

Compounds that contain atoms of both carbon and hydrogen; many organic compounds also contain oxygen and nitrogen atoms; sugars, fats, proteins, are all organic.

Front 2

Inorganic

Back 2

Compounds that do not contain a combination of carbon and hydrogen atoms; carbon dioxide, water and ammonia are all inorganic.

Front 3

Pesticide

Back 3

A chemical designed to kill pests; pesticides are often used to protect species that are beneficial to humans from a competitor or predator that is less useful.

Front 4

DDT

Back 4

Also known as di-cloro-diphenyl-trichloroe, is a fat soluble pesticide and therefore accumulated in the bodies of organisms over time.

Front 5

1st Generation pesticide

Back 5

Substances such as arsenic, sulfur, lead, and mercury; banned around the world; toxic to humans.

Front 6

2nd Generation pesticide

Back 6

Chemicals made in a lab; not necessarily better than 1st generation chemicals.

Front 7

Bioamplification

Back 7

A process that results in increasing concentrations of a toxin in the bodies of consumers at each succeeding trophies level.

Front 8

Carbon cycle

Back 8

The matter cycle in which, through the processes of photosynthesis, digestion, cellular respiration, decomposition, and combustion, carbon atoms move from an inorganic form in the air, water, or soil, to an organic form in living things, and then back to an inorganic form; all organic compounds contain carbon.

Front 9

Photosynthesis

Back 9

The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight energy, carbon dioxide, and water to produce carbohydrates (sugars) and oxygen.

Front 10

Cellular respiration

Back 10

The process by which most living things generate useful energy, by combining sugars and oxygen to produce carbon and water.

Front 11

Combustion

Back 11

The chemical reaction that occurs when a substance reacts very quickly with oxygen to release energy.

Front 12

Nitrogen cycle

Back 12

A matter cycle in which, through the processes of nitrogen fixation, synthesis, decomposition, and denitrification, nitrogen atoms move from nitrogen gas in the atmosphere, to inorganic form in the soil, to organic form in living things, and then back to inorganic form in the soil and nitrogen gas in the atmosphere; organic compounds that contain nitrogen include amino acid (and therefore proteins) and DNA.

Front 13

Nitrogen fixation

Back 13

Two processes in which atmospheric or dissolved nitrogen is converted into nitrate ions; part of the nitrogen cycle; both lightning and some soil bacteria can fix nitrogen.

Front 14

Denitrification

Back 14

The process, performed by some soil bacteria, in which nitrates are converted to nitrites, and then to nitrogen gas; part of the nitrogen cycle.

Front 15

Nitrate

Back 15

(NO3) the useable form of nitrogen for plants.

Front 16

Natality

Back 16

The number of offspring of a species born in an ecosystem in one year.

Front 17

Mortality

Back 17

The number of individuals is a species that die in an ecosystem in one year.

Front 18

Open population

Back 18

A population in which natality, mortality, emigration, and immigration are all acting.

Front 19

Closed population

Back 19

A population in which natality and mortality are acting.

Front 20

Biotic potential

Back 20

The maximum number of offspring that a species could produce, if resources were unlimited.

Front 21

Biotic potential

Back 21

The maximum number of offspring that a species could produce, if resources were unlimited.

Front 22

Carrying capacity

Back 22

The maximum population of a species that can be supported indefinitely by an ecosystem.

Front 23

Biotic potential

Back 23

The maximum number of offspring that a species could produce, if resources were unlimited.

Front 24

Carrying capacity

Back 24

The maximum population of a species that can be supported indefinitely by an ecosystem.

Front 25

Law of minimum

Back 25

The nutrient in least supply is the one that limit growth.

Front 26

Law of tolerance

Back 26

States that an organism can survive within a certain range of an abiotic factor; above and below its limit it can not.

Front 27

Density-dependent factor

Back 27

A factor that affects a population, and that increases or decreases its effect based on the density of the population, for example food supply, territory and some forms of disease.

Front 28

Density-independent factor

Back 28

A factor that affects a population in a manner that does not vary according to the density of the population it is acting on, for example fire and flood.

Front 29

Complimentary process

Back 29

Forming a satisfactory or balance whole. Example is photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

Front 30

Nitrite

Back 30

The result of nitrate being denitrified by bacteria so it can turn back to nitrogen gas.

Front 31

Birth potential

Back 31

The max number of offspring per birth.

Front 32

Capacity for survival

Back 32

Number of offspring that reach reproductive age.

Front 33

Procreation

Back 33

Number of times an animal reproduces a year.

Front 34

Length of reproductive life

Back 34

Age of sexual maturity and number of years and animal can reproduce.

Front 35

What are four characteristics of an ideal pesticide?

Back 35

1. Kills only the pests

2. Not harmful to man

3. Biodegradable

4. Cheap but useful