Chapter One APES
Mesotrophic
Describes a lake with a moderate level of productivity
natural experiment
a natural event that acts as an experimental treatment in an ecosystem
limiting nutrient
a nutrient required for the growth of an organism but available in a lower quantity than other nutrients
scientific method
a objective method to explore the natural world, draw interferences from it, and predict, the outcome of certain events, processes or changes.
environmentalist
a person who participates in environmentalism, a social movement that seeks to protect the environment through lobbying, activism, and education
ecological efficiency
the proportion of consumed energy that can be passed from one trophic level to another
Latent heat release
the release of energy when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into liquid water
Based on the second law of thermodynamics, how much biomass of phytoplankton would be needed to produce 1 kilogram of large fish in this food web? A. 1000kg B. 100 kg C. 1 g D. 10 g
1000 kg
a temperature grassland biome has a gross primary productivity of 3, 480 kilocalories/meter/year and a net primary productivity of 2,000 kilocalories/meter/year. Which of the following is the approximate number of kilocalories/meter/year available to herbivores in that biome? a. 200 kilocalories b. 1480 kilocalories c. 2000 kilocalories d. 5480 kilocalories
200 and 2000 kilocalories
scavenger
A carnivore that feeds on the bodies of dead organisms
mangrove swamp
A swamp that occurs along tropical and subtropical coasts, and contains salt-tolerant trees with roots submerged in water.
Define producers and the different types of consumers. Distinguish among scavengers, detritus feeders and decomposers.
Carnivore, omnivore, herbivore, scavenger, detrivores/decomposer. Worms are detritus feeders and mold is a decomposer.
food chain vs food web
Chain is simplified illustrating energy flow and a web is a complex arrangement of food chains.
greenhouse gases
Gases in Earth's atmosphere that trap heat near the surface
the total rate of photosynthesis in a given area a. GPP b. Primary productivity c. cellular respiration d. NPP
Gross Primary productivity
limnetic zone
In a lake, the well-lit, open surface waters farther from shore, rooted plants can't survive, extends as deep as sunlight can penetrate
control group
In a scientific investigation, a group that experiences exactly the same conditions as the experimental group, except for the single variable under study.
sustainability
Living on Earth in a way that allows humans to use its resources without depriving future generations of those resources
June Solstice
Northern Hemisphere tilts toward sun and has longest day and shortest night; Southern Hemisphere tilts away from sun and has shortest day and longest night
What are the four types of organisms that can be classified as microbes?
Prokaryotes/bacteria, fungi and protists, protists, bacteria
country with largest boreal forests
Russia
background extinction rate
The average rate at which species become extinct over the long term.
climate
The average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time
Evapotranspiration
The combined amount of evaporation and transpiration
Define biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem. What are biomes?
The community of plants and animals that form in response to shared physical climate. Abiotic are the nonliving portions, and biotic are the living portions.
Nitrification
The conversion of ammonia (NH4+) into nitrite (NO2-) and then into nitrate (NO3-)
dentrification
The conversion of nitrate in a series of steps into the gases nitrous oxide and, eventually, nitrogen gas, which is emitted into the atmosphere
replication
The data collection procedure of taking repeated measurements
Phosphorus Cycle
The movement of phosphorus atoms from rocks through the biosphere and hydrosphere and back to rocks. 1. rock breaks down and released pH into the soil (abiotic) 2. Plant takes up pH and uses it to build plant tissue 3. animals eat plant (biotic) 4. animal excretes waste to soil 5. Plant takes nutrients pH up again. This process happens slowly and has no atmospheric component. pH also runs to ocean ands into sediment. PH is naturally scarce in aquatic and land ecosystems. Humans disrupt the process by adding pH to crops and lawns. This causes pH to run off into water which leads to eutrophication which is due to the drop in oxygen.
aerobic respiration
The process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide, and water.
cellular respiration
The process by which cells unlock the energy of chemical compounds
trophic levels
The successive levels of organisms consuming one another
gross primary productivity
The total amount of solar energy that producers in an ecosystem capture via photosynthesis over a given amount of time
country with the largest area of temperate deciduous forests
US
woodland/shrubland
a biome characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters, coast of Southern CA, Southest Australia, wildfires are common, low in nutrients due to leaching by winter rains. Grazing of animals, good for drought tolerant production.
Temperate rainfirest
a coastal biome typified by moderate temperatures and high precipitation, 41 to 68 degrees, contains temperate rainforest, woodlands to scrublands, and temperate grasslands. West coast North American, Northern CA to Alaska, souther Chile, East Coast Australia, Tasmania, West Coast of New Zealand. Mild summer rand winter, twelve month growing season. Large trees, which causes lots of logging, slow decomposition, nutrients taken up by trees.
Rain shadow
a region with dry conditions found on the leeward side of a mountain range as a result of humid winds from the ocean causing precipitation on the windward side
This freshwater biome is characterized by fast-flowing water than can originate from underground springs or runoff, which carries sediment and organic material? A. Coral reefs B. freshwater wetlands C. Open ocean D. Rovers
rivers
albedo effect
the ability of a surface to reflect away solar radiation
restoration ecology
the study and implementation of restoring damaged ecosystems
Biomes
the total mass of all matter in a specific area
What are the earth's rotations tilted?
23.3 degrees
Stratosphere
2nd layer of atmosphere; extends from 10 to 30 miles up; location of ozone layer; absorbs 95% of Ultraviolet radiation; temperature increases with altitude increase.
subtropical desert
A biome prevailing at approximately 30° N and 30° S, with hot temperatures, extremely dry conditions, and sparse vegetation. Mojave desert, arabian desert middle east, Great Victoria Desert of Australia
Temperature seasonal forest
A biome with warm summers and cold winters with over 1 m (39 inches) of precipitation annually. Eastern US, Japan, China, Europe, Chile and Eastern Australia. Rapid decomposition, greater productivity that Boreal, good for agriculture, so often cleared.
food web
A complex model of how energy and matter move between trophic levels
Ferrel Cell
A convection current in the atmosphere that lies between Hadley cells and polar cells
Grye
A large-scale pattern of water circulation that moves clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere, they redistribute heat in the ocean
salt marsh
A marsh containing nonwoody emergent vegetation, found along the coast in temperate climates, one of the most productive biomes, driver water rises with salt water from ocean.
ecological footprint
A measure of how much an individual consumes, expressed in area of land
Omnivore
An animal that eats both plants and animals
secondary consumer
An organism that eats primary consumers
tertiary consumer
An organism that eats secondary consumers
Compare the limiting factors in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Summarize the law of tolerance and relate it to the LAWN concept (light, air, water and nutrients) for two biomes.
Aquatic LF-temp, water, sunlight and nutrients. Terrestrial LF- precipitation, sun, temp and drainage. Organisms success is based on a complex set of conditions involving the minimum, maximum, optimum factors for success.
Fracking
Hydraulic fracturing, a method of oil and gas extraction that uses high pressure fluids to force open cracks in rocks depending underground. Electricity generation now uses less coal and more natural gas. Large amounts of water are used in fracking process, causing water to be pulled out of natural water sources and lots of chemicals added that companies are not required to report.
Chemosynthesis
Process by which some organisms, such as certain bacteria, use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates
net primary productivity
The energy captured by producers in an ecosystem minus the energy producers respire
environmental studies
The field of study that includes environmental science and additional subjects such as environmental policy, economics, literature, and ethics.
ecosystem services
The goods and services that ecosystems provide to humanity
intertropical convergence zone
The latitude that receives the most intense sunlight, which causes the ascending branches of the two Hadley cells to converge
Nitrogen Cycle
The transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil, to living organisms, and back to the atmosphere, Nitrogen is 78% in the atmosphere. (Abiotic) Nitrogen fixation is when molecules N covert to ammonia that is available for uptake by plants which is assimilated into plant tissue. Animal eats plant, then animal poops which returns N to the soil to be taken up by plants. This is rapid cycling. Humans cause runoff which leads to eutrophication and combustion gasoline, which releases harmful ozone. The atmosphere is the reserve which contains the majority of the N.
theory
a hypothesis that has been repeatedly tested and confirmed by multiple groups of researchers and has reached wide acceptance
Eutrophic
a lake with high level of productivity
Precision
a measure of how close a series of measurements are to one another
Genetic Diversity
a measure of the genetic variation among individuals in a population
Traveling southward from the Arctic regions of Canada to the tropics of Panama, one passes through several biomes—tundra, coniferous forest, temperate deciduous forest, and tropical rain forest. This pattern of change in vegetation is primarily the result of a. primary and secondary succession b. the invasion of exotic species c. an increase in mean annual temperature and a decrease in mean annual precipitation d. an increase in both mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation e. an increase in the total annual hours of sunlight
an increase in mean annual temperature and a decrease in mean annual precipitationMost
environmental indicator
an indicator that describes the current state of an environmental system
country with the largest area of rainforest
brazil
which of the following biogeochemical cycles includes the processes of buffering ocean pH and photosynthesis, as shown in the diagram? A. the carbon cycle B. nitrogen cycle c. phosphorus cycle d. potassium cycle
carbon cycle
the rate of reaction can be measured in the dark by determining the amount of oxygen gas consumed in a period of time a. primary productivity b. net primary productivity c. gross primary productivity d. cellular respiration
cellular respiration
Sustainable development
development that balances current human well-being and economic advancement with resource management for the benefit of future generations
Any network of relationships among a group of components, which interact with and influence one another through exchange of matter and/or information, is referred to as
ecosystem
what are three routes water takes when it falls on land
evaporation, transpiration, evapotranspiration, runoff
the eutrophication that has taken place in the gulf of Mexico and other locations appears to be due to a. global warming from human use of fossil fuels b. pesticide use along the waterways c. heavy metals dumped in the sewage d. weather alone, because it is only obvious in the summer e. excess nutrients from fertilizers
excess nutrients from fertilizers
Phytoplankton
floating algae, limentic zone
Briefly describe how he sun, gravity, and nutrient cycles sustain life on Earth.
flow of energy from the sun, moves through biosphere, plants take up nutrients, they are eaten by animals. Energy is spread and gravity holds life down and atmosphere which are essential to life.
This biome contains a nutrient rich environment created by falling leaves and trapped organic materials from the large trees, and it provides the ecosystem service of filtering pollutants from the water? A. open ocean B. rivers C. freshwater wetlands D. coral reefs
freshwater wetlands
decomposers
fungi and bacteria that convert organic matter into small elements and molecules that can be recycled back into the ecosystem
Humans and the water cycle
harvesting trees can reduce evapotranspiration which causes runoff to increase. This can lead to erosion or flooding. Paving roads can also lead to increasing runoff and evaporation. We also interrupt the water cycle by diverting water for irrigation or drinking
Cattle on an open range, in some areas, may compact fragile soils while grazing. This can damage plant roots, leading to fewer, smaller plants, which may in turn cause cattle to graze more and work harder to obtain food. This is an example of a ________.
negative feedback loop
A small section of prairie grasses, over a year, produces enough biomass to feed insects, mice, rabbits, birds, deer, antelope, and a host of decomposers. The amount of food potentially available to the herbivores is the a. net primary production b. gross primary production c. secondary production d. respiration e. food chain
net primary production
the energy available to consumers determined by subtracting the energy used by plants form the total energy transformed by the process of photosynthesis. A. primary productivity b. gross primary productivity c. net primary productivity d. cellular respiration
net primary productivity
observation science
non experimental, observed, not in lab, astronomy, too dynamic, too complex,
abiotic
nonliving, physical features of the environment, including air, water, sunlight, soil, temperature, and climate
December solstice
northern hemisphere tilts away from sun and has shortest day and longest night; southern hemisphere tilts toward sun and has longest day and shortest night
environmental science versus environmentalism
objective, removes bias and involves scientific study versus social action
Carnivore
organism that obtains energy by eating animals
Permafrost
permanently frozen layer of soil beneath the surface of the ground, prevents deep rooted trees from growing, plants that grow in shallow water logged soil thrive there, deal plants and animals decompose slowly, has low levels of soil nutrients
which of the following topic levels represents a primary producer in an aquatic food chain? a. carnivorous zooplankton b. herbivorous zooplankton c. phytoplankton d. baleen whale
phytoplankton
Photosynthesis
process by which plants and some other organisms use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and high-energy carbohydrates such as sugars and starches
Which of the following best describes the flow of energy in most terrestrial and near-surface marine ecosystems? a. decomposers break down dead or decaying organisms to release energy and nutrients to be used by producers b. chemoautotrophs use inorganic energy sources, such as hydrogen sulfide, to create organic compounds from carbon dioxide c. apex predators feed on other organisms, which releases heat that can be used by producers and primary consumers d. producers use energy form the sun to make organic matter, such as sugars, from carbon dioxide and water and are then consumed by organisms higher in the food chain
producers use energy from the sun to make organic matter, such as sugars, from carbon dioxide and water and are then consumed by organisms higher in the food chain.
the largest pools of carbon in the carbon cycle are a. freshwater systems and oceans b. plants and animals c. sedimentary rock and fossil fuels d. atmosphere e. hydrosphere
sedimentary rock and fossil fuels
sample size
the number of times a measurement is replicated in data collection
transpiration
the release of water from leaves during photosynthesis
Farmers in a suburban coastal town started using no-till agriculture, a practice that reduces soil erosion form their farmland. What long term effects does no-till agriculture have on the ecosystem surround the farmland? a. there will be less phosphorus pollution in the atmosphere b. there will be an increased deposition of phosphorus rich sediments c. there will be less algal growth in the nearby ocean d. there will be an increased need for fertizlilr on farmlands
there will be less algal growth in the nearby ocean
Mountain ranges and weather
they can play a role in weather and climate, westward side tends to have more precipitation, leeward side has the cold dry air.
Responses to change in pressure
third property of air, as air rises in atmosphere pressure decreases
Which of the following terrestrial biomes has the highest net primary productivity? A. desert B. tropical rain forest C. taiga D. Savanna
tropical rain forest
Which of the following best describes an example or resource partitioning in an ecosystem? A. a tick uses s white-tailed deer as its host, consuming the deer's good as food B. a mason bee pollinates a variety of flowers in a botanical garden C. two individuals from the am population of barn owls hunt for the same species of mouse during the nights d. two different bird species feed form the same oak tree, one eats acorns, and the other eats insects in the bark
two different bird species feed form the same oak tree, one eats acorns, and the other eats insects in the bark.
Three causes of uneven warming of earth's surface
variation in the angle of suns rays hit the earth, variation in the amount of surface area over the rays are distributed, some areas reflect more solar energy than others (a white surface has higher albedo than a black surface so it will stay cooler)
bogs
very acidic wetlands that typically contain sphagnum moss and spruce trees
capacity to contain water vapor
warm air has higher capacity for water vapor (second property of air)
runnoff
water that moves across the land surfaces and into streams and rivers
Polar Cell
A convection current in the atmosphere, formed by air that rises at 60 degrees N and 60 degrees S and sinks at the poles, 90 degrees N and 90 degrees S
accuracy
A description of how close a measurement is to the true value of the quantity measured.
nonrenewable resource
A natural resource that is not replaced in a useful time frame.
Coral Bleaching
A phenomenon in which algae inside corals die, causing the corals to turn white.
nitrogen fixation
A process by which some organisms can convert nitrogen gas molecules directly into ammonia, process that coverts nitrogen gas in the atmosphere into forms of nitrogen that producers can use
algal bloom
A rapid increase in the algal population of a waterway
trophic pyramid
A representation of the distribution of biomass, numbers, or energy among trophic levels
ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation)
A reversal of wind and water currents in the South Pacific, this decreases productivity and dramatically reduces fish populations, it results in cooler and wetter conditions in the southeastern US and dry weather in southern Africa and Southeast Asia.
freshwater wetlands
An aquatic biome that is submerged or saturated by water for at least part of each year, but shallow enough to support emergent vegetation, swamps, marshes and bogs, most productive biomes on the planet, serve several critical ecosystem services such as taking in large amounts of rainwater and release is slowly into groundwater or nearby streams, filter pollutants from water, birdseed spend on them for migration or breeding, ages up 5 percent of nations land area, 1/3 of all endangered bird species spend some time in wetlands
consumer
An organism that is incapable of photosynthesis and must obtain its energy by consuming other organisms (also known as heterotroph)
Hadley Cell
Convection Currents that cycle between the equator, 30 degrees North and South.
This biome is found in shallow waters off the coastline and is EArth's most biologically diverse marine biome? A. coral reefs B. freshwater wetlands C. Open ocean D. rivers
Coral Reefs
production of heat when water vapor condenses from gas to liquid
Fourth property of air, when water vapor condenses the air will become warmer and rise
What is the correct order of the cells?
Hadley, Ferrel, Polar
Explain why there are not many tigers in the world and why they are vulnerable to premature extinction because of human activities.
Hunting and habitat desctruction
natural resources
Materials or substances such as minerals, forests, water, and fertile land that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain
Describe the difference between Gross Primary Productivity and net primary productivity.
NPP-what is leftover for an animal for consumption GPP-total amount of energy produced
macronutrient
One of six key elements that organisms need in relatively large amounts: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur.
Distinguish between photosynthesis and chemosynthesis.
Photo-needs light chemo occurs in the darkness of the sea floor with no oxygen.
Mesopshere
Te 3rd layer of the atmosphere containing the part of the atmosphere that stops meteors
saturation point
The maximum amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature.
coral reef
The most diverse marine biome on Earth, found in warm, shallow waters beyond the shoreline.
ammonification
The process by which fungal and bacterial decomposers break down the organic nitrogen found in dead bodies and waste products and convert it into inorganic ammonium
Evaluate which ecosystems show the highest average NPP and which contribute most to GPP?
Tropical rain forest
Suflur Cycle
Volcanic activity emits sulfur dioxide, sulfur water is absorbed by water from atmosphere or absorbed through ground water. Dimethyl sulfur released form oceans than reacts to oxygen gases to form sulfur dioxide. Sulfur accumulates and produces clouds. Clouds release sulfuric aside. Sulfur is absorbed by plants to strengthen stems and accumulate vitamins. Animals eat plants, carnivores eat herbivores, then the animals poop, die and decompose.
Oligotrophic
a condition of a lake or other body of water characterized by low nutrients, low productivity, and high oxygen levels in the water column.
species
a group of organisms that is distinct from other groups in its morphology (body form and structure), behavior, or biochemical properties.
ecosystem
a particular location on earth with interaction biotic and abiotic components
null hypothesis
a prediction that there is no difference between groups or conditions or a statement or an idea that can be falsified, or proved wrong.
Boreal Forest (Taiga)
a region of coniferous forest (such as pine, spruce, and fir) in the Northern Hemisphere; located just south of the tundra, short growing seasons, Europe, Russia and North america, plant growth more constrained by temp than precipitation, low precipitation, evergreens are waxy and more resistant to decomposition, poor nutrient soil. Poorly suited for agriculture but are a good source of tree pulp for paper and building materials, and logging.
renewable resources
a resource that can be renewed, solar, wind
littoral zone
a shallow zone in a freshwater habitat where light reaches the bottom and nurtures plants
hypothesis
a testable conjecture about how something works
Tropical rainforest
a warm and wet biome found between 20 degrees N and 20 degrees S of the equator, with little seasonal temperature variation and high precipitation, central and south American, Africa, Southeast Asia, Northeastern Australia, productivity is high, decompensation is rapid, nutrients high, more biodiversity than any other biome
tropical biomes average temperature
above 20 C
Distinguish between aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration.
aerobic respiration involves oxygen, occurs in the mitochondria of cells, requires ATP, Anaeorbic occurs in the cytoplasm of cells, less ATP, occurs in first 1-2 min of exercise.
March equinox
alignment of the Earth when the equator faces the sun directly, the poles are not tilted, and all areas on the Earth experience 12/12 sun and darkness
September equinox
alignment of the Earth when the equator faces the sun directly, the poles are not tilted, and all areas on the Earth experience 12/12 sun and darkness
water shed
all land in a given landscape that drains into a particular stream, river, lake, or wetland
aquatic biomes
an aquatic region characterized by a particular combination of salinity, depth, and water flow
uncertainty
an estimate of how much a measured or calculated value differs from a true value
Thermohaline Circulation (THC)
an oceanic pattern that drives the mixing of surface water and deep water. The sinking of dense, salty water in the North Atlantic drives a deep con current that moves slowly around the world. Scientists are worried global warming could impact this process.
Dentritivores
an organism that specializes in breaking down dead tissues and waste products into smaller particles
temperate Biomes
annual temperature between 5 and 20 C
benthic organisms in the Great Lakes a. live near the water's surface b. are harmed by the presence of zebra mussels c. benefit from the presence of zebra mussels d. include phytoplankton e. include zebra mussels
are harmed by the presence of Zebra mussels
The majority of the nitrogen on Earth can be found in which of the following reservoirs? A. Terrestrial plants B. the atmosphere C. sedimentary rock D. soil bacteria
atmosphere
Five spheres make up the biosphere: atmosphere, troposphere, stratosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere, describe them
atmosphere-holds the gases around the earth, where weather occurs. Trophosphere-temp decreases as altitude increases, where we live from 0-10 km. Stratosphere-second layer, temp increases as altitude increases, 10 km-50km. Hydrophere-river lakes oceans currents. lithosphere-ground.
which of the following types of organisms are required to complete the nitrogen cycle, including the process of dentrification? A. bacteria B. consumers C. Fungi D. producers
bacteria
Boreal and Tundra Biomes average temperature
below 41 degrees F
Tropical seasonal forest/savanna
biome characterized by deciduous and evergreen trees, a dry season, and animal species that include monkeys, elephants, and Bengal tigers, pep landscape with deciduous trees, fires, rapid decompensation fertile, used for farming
benthic zone
bottom of an aquatic ecosystem; consists of sand and sediment and supports its own community of organisms
Terrestrial biomes
characterized by distribution, precipitation, temperature, plants, animals
Temperate grassland
cold desert biome characterized by cold, harsh winters and hot dry summers, great plains of North American, South American Cntral Asia, Eastern Europe. Fires are common, rainfall determines plants, long growing season, rapid compensation, large nutrients, agriculture and cattle
Tundra
cold, treeless biome with low growing vegetation, soil is frozen in winter, Russia, Canada, Scandinavia, Alaska Antarctica, short growing season
Orchids require tree limbs for support but do not harm the trees. This demonstrates a. facilitation b. commensalism c. amensalism d. mutualism e. allelopathy
commensalism-one benefits other unaffected
environmental science
considers how the natural world interacts with humans, with over 7 billion humans who need resources...
open ocean
deep ocean water, located away from the shoreline where sunlight can no longer reach the ocean bottom
hypoxic
deficient in oxygen
what are the four properties that determines how air circulates?
density, water vapor capacity, adiatic heating or cooling and latent heat release
anthropogenic
derived from human activities, human made impacts
Most of Earth's deserts are at approximately 30 degrees altitude, north and south, because these latitudes are characterized by a. generally warm ocean currents b. predominately low atmospheric pressure c. descending dry air currents d. slow moving jet streams e. enhanced solar radiation
descending dry air currents
Atmospheric convection current
global patterns of air movement that are initiated by the unequal heating of Earth, they involve the movement of air that absorbs and releases heat as the air moves up into the atmosphere and back to Earth. These convection currents are responsible for the locations of rainforest, deserts and grasslands on Earth.
Overshoot
humans are using more resources than the Earth can replenish
Energy is transferred along food chains from one stage to the next. Which statement best explains how the energy is transferred? a. if a primary producer stores 1000,000kcal of energy, then a secondary consumer will have 10,000kcal of energy available b. if a secondary consumer stores 500kcal of energy, then a tertiary consumer that feeds on the secondary consumer will have 5,000kcal of energy available. c. if a primary producer stores 10,000kcal of energy, then a tertiary consumer will have 10kcal of energy available d. if a primary consumer stores 100 kcal of energy, then a secondary consumer that feeds on the primary consumer will also have 100kcal of energy available.
if a primary producer stores 10,000kcalof energy, then a tertiary consumer will have 10kcal of energy available.
development
improvement in human well-being through economic advancement
Why is the flow of ocean water important for global climates?
it moves warm and cold water around the globe
Challenges of Environmental Science
lack of baseline data, subjectivity, interactions, human well-being
Trophosphere
layer of Earth's amosphere closest to Earth's surface (where weather takes place and where most pollution occurs), extending up to 10 miles, layer where most of the Nitrogen, Oxygen and water vapor occurs.
the physical, abiotic components of our planet can be divided into the a. geosphere and atmosphere b. lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere c. lithosphere, biosphere and atmosphere d. lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and atmosphere e. centrosphere, geosphere, biosphere and atmosphere
lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere
Ecosytems
living and nonliving things in an environment and the many ways they interact, dependent on climate, some have distinct boundaries, does not have to be vast and big, some are small, they can interact with each other through energy and matter.
biotic
living organisms
biophilia
love of life
Be able to describe a typical food web for your country.
mosses, lichens are producers, Primary consumers are squirrels, chipmunk and deer. Secondary consumers are carnivores like wolves. Tertiary consumers eat both, like bears.
What do ocean currents do?
move heat back and forth between the tropics and the polar regions, they impact primary productivity and the climate of nearby continents. they are driven by combination fo temp, gravity, prevailing winds, Coroilis effect, salinity and location of continents.
In reef ecosystems, corals often have micro algae living inside them. The algae supply the corals with nutrients and the coral give shelter tot he algae. Which of the following interactions best describes the relationship between the corals and the algae? A. competition B. predation C. mutualism D. parasitism
mutualism
Nitrogen fixation is a process that makes nitrogen available to plants and is carried out by a. photosynthesis b. volcanic eruptions c. parasitic bacteria d. nitrogen gas dissolving in freshwater and in the ocean e. mutualistic and free living bacteria
mutualistic and free living bacteria
herbivore
organism that obtains energy by eating only plants
List and distinguish among the five levels of organization of matter that are the focus of the realm of ecology.
organsims-population-community-ecosystem-biosphere
environmentally and economically acceptable means of controlling introduced invasive species include a. public education, introduction of suitable predators, examination of imported goods b. application of potent pesticides that kill the introduced species c. banning of all importation of nonnative species with heavy fines for non compliance d. removal of all the invasive individuals by collecting, bating, trapping and for plants, prescribed burning
public education, introduction of suitable predators, examination of imported goods
hypothesis driven science
test hypothesis using systematic and repeated experimentation.
standing crop
the amount of biomass present in an ecosystem at a particular time
adiabatic cooling
the cooling effect of reduced pressure on air as it rises higher in the atmosphere and expands
Coriolis effect
the deflection of an object's path due to the rotation of the Earth
biodiversity
the diversity of plant and animal life in a particular habitat (or in the world as a whole)
speciation
the evolution of new species
which of the following describes the most likely change to terrestrial biomes resulting from warmer average global temperatures? a. the global distribution of midlatitude biomes, such as grasslands and temperate rain forests, would increase b. deciduous trees found in temperate seasonal forests would flower later in the year c. the latitude range of tropical rain forests would narrow closer to the equator d. high altitude biomes, such as the tundra, would experience a decrease in net primary poductivity
the global distribution of midlatitude biomes such as grasslands and temperate rain forests would increase
adiabatic heating
the heating effect of increased pressure on air as it sinks toward the surface of Earth and decreases in volume
intermediate disturbance hypothesis
the hypothesis that ecosystems experiencing intermediate levels of disturbance are more diverse than those with high or low disturbance levels
ecological footprint
the impact of a person or community on the environment, expressed as the amount of land required to sustain their use of natural resources. Population size does not equal a bigger footprint, more industrialization impact the footprint.
aphotic zone
the layer of ocean water that lacks sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis
air density
the mass of all molecules int h air in a given volume, less dense air rises, where more dense air sinks, warm air has lower density than cold air (first property of air)
Carbon Cycle
the movement of carbon from the nonliving environment into living things and back, this process occurs over long periods of time. Carbon is dissolved through volcanoes, rock weathering and acid precipitation releasing Carbon into the ocean, which over a long period of time causes sedimentation to create shells in the lithosphere. The is the abiotic portion of the cycle. The biotic portion occurs in a short period of time. Photosynthesis allows plants to covert food to sugar. Animals eat the plants, and animals coverts carbon dioxide to sugar (energy). There is more Co2 in winter due to less photosynthesis.
biogeochemical cycles
the movements of matter within and between ecosystems
intertidal zone
the narrow band of coastline between the levels of high tide and low tide
Species diversity
the number of species in a region or in a particular type of habitat.
Anaeorbic respiration
the process by which cells convert glucose into energy in the absence of oxygen
Assimilation
the process by which fungal and bacterial decomposers break down the organic natter found in dead bodies and waste products and convert it into inorganic compounds. They incorporate into their tissues, then primary consumers feed on the producers, and then the rest is eliminated as waste products.
Ecosystem services
the processes by which life-supporting resources such as clean water, timber, fisheries, and agricultural crops are produced
food chain
the sequences of consumption from producers through tertiary consumers
weather
the short term conditions of the atmosphere in a local area, which include temperature, humidity, clouds, precipitation and wind speed.
Six white tailed deer and six sika deer were enclosed in a pasture for observation during an eight year study in central Texas. White tailed deer are a native spices to central Texas, while sika deer are a nonnative species to central Texas. White tailed deer feed on flowering plants and the tips of trees and shrubs but do not eat grass. Sika deer feed on flowering plants, the tips of trees and shrubs, and grass. All other grazing animals were kept out of the pasture during the study. The number of sika deer more than doubled after the eight years, while the population of white tailed deer decreased by 50 percent. Which of the following statements best supports the results form the study? a. change in the local climate reduced the availability of food resources for the white tailed deer b. parasites infected the sika deer population but did not infect the white tailed deer population c. the sika deer are generalists, while the white tailed deer are specialists d. the sika deer out competed the white tailed deer in coming flowering plants and shrubs
the sika deer out competed the white tailed deer in coming flowering plants and shrubs.
Which of the following best identifies a key component of the hydrologic cycle that powers the movement of water and dismissing from the diagram? A. terrestrial animals B. the sun C. bacteria D. volcanoes
the sun
photic zone
the upper latter of ocean water in the ocean that receives enough sunlight for photosynthesis
upwelling
the upward movement of ocean water toward the surface as a result of diverging currents, explains why some regions of ocean have highly productive ecosystems.
Which of the following terrestrial biomes has the highest primary productivity per unit area? A. Desert B. tropical rain forest C. boreal forest D. Savanna
tropical rain forest
which of the following best describes a terrestrial ecosystem that will have the highest net primary productivity? a. warm temperatures, high rainfall and consistent sunlight b. hot temperatures, low rainfall and consistent sunlight c. cold temperatures, high rainfall and inconsistent sunlight d. warm temperatures, low rainfall, and inconsistent sunlight
warm temperatures, high rainfall and consistent sunlight
Which of the following statements is true about the hydrologic cycle? A. infiltration of water into the ground prevents water from returning to the ocean reservoir. b. surface runoff is the primary recharge of groundwater c. water from the ocean evaporates and condenses in the atmosphere d. evapotranspiration from plants decreases atmospheric water vapor.
water from the ocean evaporates and condenses in the atmosphere
profundal zone
zone in a freshwater habitat that is below the limits of effective light penetration, below the limnetic zone in very deep lakes, producers cannot survive there, nutrients are not easily recycled into the food web
