Chapter 6 Science - Ecology

where do animals get their carbon

eating a plant

where do animals get their nitrogen

eating plants

2nd level consumer

eats 1st level consumers (omnivores, carnivores)

3rd level consumer

eats 2nd level consumers (omnivores, carnivores)

1st level consumer

eats producers (herbivores or omnivores)

What happens to rain when it falls on the ground?

evaporates, or flows over the surface of the land. The water that flows over the ground is called stormwater or runoff.

transpiration

evaporation of water fro the leaves of a plant

condensation

gas to liquid

Name three populations commonly found in a prairie system

grasses, gophers, coyotes, wildflowers...

evaporation

liquid to gas

How does the nitrogen cycle differ from the carbon and oxygen cycles?

nitrogen becomes available to organisms in soil rather than air

3 roles of bacteria in nitrogen cycle

nitrogen fixing bacteria, decomposers, other bacteria break down nitrogen compound and release into air

Can most organisms use nitrogen gas?

no

most precipitation falls back into

oceans and lakes

most consumers take in

oxygen from the air and water to use it for life processes

two different habitats in a prairie ecosystem and an organism found in each habitat

prairie ecosystems divided into two habitats - short grass and tall grass. Short grass - less rain, so drought resistant species like some cactus; gopher; Tall grass - coyote

parts of the water cycle

precipitation, evaporation, condensation, transpiration

What role is filled by the first organism in a food chain?

producer (NOT the sun - the sun is not food for a plant...plants make their own food)

during the carbon and oxygen cycles

producers release O2 as a result of photosynthesis; consumers release carbon dioxide as a waste product; consumers take in oxygen for their life processes

carbon dioxide and water

products of respiration

decomposers break down dead organisms and

return carbon compounds to the soil

Explain energy pyramid

shows how much energy is passed from level to level

four forms of precipitation

snow, sleet, rain, hail

Why are there usually few organisms at the top of an energy pyramid?

so much energy is lost at each level; energy at the top level can support few organisms

four abiotic factors in a prairie ecosystem

soil, rock, sunlight, water

Parts of an environment from smallest to largest

species, population, community, ecosystem

ecology

study of how living things interact with each other and their environment

Possible example of energy flow

sun --> plant --> herbivore --> carnivore --> scavenger --> decomposer --> plant --> etc

the role of producers in the carbon oxygen cycle

take in CO2 during photosynthesis and use it to make food molecules; release O2 as a byproduct of photosynthesis

where do plants get their nitrogen

the soil

The energy for evaporation comes from

the sun

How does the amount of energy available at one level of an energy pyramid compare to the amount of energy available at the next level up?

there is not as much energy at the top. The amount is 10x greater than level above.

function of the water cycle

to purify water

Is carbon necessary for life?

yes

List 5 abiotic factors

(non living parts of an organisms habitat) Rock, Soil, Water, Sunlight, Air

This percent of the air we breathe is nitrogen gas

78%

Why are nitrogen-fixing bacteria so important to other organisms?

Although the air is made up of over 70% nitrogen, plants cannot use nitrogen in this N2 form. Nitrogen fixing bacteria change nitrogen into the form of soluble nitrates so that plants can use it.

heterotroph

An organism that cannot make its own food.

autotroph

An organism that makes its own food

role of animal in nitrogen cycle

Animals eat plants and obtain the nitrogen compounds they need to make certain body chemicals. Animal wastes and dead animals and plants are broken down by bacteria to release nitrogen compounds back into the soil.

Respiration releases

CO2

Carbon Cycle

Carbon is used by plants during photosynthesis and made into carbohydrates. The carbohydrates are used during cellular respiration, giving off carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Would all the different kinds of organisms in a forest be considered a population or a community?

Community. Population is only one species. Community is all populations in an area.

niche

Describes what an organism does and how it interacts with the biotic and abiotic factors in the environment

steps of the water cycle

Liquid water evaporates from plants, lakes, rivers, and oceans on Earth's surface and forms water vapor in the atmosphere. As the water vapor cools, it forms tiny drops of liquid water through the process of condensation. These drops gather together in clouds. When the droplets become heavy enough, they fall to Earth as precipitation such as rain or snow.

Biotic Factor

Living parts of a habitat (dead or alive)

Nutrients

NOT FOOD! Nutrients are elements and small molecules in the air, soil and plants that are necessary for sustaining life. Examples include minerals, oxygen, carbon dioxide, potassium, zinc, etc.

What part of a plant do nitrogen-fixing bacteria live?

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria live in nodules, lumps on the roots of legume plants.

Does energy cycle through an ecosystem?

No, unlike nutrients and water that do, energy is continuously lost to the environment. This means that energy exits a system while it is flowing through, by the processes of cellular function, especially cellular respiration. Energy can be neither created nor destroyed, but it may be lost.

photosynthesis releases

O2

how are oxygen and carbon cycled between plants and animals?

Oxygen and carbon are needed for plants and animals to survive. Plants absorb carbon and process it to make energy. Through this process the plant releases oxygen. Animals then breathe in oxygen and release carbon. The two elements are cycled between plants and animals continuously with this process.

runoff

Part of the water cycle where an excess of water runs down and does not sink into the soil and eventually makes it to the rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Nitrogen Fixation

Process of converting nitrogen gas into ammonia

describe how oxygen and carbon dioxide cycle in the environment

Producers take in carbon dioxide from the air and use it to make sugar molecules in the process of photosynthesis. The producers release oxygen in the process. Animals take in the oxygen that the producers release into the air. Animals exhale carbon dioxide, which can then be used by producers.

water cycle

The continuous process by which water moves from Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back

respiration

The process in which nutrients are converted into useful energy in a cell.

Nitrogen Cycle

Transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil, to living organisms, then back to the atmosphere

decay

a process that decomposes dead things and returns carbon and nitrogen to the soil

protein

a substance that makes up most of our bodies and has nitrogen in it

where do plants get their carbon

absorb it from the atmosphere

most nitrogen fixations is performed by

bacteria

nitrogen fixation is performed by

bacteria and legumes

how is nitrogen used?

build proteins, growth, reproduction; make amino acids and DNA

lightening

can change unusable nitrogen into usable nitrogen

burning oil and other fossil fuels release ___________ into the atmosphere

carbon

most producers use __________ for their life processes

carbon dioxide

nitrogen fixing bacteria

change unusable nitrogen in the air into usable nitrogen that plants can absorb

this process results in the formation of clouds

condensation

oxygen cycle

contains both respiration and photosynthesis