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