ecology test review

carbon cycle steps

- Plant leaves take carbon dioxide from air - Plants store carbon in carbohydrates or starches photosynthesis & uses it to make glucose) - Plants & animals release carbon dioxide back into the air (cellular respiration) - Decomposers return carbon to environment (decomposition)

An ------- is a collection of all of the abiotic and biotic factors in an entire region

ecosystem

which statement describes how two ecosystems will differ in their ability to recover from a natural disaster?

ecosystem II, because multiple species may perform the same ecological role

an ecological pyramid is sometimes used to show both the flow of matter and energy in an ecosystem. the pyramid narrows as matter and energy flow from the bottom to the top.

energy decreases from bottom to top because some is used at each level for life processes

it is projected that an increase in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere will MOST LIKELY lead to

higher-than-average sea levels

which might be a positive effect of the increase in carbon dioxide levels?

increase in plant growth

----- species reproduce rapidly in a new habitat due to the lack of parasites and predators that would naturally control their population growth

invasive

primary succession beings after

lava flow

the growth rate of a population that has a limited food supply will MOST LIKELY be

logistic

which species are likely to represent pioneer species in succession?

mosses and short grasses

which cycle is most affected by the over-use of ammonia fertilizers on commercial farms, as well as by the accumulation of waste on cattle farms and feed lots?

nitrogen

what can be interpreted from the graph

number of microbes increases exponentially with time

what is the order of the phosphorous cycle

over time rain and weathering cause rocks to release phosphate and minerals. This phosphate is distributed into soils and water. plants take up phosphate from the soil.

the establishment of a NEW site for plant growth is

primary succession

carbon becomes part of the carbon cycle in several ways, both by physical and chemical forms. carbon enters a food web via ------ through the process of -------

producers; photosynthesis

all living things need nitrogen to make...

proteins

which would not cause a decline in sea ice

rising sea level

at carrying capacity, the birth and death rate are....

similar

secondary succession occurs in the presence of -----

soil

the amount of matter that cycles through a food web....

stays constant

carbon controls the --------

temperature

In an African community cheetahs and leopards consume only impala antelopes. If the number of leopards increased in the canyon what would occur

the impala population will decrease

prairie dogs are burrowing rodents that live in grasslands. what makes the prairie dog a keystone species in an ecosystem?

their tunnels act as conducts for rain water to seep into the ground, thereby promoting the growth of grass.

the zebra mussel is a shellfish native to Europe. During the early 1900s, it was accidentally brought to the US in the ballast of a ship traveling to the Great Lakes. It has no predators in Great lakes. what impact are zebra mussels likely to have on food chains in the Great Lakes?

they will compete with native shellfish and clams and hurt their populations

we know that matter is changed into various forms, but the total quantity remains ------

unchanged

causes of primary succession:

volcano eruptions, exposed rock, melting glaciers, and anywhere with concrete.

available dissolved oxygen is dependent on what?

water temperature

causes of secondary succession:

Fire, floods, tsunami, hurricanes, dams, deforestation, abandoned field

pioneer plant species could be described as those that

are small in size, and have highly effective means of dispersing their seeds

climax communities ------- communities that are undergoing primary succession.

are usually more rich in species biodiversity than

explain how warmer ocean water is involved in the water cycle

atmospheric carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, would cause rising ocean temperatures, which will cause an increase in evaporation. the added water vapor would further increase global warming.

what is the correct sequence of events in the nitrogen cycle?

atmospheric nitrogen -> bacteria -> plants -> animals

what is an adverse impact to a local community from the long-term use of the fertilizers?

biodiversity decrease in nearby ponds from runoff pollutants entering water

the total amount of organic matter present in any trophic level is called

biomass

increased ------ emission from human activities are directly correlated to increased global temperatures

carbon

how can a population decrease in size?

decreased birthrate and emigration

coconut palms grow on the island and drop coconuts. the coconuts are eaten by coconut crabs. the coconut crabs are eaten by seals. the seals would receive about ----- of the energy from coconuts.

1%

water cycle steps

1. groundwater evaporates into the air 2. the evaporated water condenses into clouds 3. it rains the water vapor from the clouds 4. the rain can "runoff" into bodies of water 5. the plants give off water from leaves (transpiration)

what is phosphate used for?

Makes DNA, RNA, ATP & phospholipids; fertilizer. if fertilizer runs off into water it can be overwhelming and contaminate marine life or cause overgrowth which effects a food chain.

the sea star is one of the several invertebrates that inhabit a rock intertidal habitat. while about 15 species make up this community. removal of the sea star would result in

a severe reduction in species diversity as one or a few species take over