Eviornmental Bio Exam 2 Study Guide

species richness

the number of species in a given area

species diversity

Variety of different kinds of organisms that make up a community.

trophic relationships

feeding relationships

Producers

Organisms that make their own food

primary consumers (herbivores)

consume producers

secondary consumers (carnivores and omnivores)

eat primary consumers

tertiary consumers (carnivores)

eat secondary consumers

Decomposer

An organism that breaks down wastes and dead organisms

why is a food chain leaky

a lot of energy escapes or gets used up at each step of the chain, so only a small amount moves on to the next level

size of trophic level

Higher trophic levels contain fewer individuals because the available energy decreases sharply at each step. This is why you see fewer top predators than plants or herbivores in an ecosystem

diversity in trophic levels

There tends to be higher species diversity at the lower trophic levels (such as producers and primary consumers) than at the top. The energy constraints make it challenging to sustain a large number of species at higher trophic levels

length of food chains

Length of Food Chains: Because of the energy loss, food chains are typically limited to four or five levels; there isn't enough energy left to support additional levels

wheere does earths energy come from?

the sun

how does earths energy get converted to matter?

it is captured by plants, transfromed to food, and flows through the ecosystem as living organisms consume each other

Explain why human activities that reduce habitat diversity typically have a negativeimpact on niche diversity and species divers

when humans change/destroy habitats such as forests, grasslands, or wetlands, there are fewer places for animals and plants to live. Each habitat has unique jobs and spaces that certain animals need to survive, when we destroy their habitats they can no longer survive.

Mututalism

both organisms benefit

competition

both species are harmed because they compete for the same resources

commensalism

one organism benefits and the other is unaffected

Parasitism

One organism benefits and the other is harmed

Biome

A group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms

tundra

An extremely cold, dry biome climate region characterized by short, cool summers and bitterly cold winters. low primary productivity

boreal forest

cold winters, mild summers. low precipitation, mainly just snow in winter. moderate to low productivity.

temperate grassland

warm to hot summers; cold winters; moderate seasonal precipitation in spring and summer; fertile soils; occasional fires. moderate productivity

temperate forest

warm summers and cool winters. moderate to high precipitation throughout the year. high productivity

tropical rainforest

warm all year. high precipitation. very high productivity.

Savannah

warm year-round, moderate precipitation, moderate productivity

desert

hot during the day and cool at night. very low precipitation. low productivity

biomes with high primary productivity

tropical rainforest and temperate forest

biomes with low primary productivity

tundra and desert

We say that the biosphere is an open system for energy but a closed system for matter;explain what is meant by this statemen

energy is not recycled, it is constantly brought in by the sun, however matter is recycled within the biosphere because the same molecules are used over and over

how does water and CO2 enter and exit photosynthesis

water is absorbed by the roots from the soil and transported through the leaves, CO2 is taken from the air through small openings in the leaves

how does Oxygen and sugar enter and exit aerobic respiration

sugar is obtained by food or produced during photosynthesis and oxygen is taken from the air through breathing in animals or absorbed though plants

Explain why carbon is important to life

it is found in all living things and helps make proteins, fats, sugars, and DNA. Plants use carbon from the air to make food which animals eat for energy. When living things die carbon goes back into the air.

explain why phosphorus is important to life

it helps living things grow and stay healthy, it helps pplanst grow properly, it moves through the ground and water but it comes from rocks and soil, it gets recycled back to plains through soil

explain why nitrogen is important to life

it is needed to make proteins and DNA, plants need nitrogen to grow strong and healthy, it is found in the air and moves through food chains

what is an organic source of nutrients

carbon containing compounds vital for energy snd growth

inorganic nutrients

non carbon elements

Explain why eutrophication happens, and how this can contribute to low oxygen levels inaquatic environments

eutrophication occurs primarily due to nutrient runoff from fertilizers and wastewater, leading to algal blooms which result in low oxygen levels. low oxygen levels that can harm aquatic organisms and disrupt the ecosystem

what is a fact

something that can be proven

what is a hypothesis

a testable prediction

what is a theory

A theory is a statement that has not been tested

natural selection

Natural selection is a way that nature chooses which living things survive and reproduce based on their traits

artificial selection

Breeding organisms with specific traits in order to produce offspring with identical traits.

We say that selection pressure affects individuals, but it is populations that evolve;explain what is meant by this statement

while natural selection acts on individual organisms based on their traits in response to environmental pressures, the evolutionary changes occur at the population level as those traits become more or less common over time

biodiversity

the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

explain why biodiversity is important at the genetic, species, andecosystem levels

biodiversity is vital for the health and resilience of the planet at genetic, species, and ecosystem levels. Genetic diversity enhances adaptability and survival, species diversity contributes to ecosystem stability and services, and ecosystem diversity supports a wide range of habitats and ecological functions

the most diverse group of vertebrates

fish

the most diverse group of invertebrates

Arthropodes (insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and myriapods)

most diverse group overall

insects

Explain why islands are hotspots for endemism

isolation, species have to adapt to sifferent conditions and evolve into new forms, when reproducing, since they had to evolve it causes new specialized traits. Few competing species so this causes rapid evolution

Explain why islands are hotspots for extinction

limited resources, small populations, invasive species, disruption of ecosystems, habitat loss, overhunting

Fundamental Theorem of Natural Selection

natural selection drives evolution by favoring things with beneficial traits with helps populations adapt and thrive over time

List the five main categories of threats to biodiversity we discussed in class; rank the top threat

1. Habitat Loss and fragmentation, 2. invasive species, 3. pollution, 4. climate change, 5. overexploitation

background extinction rate

The average rate at which species become extinct over the long term

approximate estimate for background extinction rate and how does it compare to current extinction rate

1 to 5 species per million species per year. it has increased due to human activities

instrumental value

worth as an instrument or a tool that can be used to accomplish a goal

intrinsic value

value independent of any benefit to humans

Endangered Species Act

aimed at protecting and recovering species and their habitats.

benefits of Endangered Species Act

species recovery, habitat conservation, public awareness

problems of Endangered Species Act

econimic conficts, implementation challenges, political resistance, slow recovery

Give a basic overview of the distribution of water on Earth (rough % in oceans, ice caps,lakes, etc.)

97.5% of earths water is salt water, 2.5% is freshwater. 68.7% of freshwater is ice caps and glaciers, 30% of freshwater is groundwater, 1.2% of freshwater is lakes, .006% of freshwater is rivers and streams, .04% of freshwater is in the atmosphere

Explain where residents of Bulloch county obtain our water

groundwater and surface water

Explain what the major use of water is for residents of Bulloch county

drinking, cooking, bathing, cleaning, irrigation, manufacturing, commercial use

water cycle

evaporation: water turns to vapor and enters atmosphere, transpiration: water is released from plants into the atmosphere, condensation: water vapor cools and forms clouds, precipitation: water fall as rain, snow, hail, etc., runoff: water flows over the surface into rivers and lakes, infiltration, water seeps into the ground repleneshing ground water

Explain how precipitation, transpiration, evaporation, runoff, and infiltration are affectedby alternative uses of the landscape

precipitation: how precipitation of absorbed or repelled, transpiration: vegetation type and density greaty influence transpiration rates, evaporation: surface type and water avalibilyt affect evaporation rates, runoff: land cover affects how water flows across the landscape, infiltration: the ability of water to seeo into the ground is influenced by land cover and soil characteristics

Point Source Water Pollution

A single identifiable and localized source of water pollution, such as wastewater discharge into a stream.

nonpoint source water pollution

Pollutants introduced into surface or groundwater that are without a specific location source, such as water flowing over a lawn that has been fertilized and into a drain.

why is sedmintaion a form of water pollution?

it negativley affects water quality, aquatic life, and habitat structures

Sedimentation

the action or process of forming or depositing sediment

Explain why there is a "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico near the mouth of theMississippi River, why this zone tends to be bigger in summer than winter, and why ittends to be bigger in rainier than drier year

it is larger in the summer due to warmer temperatures which means more algal and it also expands in ranier years because of the greater nutrient runoff which fuels the eutrophication process

List some "best management practices": ways of managing the land that could helpreduce the runoff of pollutants into streams, lakes, and oceans

vegetative buffers: strips of grass, shrubs , or trees. cover crops: reduce soil erosion. rain gardens and bioretention cells: capture and absorbs storm water. permeable pavements: they absorb water instead of water running off of them.

Explain what causes ocean acidification and the consequences of acidification for marineorganisms, especially those with calcified skeleton

it is caused by the absorption of carbon dioxide. it can cause increased CO2 in the atmosphere, chemical reactions which can make the water more acidic, can calcify coral reefs which can lead to slower growth rates and weakened structures, and ca be more likely to samage and disease

Describe the importance of coral reefs to marine ecosystems and describe the symbiotic relationship that coral has with algae

they provide habitat and offer a good place for rish to nurse, they are natural barriers, absorb and store CO2. algae and coral have a mutualistic relationship because they both benefit

Explain the principle behind the Ocean Cleanup Proje

Ocean Cleanup Project operates on the principle of using passive collection methods to capture and concentrate plastic debris in the ocean, leveraging ocean currents and innovative technology. By targeting high-pollution areas like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the project aims to reduce plastic waste in marine environments, raise awareness, and develop scalable solutions to combat the plastic pollution crisis.

Ecology

Scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment

Niche

An organism's particular role in an ecosystem, or how it makes its living.

Abiotic

Non-living

biotic

living

Keystone species

A species that influences the survival of many other species in an ecosystem

Primary productivity

rate at which organic matter is created by producers in an ecosystem

gross primary productivity

The total amount of solar energy that producers in an ecosystem capture via photosynthesis over a given amount of time

net primary productivity

the rate at which biomass accumulates in an ecosystem

Nutrient cycle

Continuous flow of nutrients into and out of stores in the ecosystem; balanced, unless disturbed by human activity

Evolution

Change over time

Coevolution

Process by which two species evolve in response to changes in each other

Biodiversity hotspot

an area that supports a large number of native species

Mass extinction event

a time when vast numbers of species abruptly vanish

Fossil record

information about past life, including the structure of organisms, what they ate, what ate them, in what environment they lived, and the order in which they lived

Transitional form (in fossil record)

illustrate the evolutionary process by showing characteristics between different groups of organisms

Reserve (for species protection)

designated area set aside to conserve and protect biodiversity including habitats and species that are at risk of extinction or decline

Watershed

An ecosystem where all water runoff drains into a single body of water

Stormwater runoff

water from precipitation that flows over the surface of the land

Coral bleaching

A phenomenon in which algae inside corals die, causing the corals to turn white.

Microplastics

Small plastic particles posing negative consequences to marine environments and wildlife