Plants and Society Midterm Study Guide (copy)

What is the first step of the Scientific Method?

Make observation.

What is the definition of Science?

Knowledge attained through study or practice.

What are the three main cereal crops consumed worldwide?

Rice, wheat, and corn.

What percentage of energy transfer is efficient in the food chain?

10%.

What are macronutrients?

Nutrients required in large quantities such as carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids.

What are micronutrients?

Nutrients required in small quantities such as vitamins and minerals.

What distinguishes cereals from pseudocereals?

Cereals are fruits of grasses belonging to the family Poaceae, while pseudocereals do not belong to the same family.

Give examples of cereal grains.

Wheat, rice, and corn.

What are simple carbohydrates?

Sugars like glucose, fructose, and sucrose that do not need to be digested.

What are tuberous roots?

Modified roots that become fleshy and enlarged to store food reserves.

What are essential amino acids?

Amino acids that humans cannot synthesize and must obtain from food.

What macronutrient is abundant in legumes?

Protein.

What are triacylglycerols?

A type of plant lipid that serves as a source of dietary energy for humans.

What is a major contributor to CO2 emissions in livestock?

Cow flatulence, which releases methane.

What dietary change can help you live longer?

Eating more plant-based foods.

What are fat-soluble vitamins?

Vitamins A, D, E, and K.

What are water-soluble vitamins?

Vitamins C and B.

What term describes plant-derived chemicals that affect human nutrition?

Phytonutrients.

Name a major floral pigment involved in attracting pollinators.

Carotenoids.

What are nutraceuticals?

Substances that provide long-term health benefits.

What ancient method attempted to understand medicinal plants?

Trial and error.

How many people rely on medicinal plants worldwide?

Up to 80%.

What is allelopathy?

When plants secrete chemicals that inhibit the growth of nearby plants.

What is the first step in the process of drug discovery?

Identify potential plants.

What risk threatens medicinal plants?

Overharvesting.

What is in-situ conservation?

Identifying ecosystems with diverse medicinal plant species.

What does ethnobotany study?

How people of a culture use indigenous plants.

What is Ayahuasca known for?

Containing a potent hallucinogen used in traditional medicine.

What is bioprospecting?

Scientific studies searching for useful applications or processes in nature.

What is a controversy associated with biopiracy?

Exploitation of a country's biological resources.

What are the three objectives of the Convention on Biodiversity?

Conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, fair sharing of benefits.

What is the advantage of synthetic drugs over natural products?

They can be patented.

Name a key risk to medicinal plants related to habitat.

Habitat destruction.

What does ex-situ conservation entail?

Cultivating and storing seeds outside their natural habitat.

How is plant tissue culture beneficial?

Allows for year-round plant material availability.

What is the benefit of seed banks?

Preserving global plant biodiversity.

What do recalcitrant seeds not survive?

Drying or freezing.

What causes biotic stress in plants?

Living organisms like fungi, viruses, and bacteria.

What are some examples of abiotic stress?

Extreme temperatures, drought, and salinity.

What is a stress escape strategy plants may use?

Completing their life cycle before stress onset.

What is the role of nitrogen in plant nutrition?

Component of amino acids and proteins.

What is the importance of phosphorus in plants?

Key role in ATP and nucleic acid reactions.

How can soil pH affect plants?

Influences nutrient availability and toxicity.

What are mutualistic interactions?

Benefits shared by different organisms in a relationship.

What do legume plants receive from rhizobia?

Nitrogen in the form of ammonium.

What do rhizobia benefit from legumes?

Photosynthetic products and a protected environment.

How do pathogens impact plants?

Cause diseases and can lead to crop loss.

What must be present in the plant disease triangle for diseases to occur?

Susceptible host, favorable environment, and pathogen.

What is exclusion as a disease control principle?

Preventing the introduction of pathogens.

What is one disadvantage of monoculture?

Sensitive to weather changes and diseases.

What are the ecological effects of fire?

Recycle nutrients and promote new growth.

What is the fire suppression paradox?

Suppression of fires can lead to more severe wildfires.

What does the AB-706 bill aim to fund?

Wildfire prevention through forest biomass management.

What does controlled environment agriculture limit?

Environmental influences on crops.

What is the significance of light in plant growth?

Essential for photosynthesis and plant morphology.

How can the nutritional quality of tomatoes vary?

Higher in the morning and flavor quality higher at night.

What factor controls yield and nutritional quality?

Light.

What processes describe how plants remove contaminants from the environment?

Phytoremediation.

What is phytovolatilization?

Plants release contaminants into the air.

What is the ecological benefit of fire in nature?

Stimulates seed germination.

What adaptations help plants survive fire?

Thick barks and underground buds.

How can traditional cultures manage fire?

Using small, low-intensity fires.

What does biotic migration of contaminants refer to?

Transfer and concentration of toxins up the food chain.

What is the main environmental risk of using inorganic fertilizers?

Eutrophication.

What is the importance of mineral nutrients in plants?

Essential for growth and development.

What effect does soil pH have on plants?

Affects nutrient availability and uptake.

What is the definition of phytodegradation?

Breakdown of contaminants by plants through metabolic processes.

How do plants control nutrient delivery in a controlled environment?

By targeting specific treatments.

What benefits do polycultures provide?

Greater biodiversity and habitat for species.

How do plants use allelopathy?

To inhibit growth of nearby plants.

What role does magnesium play in plants?

Constituent of chlorophyll.

What is an example of a competitive relationship among plants?

Tall trees compete for light with smaller plants.

What is a cooperative relationship among plants?

The three sisters planting method (beans, corn, squash).

What can cause plant nutrient deficiencies?

Lack of mineral nutrients in soil.

What role does potassium play in plants?

Cofactor for over 40 enzymes.

What is the benefit of crop rotation?

Improves soil nitrogen content.

What is an example of a defense mechanism in plants against pathogens?

Antimicrobial compounds.

What is a common agricultural pollutant?

Pesticides.

What are the effects of chemical methods on pollutants?

Involve oxidation and reduction reactions.

How do plants influence the nutrition of their habitat?

By interacting with soil and microorganisms.

How does soil nutrient availability affect agricultural productivity?

Directly impacts crop yield and quality.

What are effects of overharvesting on biodiversity?

Threatens plant species and ecosystem health.

What does conservation of medicinal plants focus on?

Preserving genetic diversity and ecosystems.

What is an important aspect of in-situ conservation?

Preserving the natural habitat of medicinal plants.

How do synthetic drugs compare to natural compounds?

Synthetic drugs can be patented; natural cannot.