module 5

practice quiz: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1QgNe6aUFXL1H50h-2BBNKI6vUp3rX_Z3Y5vVmgWDMYQ/prefill

niche

the role of an organism in an ecosystem

convection

when warm molecules go up, cool molecules go down

\-atmosphere: hot air rises and cool air goes down

\-hydrosphere; hot water rises and cool water goes down

carbon sinks (what are the four main ones too)

store carbon

\-four main ones: organic molecules in dead organisms in biosphere

\-gas carbon dioxide in atmosphere

\-organic matter in soil

\-fossil fuel and sedimentary rock deposits in lithosphere

predator prey relationship

one species (predator) is preying on another species- the prey. This effects both populations, ex: fox and rabbit

food web

interlocking system of food chains

carbon cycle

a natural system to reuse carbon atoms.

\-carbon travels from the atmosphere to organisms on earth and then back to the atmosphere

symbiosis

interactions between two different organisms

\-mutualism, both benefit

\-commensalism, one benefit one neutral

\-paratism, one benefit one doesnt

bioaccumulation

increase in the concentration of a chemical in an organism overtime

photoautotrophs

an organism that photosynthesizes (green plants, cyanobacterium, algae)

observation

asking questions, qualitative observations (describes), quantitative observations (amounts).

\-leads to develop. of testable hypotheses

experimentation

tests hypothesis by gathering data. can be modeled on natural or fake environments

modeling

helps understand changes over long periods of time or in large areas

\-mathematical formulas

\-lead to more hypotheses, experiments, data, and changes in models

\-improves ability to make predictions

demography

study of pop.

\-allows predictions to be made about how a pop. will change

nitrogen cycle

cycle where nitrogen moves through atmosphere, soil, water, bacteria and organisms. in order to do this it must change forms


1. nitrogen fixation
2. nitrification
3. ammonification
4. denitrification

keystone species

if they don’t exist their ecosystem will collapse

earth’s system

biosphere- all parts where life exists

hydrosphere- all waters on earth’s surface like lakes and seas and sometimes clouds

atmosphere- gases that surround the earth

lithosphere- outer part of earth and the crust and upper mantel

scavengers

the first level of decomposers

\-consumes decaying organisms left behind

vultures

detrivore

\-second level of decomposers

feeds on dead decaying organisms

\-earth worms, dung beetles

saprotroph

\-3rd level of decomposers

\-decompose dead decaying matter into soil nutrients

\-fungi, protozoans

heterotroph

depend on autotrophs for nutrition (other organisms)

\-consumers, decomposers

autotroph

depends on itself for nutrition

\-photosynthetic, chemosynthetic

exponential growth

keeps increasing

logistic growth

when the populations growth rate decreases as it approaches k (carrying capacity) which is caused by limiting factors

hydrologic cycle

cycle of water in earth-atmosphere system


1. evaporation
2. condensation
3. precipitation
4. collection

pyramid of biomass

model of total living biomass/organic matter in each trophic level of an ecosystem

system

collection of elements or components that are organized for a common purpose.

herbivore effect

when an herbivore eats a specific type of plant and the plant populations density goes down

chemosynthesis

synthesis of organic compounds by bacteria/organisms using energy from chemicals without sunlight

population dispersion

\-clumped

\-uniform

\-random

\-one of the key 3 features of a population (dispersion, size, growth rate)

greenhouse effect

way in which heat is trapped close to earth’s surface by greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and water vapor (too much causes global warming)

population growth rate factors

\-immigration

\-emmigration

\-birth rate (natality)

\-death rate (mortality)

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limiting factors

limits populations size and slows/stops it from growing

\-density dependant: disease, competition and predation

\-density independent: hurricanes, pollutants, food limitation

eutrophication

harmful algal blooms caused by when the environment is enriched with nutrients caused by too much fertilizer

runoff

\n The meandering stream of water from the mountains to the water bodies after precipitation

3 major climatic regions of earth

\-polar

\-temperate

\-tropical

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realized niche

when an animal is forced to change it’s niche

fundamental niche

the conditions which an animal can survive and reproduce

biomagnification

concentrations of toxins in an organism that came from ingestion of other organisms

phosphorus cycle

cycle of transformation and relocation of phosphorus in soil, water and living/dead organisms/material

\-weathering

\-absorption by plants

\-absorption by animals

\-return through envrionment by decomposition

(no atmosphere)

system

\-has 2+ interacting parts

\-has 3 components: input, processing, and output

\-there are two types: negative and positive feedback loop

negative feedback loop

brings back stability

positive feedback loop

reinforces what’s happening

invasive species

\-not native

\-cause harm

\-pests

\-harm human resources

population density

\-The measure of a pop. per unit area/volume

\-larger animals have lower population density due to needing more resources

(# of individuals) divided by (amount of space occupied) = population density

density dependent factors

biotic factors in the environment that increase with population size

\-disease

\-competition

\-parasites

density independent factors

abiotic factors in the environment that affect the environment despite it’s density

\-temperature

\-weather

classes of organisms

\-generalists (broad choice of food), opposum

\-specialist (narrow range of food), koala

primary succession

**-pioneer stage**


1. exposed bare rock, there’s no soil to start
2. elements like wind and water create a bit of soil
3. lichens start to grow and chemically weather rock to make more soil
4. mosses and herbs start growing so insects, worms and birds come

**-intermediate stage**


1. moss and it’s community die/decompose, making more soil
2. bigger herbs and small shrubs start growing
3. big insects, small herbivores, carnivores, and large birds come.
4. more soil forms due to decomposition.

**-Climax**


1. Maximum decomposition, huge amount of top soil
2. Due to the canopies of large trees top predators start to live there
3. This all leads to a climax community

Climax community

all the species an ecosystem can support in a balanced state

Secondary succession

* **pioneer stage**

\-soil is already presents, seeds are already in soil.

\-water comes and seeds sprout out

\-insects and worms come in

\-small birds visit

\-mosses and ferns grow abundantly.
* **Intermediate stage**


1. more herbs start growing
2. small herbivores and carnivores start to live there
3. biggger herbivores and carnivores come


4. more shrubs and small trees grow

* **Climax**


1. ecosystem flourishes
2. large trees shrubs and animals come to live there
3. climax community

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ammonia/ammonification

a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen NH3

* nitrogen fixing bacteria convert nitrogen gas into ammonia
* in ammonification organic compounds in plant/animal matter are broken down, released as ammonia

dentrification

the conversion of nitrates (NO3) into nitrogen gas (N2)

* reduces the amount of nitrogen that plants and animals can use
* can remove nitrogen from water and release into the atmosphere as N2

Nitrate/nitrification

ion made up of nitrogen and oxygen (NO3)

* add ammonia and oxygen to make nitrates
* plants convert nitrates to ammonia to make DNA and ammino acids

Nitrifying bacteria

Convert ammonia to nitrites or nitrates

* two types:

1. ammonia nitrifying bacteria, which add oxygen and ammonia (NH3) to make nitrites (NO2)


2. nitrite nitrifying bacteria which add oxygen to nitrites (NO2) and make nitrates (NO3)
* this is the nitrification step of the nitrogen cycle

nitrite

* NO2
* made up of nitrogen and oxygen
* nitrifying bacteria combine oxygen and ammonia to make nitrites

nitrogen fixing bacteria

convert N2 into ammonia NH3

importance of biodiversity

* genetic diversity
* protect freshwater resources
* fast recovery from natural disasters
* maintains balance in ecosystems
* sustainability and growth
* provision of food security
* adaption to different habitats
* provision of biological resources
* promote soil formation and protection
* maintains food chain in nature

benefits of biodiversity

increases stability and resilience of ecosystems

benefits agriculture

benefits economy through tourism

provides rich environment with medicine

conserving biodiversity

* halt human induced extinctions
* recover species populations
* stop unsustainable wildlife exploitation and trade
* protect habitats
* recognize indigenous people land and water rights
* transition to sustainable practices in agriculture, fishing, forestry

biodiversity problems

1. massive destruction of natural spaces
2. catastrophic loss of species and diversity of life
3. unsustainable production in consumption of nature’s resources

biodiversity

variety of life on earth at all its levels

weather vs climate

weather: short term atmosphere pattern that can change quickly (minutes, hours)

climate: long term weather pattern that changes over time (years)

phases of logistic population growth

3rd; plateua phase

* no growth
* limiting factors balance the populations capacity to increase
* population reaches k of environment

whats competitive exclusion

gross primary productivity

net primary productivity

interspecific competition

between different species

intraspecific competition

same species