werdel digital notebooks s1

How have humans impacted the hydrosphere?

Through overfishing, polluted watersheds, and mining runoff.

What is the main cause of air pollution in the atmosphere?

Greenhouse gases from human activities, leading to climate change.

How do human activities reshape the geosphere?

By demanding resources, converting ecosystems to agricultural land, and causing erosion.

What is the impact of building farms on the carbon cycle?

It releases carbon into the atmosphere through soil disturbance.

How does agricultural runoff affect the nitrogen cycle?

It introduces nitrogen into coastal habitats, impacting the hydrosphere.

What effect does altering rivers have on the water cycle?

It changes seasonal runoff patterns.

How does mining impact the phosphorus cycle?

It transfers phosphorus from rocks to waterways and ecosystems.

What is the significance of the sea otter case study?

It explores human impacts on ecology and the decline of sea otter populations.

What is the definition of population ecology?

The study of processes affecting the distribution and abundance of populations.

What characterizes exponential growth in populations?

Ideal conditions with unlimited resources, resulting in a J-shaped growth curve.

What is logistic growth?

An S-shaped growth curve that reflects natural population limits due to carrying capacity.

What are density-dependent limiting factors?

Factors that affect crowded populations, such as competition, parasitism, and predation.

What are density-independent limiting factors?

Factors that occur regardless of population density, like weather changes and natural disasters.

Who are the predator and prey in the sea otter ecosystem?

Predator: sea otter; Prey: sea urchin.

What happens to prey populations when predator populations increase?

Prey populations decrease as predators consume more.

What is the 10% Rule of Energy Transfer?

Only 10% of energy at one trophic level is converted to biomass in the next level.

What is the role of autotrophs in an ecosystem?

They are producers that perform photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

What is the role of heterotrophs in an ecosystem?

They are consumers that obtain energy by consuming other organisms.

What is a trophic pyramid?

A diagram showing the feeding relationships and energy flow in a community.

What hypothesis did Dr. Estes propose regarding sea otter decline?

Increased predation by killer whales was causing the decline.

What evidence supports Dr. Estes' hypothesis?

Killer whales were observed hunting more sea otters in open areas.

What factors might reduce killer whales' natural food sources?

Competition, human pollution, and overfishing.

What is the niche of an organism?

The range of conditions and resources a species needs to survive and reproduce.

How does kelp obtain energy?

Through photosynthesis using sunlight and absorbing nutrients from the ocean.

Where is energy stored in the food chain?

In chemical bonds of the organisms.

What is the main reason orcas have started eating sea otters?

The overfishing of other populations has led orcas to eat more sea otters.

What happens to the ecosystem if sea otters disappear?

Secondary consumers will overeat their food sources, leading to a decrease in primary consumers and an increase in producers, ultimately causing ecosystem collapse.

What is a keystone species?

A species that has a disproportionately large impact on its ecosystem relative to its abundance.

How do sea otters act as a keystone species?

Sea otters control the sea urchin population, which in turn protects kelp forests from overgrazing.

What is a trophic cascade?

A process where changes in the population of one species (often an apex predator) cause a series of indirect effects on other species in the ecosystem.

What is the Green World Hypothesis?

The idea that predators keep herbivore populations in check, which helps maintain the balance of ecosystems.

What happens to the kelp population when sea otters are removed?

The sea urchin population increases, leading to overgrazing of kelp and a decline in kelp forests.

What is genetic variation, and why is it important for species survival?

Genetic variation within a species increases the chances of survival by allowing adaptation to changing environments.

How does the decrease in sea otter populations affect species diversity?

It leads to a decrease in species diversity as secondary consumers overeat primary consumers without predators to control their populations.

What are the two types of digestion?

Mechanical digestion (physical breakdown of food) and chemical digestion (breakdown using enzymes).

What role does amylase play in digestion?

Amylase breaks down starch into smaller sugar molecules.

What happens to salivary amylase when it meets stomach acid?

Salivary amylase stops working due to the acidic environment.

What are the four levels of protein structure?

Primary (amino acid sequence), Secondary (hydrogen bonds), Tertiary (R-group interactions), Quaternary (multiple polypeptides).

What is denaturation in enzymes?

Denaturation is when an enzyme's shape becomes distorted, reducing its catalytic activity.

What environmental factors can denature enzymes?

Temperature and pH levels.

What is the enzyme-substrate complex?

The formation that occurs when an enzyme binds to its specific substrate.

What is the significance of enzyme specificity?

Enzymes are specific to substrates, meaning each enzyme only catalyzes a particular reaction.

What is the impact of biodiversity on ecosystem survival?

Higher biodiversity increases the chances of ecosystem survival by providing resilience against environmental changes.

How does a decrease in ecosystem diversity affect the biosphere?

It reduces the biosphere's chances of survival due to imbalances in ecosystems.

What is the relationship between producers and herbivores in an ecosystem?

Producers limit the number of herbivores, which in turn affects the predator populations.

What happens to the starfish population if sea otters disappear?

The starfish population would increase as they would have more access to food sources without sea otters controlling their numbers.

What is the primary function of proteins in digestion?

Proteins speed up chemical reactions as enzymes and provide pathways for nutrient transport.

What is the significance of the enzyme lactase?

Lactase breaks down lactose into glucose and galactose, which are digestible sugars.

What is the role of primary consumers in an ecosystem?

Primary consumers feed on producers and help maintain the balance of the ecosystem.

What does it mean for a species to be considered a keystone species?

A keystone species has a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community.

How does the removal of a keystone species affect biodiversity?

It can lead to a significant decline in biodiversity and disrupt the balance of the ecosystem.

What is a disaccharide?

A disaccharide is a type of sugar formed when at least 2 monosaccharides are joined by a chemical bond.

Give an example of a disaccharide.

Lactose, which is made up of glucose and galactose.

What role does the pancreas play in digestion?

The pancreas produces amylase and continues the breakdown of starch from the small intestine.

How are monosaccharides absorbed into the bloodstream?

Monosaccharides are absorbed through active transport and facilitated diffusion in the small intestine.

What is starch?

Starch is a polysaccharide made up of many glucose monomers linked together.

What do enzymes in the small intestine do?

They clip disaccharides and small sugar clusters into individual units.

What are the building blocks of nucleic acids?

The building blocks of nucleic acids are nucleotides.

What is the role of the enzyme nuclease?

Nucleases break down nucleic chains into building blocks.

How are components of nucleic acids absorbed into the bloodstream?

Transport proteins pick up the components and bring them into and out of the cell before absorption.

What are the three components of nucleotides?

The three components are the phosphate group, sugar, and nitrogenous base.

What enzyme does the stomach release for protein digestion?

The stomach releases pepsin.

What are the building blocks of proteins?

The building blocks of proteins are amino acids.

Why is pepsin unique in its function?

Pepsin is most active in the stomach's acidic environment.

How do proteases from the pancreas contribute to digestion?

Proteases break down proteins and peptides for absorption.

How are amino acids absorbed into the bloodstream?

Transport proteins bring amino acids into the cell and then transport them back out before absorption.

What are the building blocks of fats (triglycerides)?

The building blocks are three fatty acid chains connected to one glycerol molecule.

What is the role of bile in fat digestion?

Bile breaks down fats into smaller droplets to increase surface area for digestive enzymes.

How are fatty acids and monoglycerides absorbed into the bloodstream?

They diffuse into the cell membrane and are wrapped in a layer of protein to form a transport container.

What does the enzyme lipase do?

Lipase splits triglycerides into two fatty acid tails and a monoglyceride.

How do different fats vary?

Fats can have different numbers of carbon atoms and types of connections, leading to saturated and unsaturated fats.

What is dehydration synthesis?

Dehydration synthesis is the removal of water to make a large molecule.

What is hydrolysis?

Hydrolysis is the process of using water to split a polymer into its monomers.

What is metabolism?

Metabolism consists of catabolism (breaking down molecules) and anabolism (building molecules).

What is polymerization?

Polymerization is the process of building large molecules by joining smaller ones together.

What are macromolecules?

Macromolecules are large molecules made up of smaller monomers.

What is the significance of active transport in digestion?

Active transport is crucial for the absorption of nutrients against their concentration gradient.

What is the primary function of the excretory system?

To remove wastes and excess water from the body to maintain homeostasis.

What are the three physical states in which human wastes are excreted?

Gaseous (CO2 and water vapor), liquid (urine and sweat), and solid (feces).

What organ excretes water, salts, and urea through sweating?

Skin

What does the liver do in the excretory process?

Breaks down substances in blood and toxins into urine.

What is the role of the large intestine in excretion?

Excretes solid wastes that remain after digestion and water from indigestible matter.

How do the kidneys contribute to the excretory system?

They eliminate excess water and wastes from the bloodstream into urine.

What is the significance of excretion?

To help the human body maintain homeostasis and prevent damage.

What gives feces its brown color?

Bilirubin, a brown pigment produced from the breakdown of old red blood cells.

What is the functional unit of the kidney?

The nephron.

What percentage of the filtrate that enters the kidneys is reabsorbed?

99%.

What is the role of Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) in the excretory system?

ADH regulates water reabsorption in the kidneys, affecting urine concentration.

How does ADH affect the collecting duct?

It makes the collecting duct more permeable to water, allowing more water to be reabsorbed.

What happens to urine concentration when ADH levels are high?

Urine becomes more concentrated and appears darker yellow.

What is the process of filtration in the kidneys?

Small substances are filtered from the blood into the excretory tubule.

What is the role of secretion in the excretory process?

Wastes and some drugs are actively transported into the excretory tubule.

What is the primary waste product formed from ammonia in mammals?

Urea, which is less toxic than ammonia.

What are the main components of urine?

Water, urea, salts, and other waste products.

What is the purpose of maintaining acid-base homeostasis in the body?

To regulate the pH levels in the body, ensuring proper physiological function.

What is osmosis?

The movement of water from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration.

What happens to cells in a hypotonic environment?

They may swell and lyse (burst) due to excess water intake.

What is the role of the glomerulus in the nephron?

It is involved in the filtration of blood to form urine.

What is the significance of reabsorbing water in the kidneys?

To prevent dehydration and maintain fluid balance in the body.

How does the body excrete excess water through breathing?

As water vapor during exhalation.