CHAPTER 1.1
Stewardship - a way of acting that involves taking personal responsibility for the management and care of something
Environment - is all the living and nonliving things that exist on earth as well as their interactions with each other
Sustainability - the environment means that the populations of plants, animals, and other living organisms can continue to interact and reproduce indefinitely
Biodiversity - is the number of different types of organisms in an area
System - a group of individual parts that interact as a whole to accomplish a task
Components - are the parts of the system
Holistic approach - emphasis the entire system
Ecology - the study of how organisms interact with each other as well as with their environment
Ecosystem - a complex, self regulating system in which living things interact with each other and non- living things
Biotic factors - organisms, such as animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, and algae
Abiotic factors - everything else, physical things, like rocks, air and water. Also things that can be measured air temperature, hours of daylight, salt concentration
Species - a group of similar organisms in an ecosystem
Population - a group of members of the same species that live in the same area
Habitat - physical environment of an organism
Community- made up of populations of different species that live and interact in the area
Niche - All the interactions of a given species with its ecosystem
Biome - a large geographic area that contains similar ecosystems
Terrestrial Biomes - Canada’s four main terrestrial biomes are defined by their dominant vegetation
Deciduous forests - have tree that lose their leaves in the winter (maple and oaks)
Boreal forest - have trees that have cones and needles (spruce and fir)
Tundra - has no trees,only small shrubs, hardy grasses, mosses, and lichens
Grasslands - have few trees, but covered in various kinds of grass and shrubs
Temperate coniferous forest - different types of needle and cone-bearing trees than the boreal forest (Douglas fir, sitka spruce, and western hemlock)
Notes
Understanding Ecosystems
Planet Earth's Organisms and Habitats
• Home to numerous organisms.
• Habitats: terrestrial (on land) or aquatic (in water).
•Earth appears as a pale blue dot from space, surrounded by a thin, gaseous layer with clouds.
• The Earth's surface is covered by oceans, land, and ice.
Atmosphere
• The Earth's atmosphere is a layer of gases extending upward for hundreds of kilometers, made up of 78% N2, 21% O2, and 1% argon, water vapour, CO2, and other gases.
• It moderates Earth's surface temperature, preventing excessive heating and cooling, and blocking incoming solar radiation, including most UV light linked to skin cancer.
Lithosphere
• The lithosphere is the rocky outer shell of Earth, ranging from 50 - 150 km in thickness.
Hydrosphere
• The hydrosphere includes all water on, above, and below the Earth's surface, including oceans, lakes, ice, groundwater, and clouds.
Biosphere
• The biosphere refers to all locations where life can exist within the lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere.
Ecosystem Definition and Components
• Ecosystems are living organisms that interact with each other and their non-living environment.
• Abiotic factors include non-living elements like terrain and weather, such as temperature, wind, water, minerals, and air.
• Biotic factors include living organisms like insects, bears, and micro-organisms, such as organisms, their remains, products, or waste.
Ecosystem Size and Characteristics
• Ecosystems can vary in size and abiotic and biotic features.
• Most natural ecosystems are sustainable, but human activities can affect these features, making a previously sustainable ecosystem unsustainable.
Artificial Ecosystems
• These are artificially created and maintained by humans, requiring management to maintain desirable biotic and abiotic features.
Human Influence on Ecosystems
• Humans are influenced by the ecosystem's features, leading to various economic systems.
• Northern environments and urban centers often suffer from SADs due to low winter light levels and smog-related breathing problems.
Chapter 1.2
Terms
Competition - is the interaction between two or more organisms competing for the same resource in a given habitat.
Predation - occurs when one organism eats another organism to obtain food.
Mimicry- one species looks like another species.
Symbiosis - is a close interaction between two different species in which members of one species live in, on or near the other species
Element- pure substances that can not be broken down into simpler substances
Nutrient cycle - the process of moving a nutrient back and forth.
Reservoir - any place where matter accumulates
Run-off - streams and rivers that are made up of different precipitation that run off.
Aquifers - groundwater that may flow into large underground lakes
Notes
Food Webs and Ecological Pyramids
• Explores the abundance of large plants and animals in ecosystems.
• Discusses the abundance of plant and animal species in an ecosystem.
Ecological Niches
• Defines the interactions between a species and its environment.
• Includes what it feeds on, what eats it, and how it behaves.
• No two species occupy identical niches.
Black Bear's Ecological Niche
• Feeds on tender plant parts like nuts and berries.
• Supplements diet with insects and small animals.
• Can carry seeds in their digestive systems.
• Goes into hibernation in winter.
• Hosts a variety of parasites.
Types of Consumers
• Producers and consumers differ in energy sources.
• Consumers can be further subdivided into herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.
Scavengers and Ecosystems
Food Chains
• Food chains illustrate species interactions and energy flow in an ecosystem.
• Producers occupy the lowest trophic level, herbivores the second, and carnivores the third and fourth.
• Quaternary consumers eat tertiary consumers, a "top carnivore."
Food Webs
• Food webs are more complex than food chains, showing interconnecting food chains.
• Complex food webs are stable and useful for predicting species' impact on ecosystems.
Ecological Pyramids
• Ecological pyramids display relationships between trophic levels in ecosystems.
• Three types of ecological pyramids include energy, numbers, and biomass.
Energy Pyramid
• Energy pyramids illustrate energy loss and transfer between trophic levels.
• Energy is essential for survival, growth, and reproduction, but is released to the environment as thermal energy.
• Only about 10% of energy taken in by individuals at one trophic level is passed on to the next, resulting in smaller populations of species higher up in the food chain.
Flashcards: Chapter 1.1 & 1.2
Chapter 1.1: Planet Earth and Ecosystems
1. Stewardship
Definition: Taking personal responsibility for the management and care of something.
2. Environment
Definition: All living and non-living things on Earth and their interactions with each other.
3. Sustainability
Definition: The ability for populations of plants, animals, and other organisms to continue interacting and reproducing indefinitely.
4. Biodiversity
Definition: The number of different types of organisms in an area.
5. System
Definition: A group of individual parts interacting as a whole to accomplish a task.
6. Components
Definition: The parts of a system.
7. Holistic Approach
Definition: Emphasizing the entire system.
8. Ecology
Definition: The study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment.
9. Ecosystem
Definition: A complex, self-regulating system where living things interact with each other and non-living things.
10. Biotic Factors
Definition: Living organisms like animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, and algae.
11. Abiotic Factors
Definition: Non-living things such as rocks, air, water, and measurable factors like temperature and salt concentration.
12. Species
Definition: A group of similar organisms in an ecosystem.
13. Population
Definition: A group of members of the same species living in the same area.
14. Habitat
Definition: The physical environment of an organism.
15. Community
Definition: Made up of populations of different species that live and interact in the area.
16. Niche
Definition: The interactions of a species with its ecosystem.
17. Biome
Definition: A large geographic area containing similar ecosystems.
18. Terrestrial Biomes
Canada’s Four Main Terrestrial Biomes:
Deciduous Forests: Trees that lose leaves in winter (e.g., maples, oaks).
Boreal Forest: Cone-bearing trees like spruces and firs.
Tundra: No trees, small shrubs, grasses, mosses, and lichens.
Grasslands: Few trees, but covered with grass and shrubs.
Temperate Coniferous Forest: Needle and cone-bearing trees (e.g., Douglas fir, Sitka spruce).
Chapter 1.2: Ecological Interactions
1. Competition
Definition: Interaction between two or more organisms competing for the same resource in a given habitat.
2. Predation
Definition: When one organism eats another organism to obtain food.
3. Mimicry
Definition: One species looks like another species.
4. Symbiosis
Definition: A close interaction between two different species where one species lives in, on, or near the other.
5. Element
Definition: Pure substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances.
6. Nutrient Cycle
Definition: The process of moving a nutrient back and forth through an ecosystem.
7. Reservoir
Definition: Any place where matter accumulates.
8. Run-off
Definition: Streams and rivers that carry precipitation from land to bodies of water.
9. Aquifers
Definition: Underground stores of groundwater that may flow into large underground lakes.
Food Webs and Ecological Pyramids
10. Food Web
Definition: A complex system of interconnecting food chains in an ecosystem.
11. Ecological Pyramids
Definition: Visual representations showing relationships between trophic levels in ecosystems.
Types: Energy, numbers, and biomass pyramids.
12. Energy Pyramid
Definition: Illustrates energy transfer between trophic levels. About 10% of energy from one level is passed to the next.
13. Producers and Consumers
Producers: Organisms that produce their own food (e.g., plants).
Consumers: Organisms that eat other organisms (e.g., herbivores, carnivores, omnivores).
14. Trophic Levels
Producers: Occupy the lowest level.
Herbivores: Second trophic level.
Carnivores: Third and fourth trophic levels (e.g., tertiary and quaternary consumers).
15. Ecological Niches
Definition: Describes how a species interacts with its environment, including what it eats and what eats it.
No two species occupy identical niches.
16. Black Bear's Ecological Niche
Diet: Feeds on plants (nuts, berries), insects, and small animals.
Behavior: Carries seeds in digestive system, hibernates in winter, and hosts parasites.
17. Scavengers
Definition: Animals that consume dead organisms and are important in maintaining ecosystem balance.
Energy Flow and Ecosystem Sustainability
18. Food Chain
Definition: A simple representation of how energy and nutrients flow through an ecosystem.
19. Energy Transfer
Definition: Energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next, with a loss of energy at each step, primarily as thermal energy.
20. Sustainability
Definition: The ability of an ecosystem to maintain its functions and structures over time, despite changes and external pressures.
CHAPTER 1.3
Competition - is the interaction between two or more organisms competing for the same resources in a giving habitat
Predation - occurs when one organism eats another to obtain food.
Mimicry- one species look like another
Symbiosis - is a close interaction between two different species in which members of one species live in, on, or near members of another species.
Mutualism - both species benefit from the symbiotic partnership.
Commensalism - occurs when one species benefits from a relationship with another species without any harm or benefit to the other species.
Parasitism - occurs when one species benefits at the expense of another species.
Equilibrium- the number of individuals stays the same over time
Carrying capacity - the maximum number of individuals that an ecosystem can support without reducing its ability to support future generations of the species.
Limiting factors - is an environmental factor that prevents an increase in the number of organisms in a population or prevents them from moving into new habitats.
Abiotic limiting factors - include the amount of sunlight, water, soil, air, natural disturbance such as storms, fires, and droughts, and human disturbance such as logging.
Biotic limiting factors - include competition among organisms for resources, presence of predators, reliance on other organisms for survival, and the presence of disease-causing organisms
CHAPTER 2.1
Sustainable use - of an ecosystem means using an ecosystem’s resources in a way that meets our current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Genetic diversity - differences among individuals individual of the same species
Extinction - is the death of every member of a species.
Habitat change - is the process by which humans alter enough so that native species can no longer live there
Native species - are species that normally live in the habitat.
Habitat fragmentation - altering habitats
Overexploitation - using a resource faster than it can be replaced
Pollution - is a substance added to the environment that produces a condition that is harmful to organisms
Point source pollution - enters the body of water at a specific place from identifiable source
Non-Point source pollution - enters bodies of water indirectly when water from rain or snow travels overland and picks up pollutants from many different sources before entering streams or a lake
Invasive species - is a non native species that causes harm to the ecosystem into which it is introduced.
Urban sprawl - is the unplanned, disorganized growth of urban and suburban development into the surrounding countryside
Climate -is the average weather conditions that occur in a region over a span of 30 years or more
Climate change-occurs in a region, average temperatures may rise or fall, the amount of rainfall may increase or decrease, and even general wind directions may change
Global warming, which is an increase in Earth’s average temperature, caused partly by an increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Clearcutting - removes all the trees in an area at one time, regardless of size
Acid rain - The acids formed in the air by emissions fall
Soil - a loose covering on the ground containing a mixture of organic matter, minerals, and moisture
Topsoil- is the uppermost layer in soil. It is composed chiefly of humus, which is decaying organic matter
Subsoil- is the layer below topsoil. . It is very compact and has little or no organic matter except roots of very large trees and bacteria
Bedrock - forms the bottom of the soil profile. It is solid rock, and water cannot pass through it
Loam soil - has rock particles of many different sizes. This results in many pockets that can hold air or water, which keeps the soil loose enough that plants can grow into it easily. Loam also tends to have a lot of humus, and it drains well without drying out
Clay soil - contains particles that are extremely small and so pack tightly together. This prevents the formation of air pockets. Many plant roots do not grow well in clay soil. Clay tends to block root growth and trap water, making the soil excessively wet.
Sandy soil - contains sand particles, which are relatively large compared to clay particles. The presence of sand creates large spaces that permit root growth and air pockets. It also permits water to drain away quickly into the subsoil carrying essential nutrients away from roots. This makes sandy soil much less fertile than loam
Acidity - is an abiotic factor that is connected to the chemical environment of soil
Soil erosion - is the loss of soil when water or wind washes or blows it away
Crop rotation - is the practice of planting a different type of crop in a particular field each year
Dissolved oxygen - measurements give the level of oxygen present in water.
Biological oxygen demand - (BOD) measures how quickly oxygen is used up by microorganisms in a given body of water
Eutrophication - is the addition of nutrients to an aquatic ecosystem causing increased growth of plants such as alga
heavy metals - they have a density of 5 g/mL or higher copper, mercury lead, and cadmium
Bioaccumulation - The gradual build-up of a substance in an organism’s body
Biomagnification - , the mercury becomes more and more concentrated in each link in the food chain as one animal eats many contaminated animals
Pesticides- are chemicals that kill unwanted organisms, usually ones that attack crops and reduce their yield
Conservation biology-seeks to understand and protect biodiversity
At risk - means any native species that is in danger of becoming extinct or disappearing from a region
Ex-situ conservation - conserves species by removing them from their natural habitats
In-situ conservation -focusses on conserving species in their natural surroundings.
Ecological footprint - is an estimate of how much land and water is needed to support your lifestyle
environmental steward - means taking care of our natural resources to ensure that they are used in sustainable ways for current and future generations integrated pest management, which is a method of pest control that uses knowledge about a pest’s biology and habitat
Soil conservation - means using farming methods that protect the soil from erosion and loss of nutrients