Energy/Matter in Ecosystems
What are producers? What would happen to a food web if producers were removed?
Organisms that first produce energy-rich compounds used by other organisms for energy, captured directly from the sun or chemicals and convert it into a useable form; they make their own food.
The food web would collapse.
What is competition? How would one population be affected if another outcompetes it for resources, like food and space?
An interaction in which 2 or more organisms attempt to use the same limited resources (food, water, shelter).
The population would decrease.
What is carrying capacity?
The maximum number of organisms that a population's environment can support.
What is an enzyme?
Catalysts that are found in living things, usually in proteins.
What is the difference between passive and active transport?
Passive: the movement of material from areas of high concentration to low concentration, that does not require energy from the cell.
Active: the movement of material that requires energy from the cell, often into an area of high concentration.
What is the job of decomposers in an ecosystem?
Chemically break down organic matter, causing decay.
Define predation. How would a prey species’ population be affected by an increase in a predator population?
An interaction in which one animal kills and feeds on another animal.
It would decrease more quickly.
How would a population’s carrying capacity be affected if its food availability decreased?
The carrying capacity of the population would decrease. Less food = less population.
What type of bond joins the amino acids to form proteins?
Peptide bonds.
What is the cell membrane made up of? What does semipermeable mean?
The cell membrane is made up of 2 layers of phospholipids, called the phospholipid bilayer.
Semipermeable means only certain materials can pass into and out of the cell, based on size and charge of the material.
How much energy is transferred between each trophic level in a food chain or web?
10%
Name and define each type of symbiotic relationship.
Mutualism - an interaction in which both species involved are benefitted.
Commensalism - an interaction in which one species benefits, but the other is not affected.
Parasitism - an interaction in which one species benefits, but the other is harmed
What are density-independent limiting factors?
A limiting factor that is affected by the number and density of organisms in an area.
The more dense the population, the more their growth will decrease due to these factors.
Name the four types of organic compounds.
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Nucleic Acids
What is osmosis? What is the end result (goal) of osmosis?
Osmosis is the movement of water across a membrane, based on solute concentration on either side.
The end result (goal) is equalize solute concentration
What nutrients are cycled through ecosystems?
Water, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous
What is an ecological disturbance?
An event of intense environmental stress that can cause a big change in an ecosystem over a short period of time.
What are density-dependent limiting factors?
Limiting factors that are not determined by a population's density or size and occurs by chance which effects all populations equally.
Fires, hurricanes, floods, and/or human impact
Give 1-2 functions for each of the 4 organic compounds.
Carbohydrates: used as the main source of energy in living things; forms cell structures.
Lipids: used for long term energy storage in living things; used for cell structures like membranes.
Proteins: acts an enzymes; form cell structure; transport substances; regulate reactions and cell processes.
Nucleic Acids: carry genetic information in cells as DNA
Give the function of the following cell structures: Cell wall, nucleus, mitochondria, ribosome, vacuole
Cell wall: rigid outer layer that keeps the cells shape and provides protection
Nucleus: a double-membraned organelle that contains the cell's DNA
Mitochondria: generates about 90% of the chemical energy needed to power the human body.
Ribosome: small structures of RNA and protein that build new proteins for the cell
Vacuole: cellular storage and waste disposal unit.
Photosynthesis and cellular respiration play a role in what nutrient cycle?
Carbon cycle
What are pioneer species? What is their role in a new environment?
Species that can survive harder conditions of newly open land and can grow and mature more quickly.
They help build and add nutrients to the soil to support more organisms.
Would pesticides used on mosquito populations be an example of density-independent or density-dependent limiting factor?
Density independent, because it does not mater if is is 10 or 1,000 mosquitos; any exposed mosquitos will be effected equally.
What are monomers? Name the monomer or subunits for each of the organic compounds
Monomers are smaller molecules that can join together to form larger structures.
Carbohydrates: simple sugars (monosaccharides) like glucose and fructose.
Lipids: fatty acids
Proteins: amino acids
Nucleic Acids: nucleotides
Define hypotonic, hypertonic or isotonic, and facilitated diffusion.
Hypotonic: solution has a lower solute concentration
Hypertonic: solution has a higher solute concentration
Isotonic: solutions have an equal solute concentration
Facilitated Diffusion: the movement of materials through protein channels into or out of the cell