Earth and our Ecosystems
The hydrosphere includes what?
All of earth’s water (solid/liquid/gas), Above, on, and below earth’s surface. Oceans, lakes, groundwater, ice, and clouds.
What is a food web?
A series of interconnecting food chains
What is happening when liquid water becomes water vapor
Evaporation
Describe parasitism
One species lives on or in another & feeds on its host
What is one method to clean up oil spills
Skimming / vacuuming, bioremediation, burning, chemical dispersal agents
Which part of the earth supports life including land, water and air
biosphere
Can animals use cellular respiration
Yes
Name 2 parts of the water cycle?
evaporation, condensation, precipitation, surface runoff, transpiration
What is the process of establishing and replacing a community following a disturbance?
Succession
What are microplastics
Small plastic pieces less than five millimetres long which can be harmful to our ocean and aquatic life.
What are the earths four spheres
Lithosphere / Geosphere, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere
Word equation for photosynthesis
carbon dioxide + water + energy 🡪 glucose + oxygen
What gas makes up 78% of our atmosphere
Nitrogen gas
What do tolerance ranges describe
The physical conditions under which a species can survive
What does HIPPO-C stand for?
The biggest threats to biodiversity today, habitat loss, invasive species, pollution, population, over-exploitation, climate change
What is ecology
The study of the interaction of living things with each other and with abiotic (non-living) factors
Word equation for cellular respiration
glucose + oxygen 🡪 carbon dioxide + water + energy
What are the two major human causes of CO2 release today
Burning of fossil fuels and deforestation
Would an oligotropohic or eutrophic lake have more nutrients
What is an effect of urban sprawl?
Reducing natural habitats, increasing the amount of surface runoff, which channels oil and other pollutants into streams and rivers, increased dependency on cars, burning fossil fuels and creation of various air pollutants
What is the composition of the atmosphere
78% N2 gas & 21% O2 gas, < 1% argon, water vapour, carbon dioxide and other gases
What shows the amount of organic matter present at each trophic levels
Pyramid of Biomass
Who returns nitrogen to the atmosphere during the nitrogen cycle
Bacteria
What is the maximum population size that an ecosystem can sustain (Can be altered through natural or human activity)
Carrying Capacity
What usually causes air pollution
Burning of fossil fuels