Ecology
What is ecology?
examines the relationships between living and non-living factors at various levels from individual organisms to the entire biosphere
describe mutualism
both species benefit from the interaction
ex. bees and flowers
Which wavelength of light promotes vegetative growth?
blue light (450 nm)
the potential energy of water in a system -> flows from higher (less negative) or lower (more negative)
Which root system is most often associated with monocot plants?
fibrous root systems
What are the four key nutrient cycles mentioned in class?
Water, Carbon, Nitrogen, & Phosphorus
describe parasitism
one species benefits at the expense of the other
ex. ticks feeding on mammals
Which wavelength of light stimulates flowering?
red light (660 nm)
Describe transpiration
water loss through leaves
How would you describe the xylem and phloem, including their differences.
Xylem transports water and nutrients from the roots to the shoots. Phloem moves sugar and nutrients produced during photosynthesis throughout the plant.
What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?
Primary Succession - involved formation of soil in the beginning stages
Secondary Succession - may take place if soil is already present and there are surviving species in the vicinity
both species are harmed by the interaction as they vie for the same resources such as food or habitat
Describe photoperiodism
Photoperiodism - plant responses to day length, such as flowering and dormancy.
What are stomata?
openings on leaves that regulate water loss and gas exchange
Describe positive and negative phototropism
positive - movement towards light
negative - movement away from light
Explain the four main levels in a in a food chain and a brief description of each.
Producers - photosynthesize and store produces energy
Primary Consumers - feed on producers
Secondary Consumers - feed on primary consumers
Decomposers - break down organic material to forms that can be reassimilated by producers
describe predation
one species benefits
ex. lion and gazelle
Low light -> reduces growth
Excessive Light -> can lead to photoinhibition (light-induced loss of photosynthetic activity)
What are four factors that affect transpiration?
temperature, humidity, wind speed, stomatal behavior
What are the 5 classic plant growth regulators?
auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, abscisic acid, ethylene
Describe agriculture's impact on ecosystems
-habitat loss -> conversion of natural habitats to farmland
-monoculture -> reduces biodiversity and disrupts nutrient cycling
-pesticides and herbicides -> harmful to non-target species and pollute water sources
-technological innovations -> precision ag or genetically modified crops
describe amensalism
one species is harmed while the other is unaffected
ex. cow stepping on grass
What are four functions of water in plants?
solvent -> dissolves nutrients and transports them
photosynthesis -> provides electrons via water splitting
turgor pressure -> maintains plant cell shape and support
temperature regulation -> evaporation cools the plant
Describe how temperature affects plant growth (couple main things that I am looking for)
minimum, optimum, and maximum temperatures
vernalization
thermoperiodism
cold stress
heat stress
Describe taxonomy and why it is important.
science of describing, naming, and classifying plants
helps us classify plants and understand relationships