Vocabulary
the process of a body of water becoming nutrient-rich.
eutrophication
How does energy flow in a ecosystem?
Energy flows and transfers from one organism to another in one direction.
Where does primary succession occur?
Areas that are devoid of soil.
What is the difference between species and genetic diversity?
Genetic diversity is the diversity of traits of a given species in that population what species diversity is the diversity of the number of species in that population.
Are there certain species in a food web that are more valuable than others?
Yes, there are some species where they are taken out and the whole ecosystem will collapse.
Plants life returns after a massive forest fire.
secondary succession
How much energy is carried on at each trophic level and why?
Only 10% of the energy is passed on at each tropic level due to life processes such as reproduction, metabolization and temperature regulation.
What types of area will secondary succession occur?
farmland, wildfires, logging areas, etc.
Where on earth are you likely to find the highest levels of biodiversity?
Coral Reef's and Tropical Rainforests.
Describe how a glacier retreating is related to succession?
When a glacier retreats it leaves behind bare rock which will then become the foundation for pioneer species.
a stable community that no longer goes through major ecological changes.
climax community
Explain the difference between a food chain and a food web?
A food chain is a simple, linear, one-way pathway showing how energy is transferred from one organism to another, while a food web consists of many interconnected food chains, providing a complex, realistic, and branched network of feeding relationships in an ecosystem.
What is the timeframe for primary and secondary succession and why?
Primary: hundreds of years, secondary: within a century. this is due to the fact that primary has to create the topsoil over a long period of time and secondary does not.
What is the biodiversity Index?
A measure of species diversity in a given location.
How would decomposers have a role in primary succession?
They would break down dead plant and animal matter that would become/add nutrients to the topsoil.
condition of continuous, random movement of particles but no overall change in concentration of materials.
dynamic equilibrium
Name the 5 types of natural disruptions listed on our notes.
Drought, Disease, Wildfires, Volcanic Eruptions, Tornadoes/Hurricanes
How does aquatic succession occur?
Sediments carried by rainwater and streams accumulate on the bottoms of ponds, lakes, and wetlands. The decomposed remains of dead organisms add to the buildup of soil. As time passes, more and more soil accumulates. Eventually, so much soil has collected that the water disappears and the area becomes land.
What is the most important factor when it come to sustainability and survival of an ecosystem?
The overall biodiversity/species diversity.
Compare and contrast resistance and resilience in ecosystems.
Resistance is the ability to remain unchanged when facing disturbances (like a diverse forest resisting damage from insect pests), while resilience is the ability to recover after disturbances (like a coral reef recovering after a storm).
Agricultural runoff, Animal waste, septic system leaking and Fossil fuel combustion would all be examples of this vocabulary term?
nutrient loading
How do changes to ecosystems impact the transfer of energy in food webs?
Multiple ways to answer: changes efficiency of energy transfer, causes diets of organisms to change, removes branches on the food web, causes populations to change and adapt.
What are the three stages of primary succession and what type of organisms/plants come with each phase?
Pioneer stage, intermediate stage, climax community. bare rock - Lichen - mosses/ferns - herbs/weeds - grasses- shrubs - shade intolerant trees - shade tolerant trees.
What are ecosystem services and how are they important to humans?
Ecosystem services are the benefits provided by healthy ecosystems and they provide essential resources that humans need to survive and thrive.
What are the possible benefits of using genetic technology for the tundra ecosystem, even though it is controversial?
This would increase biodiversity over time with increased grazing.