Definitions
Define habitat
A habitat is referred to as a particular area where an organism grows and thrive.
- the better an organism’s chance of survival, the more suited it is to its habitat
List the 4 types of cycles
Hydrologic cycle
Biogeochemical cycle (C, O, N)
Impacts on Water Cycle
Wildfires: when a forest burns, it is no longer able to absorb and hold water which reduces water amount in ecosystem.
Ecosystem that changes in stages starting from bare rock
Primary Succession
Define carrying capacity and exponential growth
Carrying capacity: maximum numbers able to be sustained in a specific ecosystem for an indefinite period
Exponential growth: constantly increasing population causing rapid growth in numbers.
Define:
1) Interspecific
2) Intraspecific
1) intraspecific interactions occur between members of the same species.
2) interspecific interactions occur between members of two different species.
What is the hydrologic cycle and how does it cycle
The movement of water through an ecosystem
The sun's energy causes water to evaporate from water bodies and transpire from plants When water vapor enters the atmosphere, it cools and condenses which causes it to fall as precipitation.
Impacts on Carbon Cycle
Burning fossil fuels: the combustion of coal, oil and gas increases atmospheric carbon dioxide
Deforestation: reduces trees that could be absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
Ecosystem changes that occur after a forest fire/disturbance
Secondary Succession
Punctuated Equilibrium vs. Gradualism
Very gradual changes in populations are called gradualism.
Sudden changes in populations is called punctuated equilibrium. These are not shown in fossil records due to rapid/sudden change.
Define:
1) Population
2) Community
3) Ecosystem
1) A population refers to all of the individuals of the same species living in the same place at the same time.
2) A community includes all the species that occupy a given area at a certain time
3) An ecosystem is an area of land or water that includes all organisms living in the area AND all the non-living factors affecting those organisms
Which processes release and take in oxygen?
Processes that take in oxygen: combustion and cellular respiration
Processes that take in carbon dioxide release oxygen: photosynthesis
Impact on Oxygen Cycle
Ozone layer: pollutants react with the oxygen in ozone and make it thinner and less able to filter the sun’s radiation
Wildfires: removes oxygen-producing vegetation and uses oxygen during combustion
First species to grow on barren ground
Organic portion of soil made from the decomposing of organisms.
The stable, final community following the succession process
Pioneer species
Humus
Climax species
3 observations of Darwin
1.Organisms produce more offspring than can survive.
2.Variation exists among individuals of a species.
3.Organisms compete with each other for limited resources.
Define:
1) Symbiosis
2) All 3 types of symbiotic relationships
1) Close relationship between individuals of different species that live together
Mutualism: Where both partners benefit from the relationship
Commensalism: When one partner benefits, and the other is unaffected.
Parasitism: When one partner benefits at the expense of the other
a system that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
ex: combustion of fossil fuels, photosynthesis
Lightning: converts nitrogen gas into nitrate
Wildfires: breaks down complex nitrogen compounds into smaller compounds like nitrates and ammonia (has the same effect as nitrogen fixation)
Fertilizers: over-reliance on fertilizers can pollute water sources
Industry: emissions from smokestacks and car exhaust also produce nitrogen compounds
Describe Aquatic Succession
The transformation of a water body into terrestrial ecosystem over long periods. Sediment and organic matter filling in the basin and causes aquatic inhabitants to die.
Requirements for Natural Selection
1.There must be a genetic basis for variation
2.The new trait must increase the rate of survival and/or rate of reproduction.
3.The environment and/or catastrophe play an important role
Define:
1) ALL the trophic levels
2) Omnivores, scavengers, and decomposers
1) Producers --> Primary Consumers --> Secondary Consumers --> Tertiary Consumers
2) Omnivores: eat both plants and animals
Scavengers: eat dead animals
Decomposers: break down organic material
Nitrogen fixation: the process of bacteria converting nitrogen gas into ammonia
Nitrification: convert the ammonia into nitrate and nitrite ions that are usable for the plant – this step is done by nitrifying bacteria
Denitrification: denitrifying bacteria convert excess nitrogen back into atmospheric nitrogen gas
At least 5 evidence of evolution
1.Fossils provide a history of the past.
2.Embryology: species that are related have embryos that are very similar.
3.Comparative Anatomy shows that species that are related have structures that are similar.
4.Vestigial structures (structures with no use) suggest that through adaptation the use of these structures has been lost (ex: appendix)
5.Biochemistry indicates the species that are related have similar chemical make-up.
6.Biogeography – organisms separated by geography have similar characteristics suggests they may have had a common ancestor