Flashcards: Exam 1

A testable, attempted explanation to the question

a specific statement that can be directly tested.

 a question that is written in a way that is helpful for completing scientific investigations

 a method used to problem solve and derive meaning from scientific phenomena. 

Numerical data

a broad explanation that joins many hypotheses and is widely supported.

 an empirical method for acquiring knowledge that has characterized the development of science

Resources that can replenish over short periods of time.

a way of living so that Earth’s resources can sustain us well into the future

Species with narrow niches are specialists.

An organism’s role in its community is its niche.

includes all of the populations of species that live and interact within an area.

the maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain due to limiting factors

species spaced evenly.

the variety of life across all levels. Species, genes, populations, and communities

Unrelated species living in similar environments in separate locations may independently acquire similar traits.

group species into categories meant to reflect evolutionary relationships.

describes the number of individuals per unit area, resulting in different types of distributions,

group of organisms that can reproduce with one another in nature and produce fertile offspring.

competition takes place between members of the same species.

An individual that only plays part of its role due to competition or other interactions

Animals feed on the tissues of plants.

that control populations of lower trophic-level consumers

the entire character of the community changes due to the disturbance. the entire character of the community changes due to the disturbance.

incorporate all of the interlinking food chains within an entire community, showing the map of energy flow.

Species that recycle nutrients and replenish the soil

occur when increased output in a system leads to increased input, which further stimulates output.

Elements and compounds (nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus) needed in large amounts are called

describes the routes that carbon takes through the environment.

inert nitrogen gas becomes biologically available by combining with hydrogen to form ammonia (N H₃), whose water-soluble ions of ammonium (N H₄⁺) can be taken up by plants.

The intense energy of lightning strikes can also fix nitrogen

the process where too many nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus, are added to bodies of water and can act like fertilizer, causing excessive growth of algae

results when a system moving in one direction acts as an input that causes the system to move in the opposite direction.

a high quality habitat that on average allows the population to increase

When a reservoir releases more materials than it accepts, it is called a

is a very low quality habitat that, on its own, would not be able to support a

population.

When a reservoir accepts more materials than it releases, it is called a

The collective mass of living matter in a given place and time.

the rock and sediment in the upper mantle and crust.

converts water from a liquid to gaseous form, taking it to the atmosphere.

the release of water vapor by plants through their leaves. Dissolved substances are left behind.

rain or snow. Most of it flows as runoff into surface waters.

the air surrounding the planet.

includes all surface, underground, and atmospheric water.

consists of all the planet’s organisms and the abiotic portions they interact with.

a body of underground rock or sediment that stores and releases water

demands made on a natural ecosystem exceed its regenerative capacity.

the process where closely related species evolve different traits over time, becoming more dissimilar due to different selective pressures in their environments,

a species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically.

symbiotic relationship between two or more species that benefits all of them

·  Observation: Gather data and identify a problem or question.

·  Question: Formulate a question based on the observation.

·  Hypothesis: Propose a testable explanation for the observation.

·  Prediction: Make a forecast based on the hypothesis.

·  Test: Conduct an experiment or observation to test the hypothesis.

·  Results: Analyze the data and draw conclusions from the experiment.

·  Conclusion: Determine whether the hypothesis is supported or rejected.

·  Hypothesis: A tentative, testable, and falsifiable explanation for an observation or a scientific problem. It is typically based on limited evidence and serves as a starting point for further investigation.

·  Scientific Theory: A well-substantiated, comprehensive explanation of an aspect of the natural world, supported by a large body of evidence gathered from multiple experiments and observations. A scientific theory is broader in scope than a hypothesis and has been repeatedly tested and confirmed over time.

A renewable resource is a natural resource that can be replenished naturally at a rate equal to or faster than it is consumed. These resources are sustainable if managed responsibly. Solar Energy: Energy from the sun, used for electricity and heating.

Wind Energy: Energy from wind, captured by turbines to produce electricity.

Hydropower: Energy from moving water, often harnessed by dams to generate electricity.

Biomass: Organic materials, such as wood, crops, and waste, used as fuel.

Geothermal Energy: Heat energy from within the Earth, used for electricity generation and heating.

Ecosystem services are the benefits that humans derive from ecosystems, including resources, processes, and environmental support that contribute to human well-being.

Provisioning services are products obtained from ecosystems, such as:

Regulating services are natural processes that regulate environmental conditions, such as:

Cultural services provide non-material benefits that contribute to the cultural, spiritual, and recreational aspects of human life, such as:

Supporting services are fundamental processes that support other ecosystem services, including:

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a particular species that an environment can support sustainably over time, given the available resources such as food, water, shelter, and other essentials. Food availability, Water supply, Habitat space, Competition (both intra- and interspecies), Predation, Disease

·  Uniform Distribution: Individuals are evenly spaced, often due to competition or territoriality. This reduces intraspecific competition but may make reproduction harder due to distance between individuals.

·  Clustered (Clumped) Distribution: Individuals group around resources or social needs. This enhances cooperative interactions like mating and protection but can lead to intense competition within clusters.

·  Random Distribution: Individuals are spaced unpredictably, usually when resources are abundant. This results in minimal competition, with interactions occurring randomly.

Biodiversity, the variety of life in an area, is crucial for the health and stability of communities and ecosystems. Here's why it's important:

Ecosystem Stability:

Food Webs and Nutrient Cycling:

Adaptability:

Ecosystem Services:

Cultural and Economic Value:

Convergent evolution occurs when unrelated species evolve similar traits independently due to adapting to similar environments or ecological roles.

Analogous structures: Traits that look or function similarly but arise from different evolutionary paths (e.g., wings in birds and bats).

Role in adaptation: It shows how species develop similar solutions to environmental challenges, despite not sharing a common ancestor for those traits.

Taxonomy organizes and classifies organisms based on shared traits to understand their relationships and provide a universal naming system.

Purpose:

Organization: Structures biological diversity for easier study.

Evolutionary Relationships: Shows how organisms are related.

Standardized Naming: Ensures consistent species names globally.

Classification Levels:

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species (most specific).

Uses binomial nomenclature, giving species a two-part name (e.g., Homo sapiens).

A realized niche refers to the actual conditions and environment a species occupies and interacts with, considering the presence of competitors, predators, and other limiting factors. It represents the narrower, real-world version of a species' potential, or fundamental niche, which is where a species could live without competition or threats.

In short, a species' realized niche is the "real-life" space it inhabits, shaped by biotic interactions and environmental constraints

At each trophic level, only about 10% of the energy is passed to the next level in a one way flow, while the rest is lost as heat due to metabolic processes. This is known as the 10% rule.

Decomposers play a crucial role in nutrient cycling by breaking down dead organisms and organic waste into simpler substances.

Nitrogen Cycle:

Fertilizer Use: Adds excess nitrogen, leading to runoff, algal blooms, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Industrial Processes: Release nitrogen oxides, causing acid rain.

Deforestation: Reduces nitrogen cycling in soil.

Carbon Cycle:

Burning Fossil Fuels: Increases atmospheric CO2, contributing to global warming.

Deforestation: Releases stored carbon and reduces CO2 absorption.

Land Use Changes: Alters soil carbon storage and increases emissions.

Agricultural Practices: Releases methane and CO2.

Damming Rivers:

Water Storage: Creates reservoirs, altering natural river flow and increasing evaporation rates from the surface.

Reduced River Flow: Downstream water flow is reduced, affecting ecosystems and water availability.

Altered Groundwater Recharge: Changes in river flow can impact groundwater recharge rates.

Deforestation:

Reduced Evapotranspiration: Fewer trees mean less water is released into the atmosphere through evapotranspiration, disrupting local and regional precipitation patterns.

Increased Runoff: Loss of vegetation leads to higher surface runoff, increasing soil erosion and reducing groundwater infiltration.

Altered Climate: Changes in local water cycles can contribute to shifts in regional climate and weather patterns.

Ecological Disruption:

Competition: They outcompete native species for resources like food, water, and habitat.

Predation: They may prey on native species, reducing their populations.

Disease: They can introduce new diseases or parasites to native species