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Ecosystem Ecology
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Ecosystem Ecology | Study of interactions between communities and physical environment |
| What 3 points will we be focusing in this section? | Nutrient Value / Succession / Energy Flow |
| Two important principles | Energy flow is one way / Nutrients are cycled |
| Nutrient Flow | All elements and compounds cycle through biological and physical environment |
| Define Biological | Living organisms |
| Define Physical | Anything that comes intact to an organism (air, soil, wind, temp) |
| Atoms can be reused | True |
| Important Biologically elements | Water, Oxygen, Phosphorous, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen, Carbon |
| Biogeochemical Cycle | The path an element takes as it moves from nonliving parts of the environment through living organisms and back again is referred to as its biogeochemical cycle |
| Three Principles about BGC cycle | --- |
| 1st Principle | Not all forms of a chemical are equally available to organisms (Ex. C-C change) |
| 2nd Prinicple | Changes in chemical form involve energy--either release or requirement of energy |
| 3rd Prinicple | Human activities are disrupting almost all Biogeochemical cycle |
| Carbon cycle | Look at Notes |
| A decomposer example for the Carbon cycle | Boreal forest |
| Carbon in CO2 is only available to who? | Photosynthesizers |
| What does energy link and release in? | Links Carbon molecules and releases in cellular respiration |
| Release of CO2 is leading to... | Global Warming |
| Phosphorous cycle | Look at notes |
| We need Phosphorous for... | Metabolism, DNA, bones & teeth |
| Phosphates | PO4 3- and other forms |
| 2 parts in Phosphorous cycle | Living organism, rock & soil geologiclly |
| Where does Phosphorous export come from? | Forest, Agriculture, and Urban |
| Why does animals need phosphates? | For their diets |
| How do we increase phosphates? | Sewage, fertilizer, animal feedlot runoffs |
| Phosphorous is the 2nd most abundant chemical in what? | Fertilizer |
| What are the consequences of phosphates in rivers and streams? | Heavy grow of algae / Death / Decomposition / Change in species composition |
| Nitrogen cycle | Look at notes |
| What is not equally available to organisms? | All forms of chemicals |
| What is Nitrogen most abundant for? | Our atmosphere |
| Most organisms can't use Nitrogen. But they can use... | Nitrogen fixing bacteria |
| What do plants absorb? | Nitrates and Ammonium |
| What else does animals need in their diet besides phosphates? | Amino acids |
| The most abundant chemical in fertilizer. | Nitrates |
| What is disrupting almost all biogeochemical cycles? | Human activities |
| How does Nitrates destroy streams? | Causes algal to bloom, followed by death, Oxygen depletion, kills fish and shellfish (also causes human health) |
| How is releasing Nitrates from fossil fuels cause a problem? | Contributes to acid decomposition, global warming, and smog formation |
| The higher the population... | The higher the nitrates |
| What are Nitrates sources? | Fertilizer, Fossil fuels, Sewage, Feedlots |
| Acid deposition arises from the formation of what? | Sulfric acid and nitric acid after burning (snow, rain, dry) |
| Basic liquids are more damaging than... | Acidic liquids |
| Basic ranges from | -7 (neutral/water) to -14 |
| Acidic ranges from | 0 to -7 (neutral/water) |
| Acidic liquids order from neutral to 0 | Urine, Coffee, Beer, Lemon Juice, Lime Juice, Stomach Acid |
| Basic liquids order from neutral to -14 | Blood, Sea Water, Baking Soda, Bleach, Ammonia, Oven Cleaner |
| Winds flow from what direction? | West to East |
| Effect of Acid Deposition | Increase Human Resp. Damage / Weakens trees / Decrease Soil Fertility / Possible decrease bird population |
| What can we reduce to improve human respiratory system? (Asmatic) | Burning Fossil Fuels |
| What can we do? | Conserve energy / Support politicans who advocate conservation / Carpool / Reuse, Recycle / Compost / Turn off lights / Thermostate |