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Chapter 42
Ecosystems
32
Biology
Undergraduate 1
05/17/2011

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Term
An _?_ includes both the living communities and the physical (non-living) environment
Definition
ecosystem
Term
Plants are photoautotrophs; both of these could also be called: _?_ _?_
Definition
primary producers
Term
_?_ get their energy by feeding on "others" such as plants
Definition
consumers
Term
Explain the difference between detritivore and decomposer
Definition
detrivore decaying, decomposer waste
Term
Most humans would be classified as _?_-vores because they eat both plant and animal material
Definition
omni
Term
In energy transfers, _?_ can be recycled but only _?_ flows.
Definition
nutrients; energy
Term
The word "trophic" means _?_
Definition
nourishment
Term
Primary producers (plants mostly) are at the _?_ trophic level.
Definition
first
Term
"Who eats whom" describes the concept of the _?_ chain
Definition
food
Term
What is the usual number of steps in a natural food chain?
Definition
4 or 5
Term
Approximately what percentage of energy in one trophic level ends up in the tissues of an organism at the next higher trophic level?
Definition
5-30
Term
The interconnection of several food chains describes a food _?_
Definition
web
Term
Describe the difference between a grazing food chain and a detrital food chain
Definition
grazing - energy flows to herbivores
detrital - energy flows to detrivores.
Term
Why are ecological pyramids of that particular shape?
Definition
Primary producers make up more biomass than top carnivores.
Term
What is the technical difference between a biomass pyramid and an energy pyramid?
Definition
biomass pyramid shows organic material, energy pyramid shows energy that flows.
Term
What percent of the energy in the herbivores gets into the carnivore level just above it?
Definition
11%
Term
In a biogeochemical cycle, materials must cycle through both the bio-(_?_) component and the _?_ (Earth) component.
Definition
living; geo
Term
The water cycle is a rather simple movement of water from the ocean to the _?_ and _?_ back to the ocean
Definition
atmosphere; land
Term
Energy from the _?_ provides power for the water cycle
Definition
sun
Term
About what percent of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean?
Definition
70%
Term
Water flowing past New Orleans in the Mississippi River has drained from about what percent of USA land?
Definition
41%
Term
Ground water describes water under the surface that is between soil particles (_?_ water) plus water that has drained through and collected in underground pools called _?_
Definition
ground; aquifers
Term
What percent of freshwater is used for agricultural irrigation in the US?
Definition
80%
Term
Most of the carbon held in the atmosphere is in a gaseous form called _?_ _?_.
Definition
carbon dioxide
Term
Plants take up carbon dioxide and put the carbon into carbohydrates during a process known as _?_
Definition
photosynthesis
Term
Breakdown of carbohydrates during _?_ _?_ releases the carbon dioxide back into the air.
Definition
aerobic respiration
Term
The burning of _?_ _?_ is an "unnatural" act that contributes to greenhouse gases.
Definition
fossil fuels
Term
Excess greenhouse gases may be contributing to _?_ _?_ change.
Definition
global climate
Term
Gaseous nitrogen makes up _?_ percent of the atmospheric gases?
Definition
80%
Term
What happens during nitrogen fixation?
Definition
bacteria break N bonds in N2 use atoms to form ammonia which is ionized in water as ammonium
Term
What organisms can convert the gaseous nitrogen to compounds that plants can absorb and use?
Definition
nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Term
What does denitrification accomplish?
Definition
converts nitrates or nitrites to nitrogen gas
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