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16 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
What is the Biosphere and what are the 3 components of it |
The biosphere is the layer of life on the earth's surface. The three components are Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, and Atmosphere |
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What is a ecosystem |
All of the living organisms and their physical and chemical environment. Can be any size. As small as a handful of soil or as big as the earth. |
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What are the 2 types of ecosystem |
Aquatic and Terrestrial |
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What is an ecological niche |
An ecological niche is the role and position a species has in an environment. Like, how it meets its needs for things, such as shelter, food, how it survives, and how it reproduces. An ecological niche includes all interaction with biotic and abiotic factors on the environment. |
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What are biotic factors |
Biotic factors are living things, their remains, and items associated with their actions |
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What are abiotic factors |
Abiotic factors are non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living thing organisms and the functioning of ecosystems. |
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What is Equilibrium |
Equilibrium means that their biotic and abiotic are relatively constant over time meaning that - Abiotic conditions are stable - Energy and nutrients are cycled through food webs - Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are balanced - Populations are healthy and stable |
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What is sustainability/sustainable ecosystem |
Sustainable is the property of biological systems to remain diverse and productive. An example of a sustainable ecosystem would be a long lived and healthy wasteland. |
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What is Biodiversity |
Biodiversity is the variety of life found in an area, calculated by counting the numbers of different species in a specific habitat or ecosystem. The more diverse an ecosystem is, the more it can withstand disturbances such as disease or drought. These ecosystems are more likely to remain healthy and stable. Biodiversity leads to sustainable ecosystems. |
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What is photosynthesis (who performs it) |
Photosynthesis is the process of which the sun's energy is converted into chemical energy. Photosynthesis is only performed by producers that contain a chemical called chlorophyll. They create their own energy from sunlight, water and carbon dioxide. Plants store the energy as sugar. |
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What is Cellular Respiration |
Cellular Respiration is the process of 'burning' sugars to perform functions. It relates to photosynthesis because the plants take in the sunlight (food) and burn it into energy and sugars to store. We consume and rely on plants and other animals for our own food energy. |
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What is limiting factor |
Limiting factors are environmental conditions that restrict growth, abundance, or distribution of an organism or a population of organism or a population of organisms in an ecosystem. |
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What is Tolerance range |
Tolerance range is the abiotic conditions withing which a species can survive. Near the limits of their tolerance range, individuals experience stress and threaten their survival. The optimal range is where the species is best adapted. |
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What is pollution |
Pollution is any substance that's added to the environment. Pollutants can be found in the air, soil, or water. |
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What are two ways humans affect ecosystem by pollution |
Oil spills in the ocean result in birds and animals being coated in oil. It makes them unable to keep warm or fly which gives them the possibility to die. Also, urban sprawl is destroying ecosystems. |
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What is carrying capacity |
Carrying capacity is the maximum population size of a particular species that a given ecosystem can sustain. As population increases, so do the demands for the resources such as food, water and shelter. Carrying capacity can be altered naturally (through predation) or by human activity. |