Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary reason for the slow rate of the phosphorus cycle?
What is the primary reason for the slow rate of the phosphorus cycle?
- Quick consumption by predators
- Gradual weathering to release phosphate ions (correct)
- Fast weathering processes
- High energy transfer between trophic levels
What percentage of energy is typically transferred from one trophic level to the next?
What percentage of energy is typically transferred from one trophic level to the next?
- 5%
- 15%
- 10% (correct)
- 50%
Which of the following correctly describes carnivores?
Which of the following correctly describes carnivores?
- They decompose other organisms for energy.
- They only consume plants.
- They can eat both plants and animals.
- They primarily consume meat. (correct)
What is the biggest source of biomass loss in ecosystems?
What is the biggest source of biomass loss in ecosystems?
Which term best describes organisms that obtain energy by breaking down other organisms?
Which term best describes organisms that obtain energy by breaking down other organisms?
What is the primary function of decomposers when an organism dies?
What is the primary function of decomposers when an organism dies?
Which of the following processes converts nitrogen into ammonium ions?
Which of the following processes converts nitrogen into ammonium ions?
What percentage of the Earth's atmosphere is made up of nitrogen?
What percentage of the Earth's atmosphere is made up of nitrogen?
During which process are nitrates (NO3-) formed?
During which process are nitrates (NO3-) formed?
How do molluscs and crustaceans obtain carbon for their shells?
How do molluscs and crustaceans obtain carbon for their shells?
What happens to carbon dioxide released during the combustion of fossil fuels?
What happens to carbon dioxide released during the combustion of fossil fuels?
What occurs during the process of ammonification?
What occurs during the process of ammonification?
Why are fossil fuels considered a store of carbon?
Why are fossil fuels considered a store of carbon?
What occurs to nitrates during the respiration of denitrifying bacteria?
What occurs to nitrates during the respiration of denitrifying bacteria?
What natural process can create nitrates without the use of bacteria?
What natural process can create nitrates without the use of bacteria?
How is artificial fertilizer typically produced?
How is artificial fertilizer typically produced?
What is the primary function of amylase in the digestive system?
What is the primary function of amylase in the digestive system?
What is the primary reason water is essential for all life?
What is the primary reason water is essential for all life?
Which part of the chloroplast is responsible for the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis?
Which part of the chloroplast is responsible for the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis?
What process describes the movement of water from roots to leaves in plants?
What process describes the movement of water from roots to leaves in plants?
What is formed when water vapor cools and condenses in the atmosphere?
What is formed when water vapor cools and condenses in the atmosphere?
Which of the following statements about the role of the rectum and anus in digestion is correct?
Which of the following statements about the role of the rectum and anus in digestion is correct?
What happens during the process of percolation?
What happens during the process of percolation?
How does cyanide affect cellular respiration?
How does cyanide affect cellular respiration?
What is an aquifer?
What is an aquifer?
What type of respiration occurs when oxygen is not present, resulting in the production of lactic acid?
What type of respiration occurs when oxygen is not present, resulting in the production of lactic acid?
Which component of the digestive system is primarily responsible for the absorption of nutrients?
Which component of the digestive system is primarily responsible for the absorption of nutrients?
What is the balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis?
What is the balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis?
What is the primary source of carbon for herbivores in an ecosystem?
What is the primary source of carbon for herbivores in an ecosystem?
What is the process called when water flows on top of the ground instead of being absorbed by the soil?
What is the process called when water flows on top of the ground instead of being absorbed by the soil?
Which form of phosphorus is primarily available for uptake by plants?
Which form of phosphorus is primarily available for uptake by plants?
What role do decomposers play in the phosphorus cycle?
What role do decomposers play in the phosphorus cycle?
How do artificial fertilizers impact the phosphorus cycle?
How do artificial fertilizers impact the phosphorus cycle?
What happens to phosphates when marine organisms die?
What happens to phosphates when marine organisms die?
What geological process can move sedimentary rock from the ocean to land?
What geological process can move sedimentary rock from the ocean to land?
Which of the following scenarios would contribute to higher levels of phosphates in waterways?
Which of the following scenarios would contribute to higher levels of phosphates in waterways?
In which ecosystems is phosphorus typically considered a limiting nutrient?
In which ecosystems is phosphorus typically considered a limiting nutrient?
Flashcards
10% Rule
10% Rule
Only 10% of energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next. The rest is lost as heat, waste, or unused biomass.
Heterotroph
Heterotroph
An organism that gets its energy by consuming other organisms.
Autotroph
Autotroph
An organism that makes its own food using energy from sunlight.
Decomposer
Decomposer
Organisms that break down dead organisms and waste, releasing nutrients back into the environment.
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Producer
Producer
The first level of a food chain, organisms that make their own food through photosynthesis.
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Mouth's Role in Digestion
Mouth's Role in Digestion
The mouth starts digestion by mechanically breaking down food with teeth and chemically digesting carbohydrates with salivary amylase.
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Stomach's Role in Digestion
Stomach's Role in Digestion
The stomach churns and mixes food with gastric juices containing pepsin, breaking down proteins. It also releases acidic chyme into the small intestine.
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Small Intestine's Role
Small Intestine's Role
The small intestine is the primary site of nutrient absorption. It receives digestive enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver for further breakdown.
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Pancreas in Digestion
Pancreas in Digestion
The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes like amylase, protease, and lipase into the small intestine to break down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
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Liver's Role in Digestion
Liver's Role in Digestion
The liver produces bile, which aids fat digestion in the small intestine. It also filters and detoxifies substances from the blood.
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Photosynthesis Equation
Photosynthesis Equation
The balanced equation is 6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2. It describes how plants use carbon dioxide, water, and light energy to create glucose and oxygen.
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Light-Dependent Reactions
Light-Dependent Reactions
Occur within the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts, capturing light energy to produce ATP and NADPH, which fuel the Calvin cycle.
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Light-Independent Reactions (Calvin Cycle)
Light-Independent Reactions (Calvin Cycle)
In the stroma of chloroplasts, carbon dioxide is converted into glucose using energy from ATP and NADPH produced during the light-dependent reactions.
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Aerobic Respiration
Aerobic Respiration
The process where living organisms use oxygen to break down glucose, releasing energy and carbon dioxide as a byproduct.
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Decomposition
Decomposition
The breakdown of dead organisms by decomposers (fungi and bacteria) that use respiration to release energy, also releasing carbon dioxide.
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Fossil Fuels
Fossil Fuels
Stored carbon from ancient organisms (plants and animals) formed over millions of years, like coal, oil, and natural gas.
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Combustion
Combustion
The chemical process of burning fossil fuels, releasing carbon dioxide and other gases into the atmosphere.
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Ocean Carbon Sink
Ocean Carbon Sink
The ocean absorbs a significant amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, acting as a store of carbon.
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Nitrogen Fixation
Nitrogen Fixation
The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen gas into usable forms, such as ammonium ions, by bacteria.
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Nitrification
Nitrification
The process of converting ammonium ions into nitrates by specific bacteria, making nitrogen available to plants.
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Assimilation
Assimilation
The process where plants absorb nitrates from the soil and use them to build proteins and other molecules.
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Haber Process
Haber Process
An industrial process that converts nitrogen gas (N2) into ammonia (NH3), used to create artificial fertilizers.
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Water Cycle
Water Cycle
The continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth.
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Evaporation
Evaporation
The process where liquid water changes into water vapor (gas) due to heat from the sun.
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Condensation
Condensation
The process where water vapor (gas) changes back into liquid water, forming clouds.
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Transpiration
Transpiration
The process where plants release water vapor from their leaves into the atmosphere.
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Surface Runoff
Surface Runoff
Water that flows over the ground's surface, not absorbed into the soil. This occurs when heavy rainfall saturates the soil, resulting in excess water flowing away.
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Groundwater Flow
Groundwater Flow
Movement of water beneath the Earth's surface through soil layers. It can eventually resurface through streams, rivers, lakes, and the ocean.
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The Phosphorus Cycle
The Phosphorus Cycle
The continuous movement of phosphorus through living organisms, soil, water, and rocks. It's essential for plant growth and is often a limiting factor in ecosystems.
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Limiting Nutrient
Limiting Nutrient
A nutrient in short supply that restricts the growth of organisms in an ecosystem.
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Phosphate Ions
Phosphate Ions
The form of phosphorus found in nature, represented as PO4 3-. They combine with other elements to form compounds like calcium phosphate.
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Weathering
Weathering
The process of breaking down rocks into smaller particles, releasing phosphates into the soil and water.
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Sedimentation
Sedimentation
The process of particles settling at the bottom of lakes and oceans, forming new sedimentary rocks.
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Geological Uplift
Geological Uplift
The process of land rising from the ocean floor, bringing sedimentary rocks with them.
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Digestive System
- Describes the role of organs (mouth, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, rectum, anus) in digestion, and their anatomical locations.
- Names specific digestive enzymes (amylase, protease, lipase, pepsin, lactase, nuclease) and their functions, noting where they act in the digestive system.
- Explains the digestive processes for carbohydrates, cellulose/fiber, proteins, and lipids.
- Discusses how body position affects pill digestion, the role of proteases in digestion, and data collection/analysis methods used.
Photosynthesis
- Describes different leaf structures and their functions.
- Explains how stomata adapt to different environments.
- Explains how light is absorbed by plants.
- Details lab procedures for photosynthesis and data analysis.
- Includes the balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis.
- Explains light-dependent and light-independent reactions and their processes.
- Identifies parts of a chloroplast.
Cellular Respiration
- States the balanced chemical equation for cellular respiration.
- Describes the steps of aerobic and anaerobic respiration.
- Explains how anaerobic respiration is measured in muscle fatigue experiments.
- Identifies parts of a mitochondrion.
- Discusses the relationship between cyanide, respiration rate, and sugar concentration in the context of cellular respiration.
Biogeochemical Cycles (Carbon Cycle)
- Highlights carbon's role as a backbone element in biological molecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids).
- Explains that carbon exists as carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere (around 0.04% of air).
- Describes how plants and algae absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, storing carbon in glucose.
- Explains that animals obtain carbon from eating plants/algae.
- Explains how organisms release carbon dioxide from respiration.
- Describes decomposition and its release of CO2.
- Explains how fossil fuels form from fossilized organic matter and how their combustion releases CO2 into the atmosphere.
- Discusses the absorption of CO2 by the oceans.
Biogeochemical Cycles (Nitrogen Cycle)
- Explains the role of nitrogen in proteins and nucleic acids, and its abundance in the atmosphere (78%).
- Describes nitrogen fixation by free-living and symbiotic bacteria.
- Explains the conversion of nitrogen into ammonium ions (NH4+) via nitrification by Nitrosomonas bacteria.
- Explains the conversion of nitrites into nitrates (NO3-) via nitrification by Nitrobacter bacteria, which are then absorbed by plant roots.
- Discusses the process of ammonification by decomposers.
- Explains the process of denitrification, where nitrates are converted back to nitrogen gas in anaerobic conditions.
- Discusses the industrial Haber process for producing nitrates.
Biogeochemical Cycles (Water Cycle)
- Explains how plant roots absorb water, and the transpiration stream, and the transport of water through plants.
- Discusses how water evaporates from leaves into the atmosphere.
- Describes how precipitation occurs when water vapor cools and condenses.
- Explains percolation and ground water.
- Explains surface runoff.
Biogeochemical Cycles (Phosphorus Cycle)
- Explains the role of phosphorus in biological molecules.
- Explains that phosphates are released into the environment from weathering.
- Explains how phosphates are taken up by plant roots and passed onto other organisms in the food chain.
- Discusses the process of decomposition and its role in phosphate recycling.
- Explains the potential role of artificial fertilizers in increasing phosphorus levels in runoff water.
Food Chains and Webs
- Explains how energy is transferred between trophic levels.
- Details the 10% rule in energy transfer.
- Classifies organisms as heterotrophs, autotrophs, predators, prey, carnivores, herbivores, omnivores, and producers.
- Explains the role of decomposers.
- Details the biggest energy losses in food chains from cellular respiration and waste products.
Root Words
- Provides a list of root words related to biology, including meanings. Note the usage of prefixes in biological context like 'chlor-' (light green), 'glyc' (sugar), 'lip' (fat), 'lys' (breakdown), 'hydro' (water), 'syn' (with), 'sis' (action), 'troph' (food), 'photo' (light).
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