Biology Quiz: Ecosystems and Energy Processes

The main reactants in cellular respiration are glucose and oxygen. The main products are carbon dioxide, water, and ATP (adenosine triphosphate, a molecule that stores energy).

Carbon dioxide + water -> glucose + oxygen

Energy is released in cellular respiration through a series of chemical reactions that break down glucose. This process involves the transfer of electrons from glucose to oxygen, which releases energy that is captured in the form of ATP.

<p>An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals, and microorganisms) interacting with each other and their physical environment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Producers are organisms that make their own food through photosynthesis, using energy from sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose. They form the base of the food chain and provide energy to all other organisms in the ecosystem.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A keystone species is an organism that has a disproportionately large impact on the structure and function of an ecosystem, even if it is not the most abundant species. For example, sea otters are considered keystone species in kelp forests. They prey on sea urchins, which are grazers that can destroy kelp forests. By controlling the sea urchin population, sea otters help to maintain the health and biodiversity of kelp forests.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>When the population of a top predator decreases, the populations of their prey species may increase. This can lead to a decrease in the populations of the prey species' prey, and so on, creating a ripple effect throughout the food chain.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Energy is transferred through trophic levels in a food chain through the process of consumption. When a predator consumes its prey, it obtains the energy stored in the prey's body. However, only a portion of this energy is passed on to the predator; the rest is lost as heat during metabolic processes, leading to a decrease in energy available at higher trophic levels.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An abiotic factor is a nonliving component of an ecosystem. An example is temperature. Temperature affects the rate of photosynthesis, the growth of plants, and the distribution of animals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A disruption in the carbon cycle can have significant impacts on ecosystems. For example, the burning of fossil fuels releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which can contribute to climate change. This can lead to changes in weather patterns, sea level rise, and ocean acidification, which can have devastating effects on ecosystems and the organisms that live within them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Mutualism is a type of symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit. For example, bees and flowers are examples of mutualism. Bees get nectar from the flowers, and in the process, they pollinate the flowers, which helps the flowers reproduce.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Parasitism is a type of symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits at the expense of another. For example, tapeworms are parasites that live in the intestines of animals, absorbing nutrients from their host's body. The tapeworm benefits from the relationship while the host is harmed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Competition occurs when two or more organisms require the same limited resource, such as food or water. For example, lions and hyenas may compete for the same prey animals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Two major greenhouse gases responsible for climate change are carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4).</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Invasive pest species can disrupt ecosystems by competing with native species for resources, preying on native species, introducing diseases, or altering habitats.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Adding too much carbon dioxide to the atmosphere can lead to global warming, which can melt glaciers and ice caps, raise sea levels, change weather patterns, and increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather events.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The reactants involved in a neutralization reaction are an acid and a base.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>2H2 + O2 → 2H2O</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Exothermic reactions release energy into the surroundings, typically as heat, making the surroundings warmer. Endothermic reactions absorb energy from the surroundings, typically as heat, making the surroundings cooler.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>When an acid is added to water, the pH of the solution decreases, making it more acidic. When a base is added to water, the pH of the solution increases, making it more basic or alkaline.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Active immunity develops when an individual's immune system creates antibodies against a specific pathogen, usually after exposure to the pathogen or a vaccine. Passive immunity involves acquiring antibodies from another source, such as through the transfer of antibodies from a mother to her baby during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or through an injection of antibodies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Vaccines work by introducing a weakened or inactivated version of a pathogen or a part of a pathogen into the body. This stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies against that pathogen without causing actual illness. If the person is later exposed to the actual pathogen, their immune system will be able to recognize it and mount a rapid response, preventing or reducing the severity of the disease.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The prevailing theory about the origin of the universe is the Big Bang theory. This theory suggests that the universe began in a very hot and dense state and has been expanding ever since.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The sun releases energy through a process called nuclear fusion. This process involves the merging of hydrogen nuclei to form helium nuclei, releasing a tremendous amount of energy in the form of light and heat.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Redshift is a phenomenon in which light from distant objects, such as galaxies, appears shifted towards longer wavelengths (redder colors). This is due to the Doppler effect, which states that the wavelength of a wave is shifted towards longer wavelengths when the source of the wave is moving away from the observer.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The speed of light is often represented by the letter 'c,' and its equation is: c = d / t, where 'd' is the distance traveled and 't' is the time taken.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy that travels through space as waves. Common examples include visible light, radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays. These forms of radiation have different wavelengths and frequencies, which determine their properties and uses.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>If light travels at 300,000 km/s, in 2 seconds it will travel 600,000 kilometers.</p> Signup and view all the answers