Ecology Chapter 12 Quiz

Study Notes

Ecosystems provide limited resources, including oceans (fish, seaweed) and fossil fuels (used for energy).
Daily human actions can either harm or benefit the environment.
Negative impacts include:
- Wasting food
- Excessive electricity consumption
- High water usage
- Overproduction of waste
Positive impacts include:
- Using public transport
- Reducing overall consumption
- Adopting environmentally friendly practices
- Engaging in reforestation efforts

Conservation: Protection and preservation of natural resources.
Ecology: Study of interactions between organisms and their environment.
Ecosystem: Interaction between a community and its physical environment.
Mutualism: Symbiotic relationship where two organisms benefit from each other.

Maintains balanced ecosystems and biodiversity.
Preserves large gene pools, preventing species extinction.
Provides economic benefits, e.g., rainforests as raw material sources and marine life as food.

Burning fossil fuels results in pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide, leading to acid rain and climate change.
Increased greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations trap heat in the atmosphere.
Public transportation is more eco-friendly compared to private cars, significantly reducing carbon footprints.
Livestock farming, like cattle raising, contributes to methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas.

Organisms have adaptations to survive in extreme conditions, e.g., deserts and polar regions.
In hot deserts, limited water and extreme temperatures restrict plant and animal life.
Polar regions have organisms adapted to long periods of darkness and extreme cold.

Predator-Prey Dynamics: Predators have adaptations like sharp teeth and speed to hunt, while prey use camouflage and defensive traits to survive.
Mutualism: Organisms benefit from each other's presence.
Decomposers: Organisms like bacteria and fungi that recycle nutrients by breaking down dead matter.

Food chains typically have four or fewer trophic levels due to energy loss at each level.
Trophic Levels:
- Primary consumers (herbivores) feed on plants.
- Secondary consumers (carnivores) feed on other animals.
- Omnivores consume both plants and animals.

Closed Circuit: All components are connected, allowing electric charges to flow.
Open Circuit: Incomplete; electric charges cannot flow.
Electricity Direction: Current flows from positive to negative.

Cell/Battery: Source of electrical energy.
Switch: Controls current flow.
Bulb and Resistors: Convert electrical energy into light/heat and regulate current.

Relationship between voltage (V), current (I), and resistance (R) defined by V = I × R.

Produces heat, light, and chemical changes.
Color coding of wires:
- Brown (live),
- Yellow-green (earth),
- Blue (neutral).

Physical Digestion: Mechanical breakdown of food into smaller pieces.
Chemical Digestion: Enzymatic breakdown of food into absorbable molecules.
Digestive enzymes like carbohydrases and proteases play crucial roles in breaking down carbohydrates and proteins.

Majority of nutrient absorption occurs in the small intestine.
Conditions like constipation and food poisoning affect digestion; prevention strategies include dietary adjustments and food safety practices.