Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which of the following best describes a limiting factor in an ecosystem?
Which of the following best describes a limiting factor in an ecosystem?
- A resource that is unlimited and readily available.
- Any condition that limits the growth or size of a population. (correct)
- Any condition that promotes the growth of a population.
- The total number of species in an ecosystem.
Abiotic limiting factors are living components of an ecosystem that affect population growth.
Abiotic limiting factors are living components of an ecosystem that affect population growth.
False (B)
Which of the following is an example of a biotic limiting factor?
Which of the following is an example of a biotic limiting factor?
- Predator population (correct)
- Water availability
- Living space
- Sunlight intensity
How can humans decrease biodiversity in ecosystems?
How can humans decrease biodiversity in ecosystems?
A loss of a ______ can be devastating to an ecosystem.
A loss of a ______ can be devastating to an ecosystem.
What are adaptations?
What are adaptations?
The frequency of traits in a population remains constant over time, regardless of environmental pressures.
The frequency of traits in a population remains constant over time, regardless of environmental pressures.
How does poaching affect the evolution of elephants?
How does poaching affect the evolution of elephants?
What is the term for the process where organisms with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce?
What is the term for the process where organisms with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce?
Explain how the increasing number of tuskless elephants is an example of natural selection.
Explain how the increasing number of tuskless elephants is an example of natural selection.
Regions of DNA that are highly ______ among individuals are used in DNA fingerprinting.
Regions of DNA that are highly ______ among individuals are used in DNA fingerprinting.
What is the purpose of gel electrophoresis in DNA analysis?
What is the purpose of gel electrophoresis in DNA analysis?
In gel electrophoresis, larger DNA fragments migrate faster through the gel than smaller fragments.
In gel electrophoresis, larger DNA fragments migrate faster through the gel than smaller fragments.
If an unknown DNA sample matches a known sample's DNA fingerprint, what does this indicate?
If an unknown DNA sample matches a known sample's DNA fingerprint, what does this indicate?
What is the primary source of energy for an ecosystem?
What is the primary source of energy for an ecosystem?
The arrows in a food web represent the direction of ______ flow.
The arrows in a food web represent the direction of ______ flow.
Approximately what percentage of available energy is transferred to the next trophic level in an energy pyramid?
Approximately what percentage of available energy is transferred to the next trophic level in an energy pyramid?
Explain what happens to the 90% of energy that is not transferred to the next trophic level.
Explain what happens to the 90% of energy that is not transferred to the next trophic level.
Which two processes are primarily involved in energy flow in ecosystems?
Which two processes are primarily involved in energy flow in ecosystems?
Match the following components with their role in photosynthesis and respiration:
Match the following components with their role in photosynthesis and respiration:
Flashcards
Limiting factor
Limiting factor
Any condition that limits the growth or size of a population.
Abiotic limiting factors
Abiotic limiting factors
Non-living factors that limit population growth, like water, light, weather, and space.
Biotic limiting factors
Biotic limiting factors
Living factors that limit population growth, like food, predators, disease, and hunting
Biodiversity
Biodiversity
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Keystone species
Keystone species
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Adaptations
Adaptations
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Frequency of Traits
Frequency of Traits
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Advantage
Advantage
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Natural Selection
Natural Selection
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The Sun
The Sun
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Energy Flow/Transfer
Energy Flow/Transfer
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Trophic Level
Trophic Level
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10% Rule
10% Rule
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Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis
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Cellular Respiration
Cellular Respiration
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Study Notes
- Elephants are a keystone species
Limits on Ecosystems
- Limiting factors are conditions that limit the growth or size of a population
- Abiotic (non-living) examples: water, light, weather/climate conditions, and living space
- Biotic (living) examples: food, predators, disease, and hunting (poaching)
Human Impact
- Humans can decrease biodiversityin ecosystems, by causing decreases in the number of species and/or the size of populations
- Hunting, poaching, habitat destruction, and pollution can negatively affect populations
- The loss of keystone speciescan devastate the ecosystem
Human Impact on Evolution
- Adaptations are traits that help an organism survive
- The frequency of traits in a population can change over time
- A variation of an elephant trait is having tusks versus being tuskless
- It is an advantage to be tusked for elephants
- Poachers often kill elephants with tusks
- Elephants without tusks survive and reproduce, increasing the number of tuskless elephants.
- This is an example of natural selection
Identification of Individuals
- DNA fingerprinting/analysis is a method for identifying individuals
- Regions of DNA that are highly variable (STRs) among individuals are analyzed using electrophoresis.
- This technique separates DNA fragments by size, creating a unique pattern of bands in a gel
- If an unknown sample matches a known sample, it is highly probable that the DNA is from the same source.
Energy Flow in Ecosystems - Food Webs
- The sun is the source of energy for the ecosystem
- Arrows in a food web show the direction of energy flow/transfer amongst organisms
Energy Flow in Ecosystems - Energy Pyramid
- Only about 10% of available energy is transferred to the next trophic level
- The other 90% of the energy gets used by the organisms, released as waste, or lost as heat
Energy Flow in Ecosystems - Processes
- Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are two processes involved in energy flow in ecosystems.
- Photosynthesis in plants uses chloroplasts; Cellular respiration in animals/plants uses mitochondria
- The photosynthesis equation: H2O + CO2 + light --> O2 + glucose
- The respiration equation: O2 + glucose --> H2O + CO2 + ATP
- The equations are opposites of each other.
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