Environmental Science: Abiotic Factors

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Questions and Answers

What is connected to the soil in edaphic abiotic factors?

Texture, water content, air, and mineral nutrients.

What are the climatic abiotic factors that affect organisms?

Atmosphere, environment, light intensity, temperature, humidity, wind/atmospheric gases, and water availability.

What are the aquatic abiotic factors that affect organisms?

Solidity, water movement and wave action, dissolve oxygen, light intensity, and pollutants.

What is the process of recycling?

Collecting waste products and converting them to a more useful form. Signup and view all the answers

What type of abiotic factors affect organisms in the soil?

Edaphic factors. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of abiotic factors in an ecosystem?

They affect organisms and their interaction with the environment. Signup and view all the answers

What role does the nasal cavity play in the respiratory system?

Acts as an air filter, trapping dust and other particles. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the larynx in the respiratory system?

Houses vocal cords; involved in sound production and air passage. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the bronchi in the respiratory system?

Cartilage-containing tubes directing air to and from the bronchioles. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the bronchioles in the respiratory system?

Small tubes delivering oxygen to alveoli and removing carbon dioxide. Signup and view all the answers

What is the journey of oxygen from the atmosphere to the cells?

Oxygen is inhaled into the nasal cavity, travels down the trachea, and enters the lungs through the bronchi, then reaches the alveoli, where it passes into the bloodstream and is transported to every cell in the body. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the alveoli in the respiratory system?

Oxygen passes through the alveolar walls into the bloodstream, and carbon dioxide moves from the blood into the alveoli. Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of oxygen being used by cells during metabolism and producing carbon dioxide as a waste product?

Metabolism. Signup and view all the answers

What is the global application of anaerobic respiration in biogas production?

Biogas generators harness anaerobic respiration to provide a sustainable form of energy. Signup and view all the answers

What is oxygen debt, and why do we build up this debt during intense physical activities?

Oxygen debt is the accumulation of oxygen needed by the body after intense physical activity, when anaerobic respiration occurs, and muscles work without sufficient oxygen. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary effect of tar on the lungs?

Tar disrupts the lungs' self-cleaning mechanism, causing a buildup of pollutants and excess mucus. Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of nicotine on the nervous system?

Nicotine acts as both a tranquilizer and a stimulant, affecting the nervous system. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary effect of carbon monoxide on the body?

Carbon monoxide competes with oxygen for binding to hemoglobin in the blood, leading to symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and headaches. Signup and view all the answers

What is vital capacity, and what does it measure?

Vital capacity is the maximum volume of air that can be exhaled after breathing in fully, measuring the lungs' capacity to hold and expel air. Signup and view all the answers

What is biogas production, and what is its primary source?

Biogas production is the process of generating a blend of gases through anaerobic digestion of organic materials, primarily methane gas. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of bacteria in biogas production?

Bacteria facilitate the anaerobic digestion of organic materials, decomposing them to release methane gas. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential application of biogas production?

Biogas production can be used as a renewable energy source for cooking and potentially for electricity production. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Oxygen Debt

During intense activities, muscles respire without oxygen, creating lactic acid, which causes muscle fatigue.
This process builds up an "oxygen debt" that must be repaid by breathing deeply to get more oxygen.

Effects of Smoking

Tar disrupts the lungs' self-cleaning mechanism, causing a buildup of pollutants and excess mucus.
Nicotine is a substance that has a dual effect on the nervous system, acting as both a tranquilizer and a stimulant.
Carbon Monoxide competes with oxygen for binding to hemoglobin in the blood, leading to symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and headaches.
Carcinogens are agents known to cause cancer by altering or damaging the genetic material within cells.

Vital Capacity

It is the maximum volume of air that can be exhaled after breathing in fully.

Biogas Production

Biogas is a blend of gases generated through the anaerobic digestion of organic materials like plant and animal waste, manure, and food scraps.
This process is facilitated by bacteria that thrive in environments devoid of oxygen.
Methane gas is released during this process, serving as a renewable energy source.

How Oxygen Gets to Our Cells

Oxygen begins in the atmosphere, then is inhaled into the nasal cavity, travels down the trachea, and enters the lungs through the two bronchi.
Within the lungs, it moves into smaller air passages called bronchioles and finally reaches the tiny air sacs known as alveoli.
Oxygen passes through the alveolar walls into the bloodstream, which then transports it to every cell in the body.

How Carbon Dioxide Gets to the Atmosphere from Our Cells

Carbon dioxide is produced as a waste product during cell metabolism.
It diffuses from the cells into the bloodstream, which carries it to the lungs.
Carbon dioxide moves from the blood into the alveoli, then through the bronchioles, bronchi, trachea, and finally is expelled from the body through the mouth or nose.

Functions of the Respiratory System

Nasal cavity: Acts as an air filter, trapping dust and other particles.
Larynx: Houses vocal cords; involved in sound production and air passage.
Trachea (windpipe): A cartilage-supported tube allowing air flow to the bronchi.
Bronchi: Cartilage-containing tubes directing air to and from the bronchioles.
Bronchioles: Small tubes delivering oxygen to alveoli and removing carbon dioxide.

Abiotic Factors

Edaphic: Connected to the soil, including factors like texture, water content, air, and mineral nutrients.
Climatic: Affects organisms relating to the atmosphere, environment, light intensity, temperature, humidity, wind/atmospheric gases, and water availability.
Aquatic: Includes factors like solidity, water movement and wave action, dissolved oxygen, light intensity, and pollutants.

Recycling

Recycling is the process of collecting waste products and converting them to a more useful form.

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Description

Test your knowledge of abiotic factors that affect organisms, including edaphic, climatic, and aquatic factors, as well as the process of recycling and their significance in an ecosystem.