Introduction to Ecology
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary source of Nitrous Oxide (N2O) release?

  • Anaerobic bacteria on Livestock waste (correct)
  • Legume Crops
  • Destruction of forestlands, grassland and wetlands
  • Combustion and forest burning
  • What is the result of nitrogen saturation in an ecosystem?

  • Excess N is converted to ammonium
  • Excess N is consumed by plants
  • Excess N tends to leave the system in the form of nitrate (correct)
  • Excess N is stored in the soil
  • What is the primary limiting nutrient in most terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems?

  • Carbon
  • Sulfur
  • Nitrogen (correct)
  • Phosphorus
  • What is the effect of excess nitrogen on aquatic systems?

    <p>Eutrophication and coastal algal blooms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary source of sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of phosphorus in biological systems?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the effect of human activities on the phosphorus cycle?

    <p>Increasing phosphorus levels in water</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary impact of nitrogen oxide (NO) on the environment?

    <p>Precursor to acid rain and smog</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the result of excess nitrogen in terrestrial ecosystems?

    <p>Selective pressure favoring species-poor ecosystems</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for nitrate in drinking water?

    <p>10 mg/L</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Ecology

    • Ecology is the study of the inter-relationships among living beings and their interactions with the physical environment.
    • The term "ecology" comes from the Greek words "ikos" meaning dwelling and "logos" meaning study.

    Segments of the Environment

    • The environment consists of four segments: atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.
    • Atmosphere: small reservoir, efficient transporter, divided into several layers including exosphere, thermosphere, ionosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, and troposphere.
    • Lithosphere: Earth's crust, rocks, and minerals, huge reservoir, less transport (conveyor), and includes pedosphere (soil).
    • Hydrosphere: oceans and water, huge reservoir, and transporter.
    • Biosphere: small reservoir, moderate transporter, and has a huge impact on the environment.

    Ecosystem

    • An ecosystem is a functional unit consisting of living and non-living components.
    • Abiotic factors: climate, temperature, rainfall, snow, light levels, wind, humidity, pH, mineral and organic matter, and texture.
    • Biotic factors: producers (autotrophs), consumers (heterotrophs), and decomposers (saprotrophs).

    Structure of the Ecosystem

    • Ecological pyramids or trophic pyramids: terrestrial vs aquatic ecosystems.
    • Types of ecological pyramids: producers, consumers, and decomposers.

    Ecosystem Functions

    • Productivity: food production, photosynthesis.
    • Energy flow: food chain, food web, energy flow through trophic levels.
    • Nutrient recycling: biogeochemical cycles (water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur cycles).
    • Development and stabilization: community associations, adaptations, and ecological succession.

    Biogeochemical Cycles

    • Carbon cycle: photosynthesis, decomposition, respiration, and fossil fuel combustion.
    • Human impacts on carbon cycle: burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and poor agricultural practices.
    • Nitrogen cycle: nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification, and human impacts on nitrogen cycle.
    • Phosphorus cycle: essential nutrient, human impacts on phosphorus cycle (phosphate mining, fertilizer use, and eutrophication).
    • Sulfur cycle: human impacts on sulfur cycle (industrial and combustion sources, refining industry, and metallic ore industries).

    Additional Concepts

    • Detritus food chain: less dependent on direct sunlight, depends on influx of organic matter from another system, and generally small.
    • Ocean acidification: reduction in C-sink capacity of the ocean, increase in atmospheric CO2, and reduction in population of mussels and oysters.
    • Eutrophication: excess nutrients in aquatic ecosystems, leading to algal blooms and "dead zones".

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    Related Documents

    Principles of Ecology PDF

    Description

    Learn about the study of inter-relationships among living beings and their interactions with the physical environment, including the four segments of the environment: atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.

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