Key Concepts in Environmental Science
21 Questions
100 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What does latitude affect?

temperature

What is elevation?

a region's distance above sea level

What is climate?

an area's average weather conditions over time, including temperature, rainfall, or other precipitation, or wind

What are producers?

<p>organisms that use outside sources of energy like the sun to create energy-rich food molecules</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is nitrogen fixation?

<p>process in which some types of soil bacteria can form the nitrogen compounds that plants need</p> Signup and view all the answers

Energy is recycled.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are biotic factors?

<p>the features of the environment that are alive, or were once alive</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are fertilizers used for?

<p>to replace soil nitrogen in crops, fields, lawns, and gardens</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is air considered an abiotic factor?

<p>is invisible and plentiful, so it is easily overlooked</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are abiotic factors?

<p>the nonliving, physical features of the environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name the 6 main abiotic factors.

<p>air, water, soil, sunlight, temperature, and climate</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do sugar molecules do?

<p>store chemical energy</p> Signup and view all the answers

Water is essential to life on Earth.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are consumers?

<p>organisms that cannot create energy-rich molecules but obtain their food by eating other organisms</p> Signup and view all the answers

What kinds of organisms are found in soil?

<p>living organisms and decaying remains of dead organisms</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is soil considered both biotic and abiotic?

<p>because most of it is made up of nonliving rock and mineral particles and it also contains living organisms and decaying remains of dead organisms</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the carbon cycle?

<p>an example of how earth's biosphere recycles materials over and over</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do carbon molecules move between the living and nonliving world?

<p>through the carbon cycle</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the nitrogen cycle?

<p>the transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil, to living organisms, and back to the atmosphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a similarity between photosynthesis and chemosynthesis?

<p>both involve producers making food</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following processes with their characteristics:

<p>Photosynthesis = Converts sunlight into energy/food and plants create the energy Chemosynthesis = Converts chemicals into energy/food and bacteria create the energy</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Concepts in Environmental Science

  • Latitude: Influences temperature by determining the angle at which sunlight strikes the Earth.

  • Elevation: Refers to the height of a region above sea level, impacting climate and temperature.

  • Climate: Average weather conditions in an area over time, including temperature, precipitation, and wind patterns.

  • Producers: Organisms that convert energy from sources like the sun into energy-rich food through processes like photosynthesis.

  • Nitrogen Fixation: A process performed by certain soil bacteria that converts atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen compounds beneficial for plant growth.

  • Energy: Essential for all living organisms; it is not recycled but transformed from one form to another for various biological processes.

  • Biotic Factors: Components of the environment that are alive or were previously living, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms.

  • Fertilizers: Substances used to replenish nitrogen in soil for agricultural purposes, beneficial for crops and gardens.

  • Air: An essential abiotic factor, composed of invisible gases that support life yet is often underestimated in its importance.

  • Abiotic Factors: Nonliving elements of the environment, including air, water, soil, sunlight, temperature, and climate.

Components of the Environment

  • Main Abiotic Factors: Include air, water, soil, sunlight, temperature, and climate that shape ecosystems.

  • Sugar Molecules: Function to store chemical energy, playing a crucial role in energy transfer within living organisms.

  • Water: A vital component necessary for life, constituting a primary ingredient in cellular fluids across organisms.

  • Consumers: Organisms that cannot produce their own food and obtain energy-rich molecules by consuming other living entities.

Soil and Its Importance

  • Soil Composition: Comprises both abiotic and biotic elements; consists mainly of nonliving mineral particles while also housing living organisms and decomposing organic matter.

  • Types of Organisms in Soil: Includes living organisms and the remnants of dead organisms, contributing to soil health and fertility.

Biogeochemical Cycles

  • Carbon Cycle: Illustrates the continual recycling of carbon within Earth’s biosphere, involving the transfer between living organisms and the environment.

  • Nitrogen Cycle: Describes the movement of nitrogen through the atmosphere, soil, living beings, and back, essential for producing amino acids and nucleic acids.

Photosynthesis vs. Chemosynthesis

  • Similarities: Both processes involve producers generating food, albeit in different environments.

  • Differences:

    • Photosynthesis: Utilizes sunlight to create energy/food, primarily in plants.
    • Chemosynthesis: Uses chemical compounds to produce energy/food, mainly performed by certain bacteria and does not require sunlight.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Quiz Team

Description

Test your knowledge on essential concepts in Environmental Science, including latitude, climate, and energy flow. This quiz covers fundamental topics like producers, nitrogen fixation, and biotic factors that impact ecosystems. Understand how these elements interact to shape our environment.

More Like This

Use Quizgecko on...
Browser
Open
Browser
Browser