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Matter and Energy in Ecology
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Matter and Energy in Ecology

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Questions and Answers

What is the principle of conservation of matter primarily about?

  • Matter cannot be transformed between different phases.
  • Matter can be created as long as it is used for production.
  • Matter is recycled and not destroyed under ordinary circumstances. (correct)
  • Matter is primarily used for disposable goods without concern for waste.

    • Which form of energy is described as latent and available for use?

  • Kinetic energy
  • Chemical energy (correct)
  • Mechanical energy
  • Thermal energy

    • Which physical forms or phases can matter take?

  • Solid, vapor, and plasma
  • Solid, liquid, and light
  • Gas, liquid, and energy
  • Gas, liquid, and solid (correct)

    • How does photosynthesis relate to living systems?

    <p>It captures energy to be stored in chemical bonds.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement about kinetic energy is accurate?

    <p>Kinetic energy is associated with moving objects.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best describes low-quality energy?

    <p>It is highly dispersed and difficult to harness.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of energy in ecological systems?

    <p>Energy transforms into structures and processes for life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are trophic levels an indication of?

    <p>The position of organisms in a food web.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of understanding heat and energy in relation to environmental science?

    <p>It helps explain the storage and use of energy in bodies and utility systems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the first law of thermodynamics state?

    <p>Energy cannot be created nor destroyed, only transformed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs during every energy transformation according to the second law of thermodynamics?

    <p>Usable energy is converted to heat and dispersed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary source of energy for most living organisms?

    <p>The sun, providing warmth and light.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which organisms are known to survive in extreme conditions and rely on chemosynthesis?

    <p>Extremophiles, particularly archaea.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is entropy in the context of energy transformations?

    <p>The amount of disorder that increases during transformations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the quality of energy sources impact their usefulness?

    <p>Energy must be concentrated or transformed for practical use.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of ecosystem relies solely on a chemosynthetic process?

    <p>Deep-sea hydrothermal vent ecosystems living in total darkness.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines a keystone species?

    <p>A species whose removal or addition causes significant changes in other species</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes carrying capacity?

    <p>The maximum number of individuals of a species that an ecosystem can sustainably support</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the maximum sustainable yield?

    <p>The highest yield of a resource without depleting it</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement about waste assimilative capacity is true?

    <p>It denotes the capacity of the ecosystem to absorb and manage waste</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is phosphorus a limiting nutrient for aquatic organisms?

    <p>Its low soil concentration limits plant growth and microbial activity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes biogeochemical cycles?

    <p>Pathways through which nutrients circulate through biotic and abiotic systems</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does the atmosphere play in the phosphorus cycle?

    <p>It plays a minimal role in the movement of phosphorus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the importance of natural enemies in an ecosystem?

    <p>They help maintain ecological balance by controlling prey populations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary use of mined phosphorus?

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

    What environmental issue can result from the enrichment of phosphates in water bodies?

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

    Which of the following human activities does NOT alter the water cycle?

    <p>Mining phosphorus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process in the nitrogen cycle involves the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium?

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

    What happens during the ammonification process in the nitrogen cycle?

    <p>Organic nitrogen is converted to ammonium</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement is true about nitrogen-fixing organisms?

    <p>They form symbiotic relationships with certain plants.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which is a consequence of urbanization on the water cycle?

    <p>Altered natural flow patterns</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component of the phosphorus cycle is most influenced by human activity?

    <p>Phosphate mining and fertilizer use</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What process involves the conversion of ammonia into nitrate?

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

    Which bacterial species are responsible for converting nitrites into nitrates?

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

    What is the primary end product of denitrification?

    <p>Nitrogen gas (N2)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which human activity significantly alters the nitrogen cycle?

    <p>Fossil fuel combustion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which cycle does carbon get exchanged among various Earth systems?

    <p>Carbon cycle</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What element is the tenth most abundant in the universe and plays a critical role in ecosystems?

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

    What does natural resource management apply to?

    <p>Ecological principles</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does human activity indirectly influence the carbon cycle?

    <p>By changing the terrestrial and oceanic biosphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Matter and Energy

    • Ecology is the scientific study of relationships between living organisms and their environment
    • All organisms use matter and energy from their environment and transform them into structures and processes that support life
    • Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass
    • Matter can exist in three forms: gas, liquid, and solid
    • The law of conservation of matter states that matter cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed
    • Energy is the capacity to do work
    • Kinetic energy is energy contained in moving objects
    • Potential energy is stored energy that is available for use
    • Chemical energy is stored energy that can be released to do work
    • Heat is energy that can be transferred between objects at different temperatures
    • Low-quality energy is diffuse and difficult to gather and use
    • High-quality energy is concentrated and readily usable
    • Thermodynamics is the study of how energy is transferred and transformed
    • First law of thermodynamics: energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed
    • Second law of thermodynamics: every energy transformation results in some loss of usable energy
    • Entropy is a measure of disorder, which always increases in a system
    • Sunlight is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems

    Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

    • Photosynthesis is the process by which plants capture energy from sunlight and convert it into chemical energy (glucose)
    • Cellular respiration is the process by which organisms release energy from glucose to power life processes
    • Through photosynthesis, plants convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen
    • During cellular respiration, glucose is broken down to produce carbon dioxide, water and energy
    • The energy released from cellular respiration is used to power growth, movement, and other vital functions

    Food Chains, Food Webs, and Trophic Levels

    • Food chains show the linear flow of energy from one organism to another
    • Food webs are interconnected food chains that show the complex relationships between species
    • Trophic levels represent the different feeding levels in an ecosystem
    • Producers (plants) make their own food through photosynthesis
    • Consumers (animals) obtain their food by consuming other organisms
    • Decomposers (fungi and bacteria) break down dead organisms and waste products

    Keystone Species

    • Keystone species play a crucial role in maintaining the structure and function of an ecosystem
    • Removal of a keystone species can lead to dramatic changes in the community
    • Sea otters are a keystone species in the Pacific Northwest, controlling sea urchin populations and protecting kelp forests
    • Philippine eagles are crucial for maintaining balance in their ecosystems by controlling prey populations

    Carrying Capacity, Maximum Sustainable Yield, and Waste Assimilative Capacity

    • Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a species that a habitat can support
    • Maximum sustainable yield is the maximum amount of a resource that can be harvested without depleting the resource
    • Waste assimilative capacity is the ability of an ecosystem to absorb and process waste products

    Biogeochemical Cycles

    • Biogeochemical cycles describe the movement of chemical elements through living and nonliving components of the Earth
    • The phosphorus cycle involves the movement of phosphorus through the lithosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere
    • The water cycle, or hydrologic cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth
    • The nitrogen cycle involves the transformation of nitrogen between different chemical forms
    • The carbon cycle describes the movement of carbon through the biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere
    • The sulfur cycle involves the movement of sulfur through various parts of the Earth
    • Human activities have a significant impact on all biogeochemical cycles

    Human Influence on the Environment

    • Human activities can alter the balance of natural systems in various ways
    • Pollution, deforestation, and climate change are all examples of human impacts on the environment
    • Understanding the principles of ecology is crucial for addressing these challenges

    Ecology Matters: Natural Resource Management

    • Natural resource management utilizes ecological principles to manage natural resources
    • Understanding ecology helps us to sustainably manage ecosystems and their resources
    • Effective management of ecosystems requires understanding of species interactions, trophic levels, and ecosystem processes.

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