Podcast
Questions and Answers
The primary pollutants responsible for acid precipitation are carbon dioxide and sulfur oxides.
The primary pollutants responsible for acid precipitation are carbon dioxide and sulfur oxides.
False
Freshwater ecosystems contain a higher concentration of marine debris than marine ecosystems.
Freshwater ecosystems contain a higher concentration of marine debris than marine ecosystems.
False
Muscovite, smectite, and gypsum are minerals that can neutralize acid effects.
Muscovite, smectite, and gypsum are minerals that can neutralize acid effects.
True
Most life is found in shallow waters rather than deep waters due to various ecological factors.
Most life is found in shallow waters rather than deep waters due to various ecological factors.
Signup and view all the answers
A watershed is a geographical area that collects and drains precipitation.
A watershed is a geographical area that collects and drains precipitation.
Signup and view all the answers
Transportation sources are the main contributors to sulfur dioxide emissions.
Transportation sources are the main contributors to sulfur dioxide emissions.
Signup and view all the answers
The Gaia hypothesis suggests that Earth does not respond to environmental changes.
The Gaia hypothesis suggests that Earth does not respond to environmental changes.
Signup and view all the answers
Oil spills are harmful to wildlife because the chemical constituents are safe.
Oil spills are harmful to wildlife because the chemical constituents are safe.
Signup and view all the answers
Adding water to a pollutant can effectively reduce its concentration.
Adding water to a pollutant can effectively reduce its concentration.
Signup and view all the answers
Introduced species are species moved from their native habitat to a new area by humans.
Introduced species are species moved from their native habitat to a new area by humans.
Signup and view all the answers
Ecosystems consist only of living components.
Ecosystems consist only of living components.
Signup and view all the answers
All introduced species are likely to thrive in their new environments.
All introduced species are likely to thrive in their new environments.
Signup and view all the answers
Oil spills directly harm wildlife.
Oil spills directly harm wildlife.
Signup and view all the answers
Animals that eat only plants are called herbivores.
Animals that eat only plants are called herbivores.
Signup and view all the answers
The term 'Great Pacific Garbage Patch' refers to an area rich in marine life.
The term 'Great Pacific Garbage Patch' refers to an area rich in marine life.
Signup and view all the answers
Biodiversity loss can be a consequence of introducing invasive species.
Biodiversity loss can be a consequence of introducing invasive species.
Signup and view all the answers
The rocky outer shell of the Earth is referred to as the biosphere.
The rocky outer shell of the Earth is referred to as the biosphere.
Signup and view all the answers
Acid precipitation has no effect on the ecosystem.
Acid precipitation has no effect on the ecosystem.
Signup and view all the answers
Humans manage forest ecosystems only through logging activities.
Humans manage forest ecosystems only through logging activities.
Signup and view all the answers
Herbivores are present at the first trophic level in a food web.
Herbivores are present at the first trophic level in a food web.
Signup and view all the answers
The phrase 'the solution to pollution is dilution' suggests that pollution can be reduced by spreading it out.
The phrase 'the solution to pollution is dilution' suggests that pollution can be reduced by spreading it out.
Signup and view all the answers
Oil, plants, sunlight, and water are considered major natural resources.
Oil, plants, sunlight, and water are considered major natural resources.
Signup and view all the answers
Clearcutting involves selectively removing a few trees from a forest.
Clearcutting involves selectively removing a few trees from a forest.
Signup and view all the answers
Humans can survive without air for 3-5 minutes.
Humans can survive without air for 3-5 minutes.
Signup and view all the answers
Secondary succession occurs when new land is created.
Secondary succession occurs when new land is created.
Signup and view all the answers
Tropical rainforests have low species richness compared to polar and desert regions.
Tropical rainforests have low species richness compared to polar and desert regions.
Signup and view all the answers
Renewable services are more valuable than non-renewable services.
Renewable services are more valuable than non-renewable services.
Signup and view all the answers
Trees planted in a yard can improve the quality of air.
Trees planted in a yard can improve the quality of air.
Signup and view all the answers
Habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change contribute to species extinction.
Habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change contribute to species extinction.
Signup and view all the answers
Approximately 60% of Canada's original forest has been cut at least once.
Approximately 60% of Canada's original forest has been cut at least once.
Signup and view all the answers
Selective cutting is the most economical forest harvesting method.
Selective cutting is the most economical forest harvesting method.
Signup and view all the answers
Clear cutting is the least common method of forest harvesting, with a usage rate of 70%.
Clear cutting is the least common method of forest harvesting, with a usage rate of 70%.
Signup and view all the answers
Erosion tends to decrease following tree harvesting.
Erosion tends to decrease following tree harvesting.
Signup and view all the answers
Humans occupy a unique ecological niche due to their role as apex predators.
Humans occupy a unique ecological niche due to their role as apex predators.
Signup and view all the answers
The energy available in an ecosystem increases as you go up from one trophic level to the next.
The energy available in an ecosystem increases as you go up from one trophic level to the next.
Signup and view all the answers
Abiotic factors do not significantly influence terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Abiotic factors do not significantly influence terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Signup and view all the answers
Carnivores occupy the primary trophic level in most ecosystems.
Carnivores occupy the primary trophic level in most ecosystems.
Signup and view all the answers
The biome found in Canada is the southernmost of all biomes.
The biome found in Canada is the southernmost of all biomes.
Signup and view all the answers
Producers are found at the bottom of food chains.
Producers are found at the bottom of food chains.
Signup and view all the answers
Animals that eat only plants are classified as omnivores.
Animals that eat only plants are classified as omnivores.
Signup and view all the answers
Human activities change only the abiotic features of an ecosystem.
Human activities change only the abiotic features of an ecosystem.
Signup and view all the answers
Photosynthesis produces energy-rich substances in plants.
Photosynthesis produces energy-rich substances in plants.
Signup and view all the answers
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is located in the South Atlantic Ocean.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is located in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Signup and view all the answers
Sustainability is not important in nature.
Sustainability is not important in nature.
Signup and view all the answers
Ecosystems can include both biotic and abiotic features.
Ecosystems can include both biotic and abiotic features.
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Resource Management Forestry
- Approximately 60% of the original Canadian forest has been cut at least once.
- Forest harvesting methods include three categories:
- Clear cutting: removal of all or most trees in an area. It's the most economical and efficient, accounting for 90% of usage.
- Shelterwood cutting: mature trees are harvested in a series of two or more cuts, allowing for regeneration under the remaining trees.
- Selective cutting: harvests selected trees periodically, causing the least ecological impact, but is the most costly.
- Following tree harvesting, nutrients are lost from the soil, and erosion increases.
Ecological Issues
- Following tree harvesting, nutrients are lost from the soil and erosion increases.
Food Webs and Ecological Pyramids
- Ecological niche: An organism's specific role in an ecosystem, including its interactions with other organisms and its physical environment. Humans occupy a broad niche, while other species have more specialized roles.
- Food chains represent the simple flow of energy from one organism to the next, while food webs portray a more complex network of interconnected feeding relationships.
- Energy decreases as you move up trophic levels, due to energy losses at each transfer.
- The trophic level with the highest biomass is usually producers, since they are the base of the food web.
- Carnivores are tertiary (or higher) consumers.
Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems
- The water cycle: Water moves through the atmosphere, entering and leaving via evaporation and precipitation.
- Carbon enters the atmosphere through respiration, decomposition and volcanic eruptions and the burning of fossil fuels.
- Human activities influence the water cycle, carbon cycle (primarily through fossil fuel emissions), and nitrogen cycle.
- Actions to mitigate climate change include efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable practices.
Biotic and Abiotic Influences on Ecosystems
- Tolerance range: the range of abiotic conditions an organism can endure.
- Optimal range: the abiotic conditions where an organism thrives, within the broader tolerance limits.
- Common abiotic factors include temperature, water, and sunlight.
- Human actions can increase carrying capacity, but this can often disrupt the delicate balance of an ecosystem.
- Examples of interactions and relationships include predation, mutualism, competition, parasitism, and commensalism
Major Terrestrial Ecosystems
- Canada's terrestrial biomes ordered from wettest to driest and warmest to coldest.
- Biome diversity is influenced by factors like temperature, precipitation, and geographic location.
Non-native Species
- Introduced species can become invasive if they out-compete native species or disrupt the ecosystem in harmful ways.
- Invasive species lack the knowledge of the area, food sources, and methods of survival in their new environment.
- Invasive species can out-compete native species for resources.
- Some methods to control invasive species include biological control (introducing natural predators or competitors), chemical control (using pesticides), and mechanical control (physical removal).
Acid Precipitation (Pollution)
- Two primary pollutants causing acid precipitation are sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, originating from burning fossil fuels and transportation.
- Acid precipitation negatively impacts ecosystems by dissolving nutrients, like magnesium and calcium, from rocks.
- Minerals like muscovite, smectite and gypsum can neutralize the effects of acid precipitation.
- Oil spills harm wildlife, and methods for cleanup include using dispersants, booms and skimmers, diluting and managing contents.
Ecology Chapter 2
- An atmosphere protects Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation.
- The lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere are interconnected, overlapping spheres of Earth.
- The biosphere is fragile due to its complex interactions and high sensitivity to environmental stresses.
- The Gaia Hypothesis suggests that Earth as a whole, regulates its internal conditions.
- Ecosystems comprise of biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components.
Energy Flow in Ecosystems
- Photosynthesis converts light energy to chemical energy, storing it in glucose (or other carbohydrates).
- Energy-rich substances produced during photosynthesis include glucose.
- Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are related, with one process effectively reversing the other.
- Plants use photosynthesis, and animals primarily use cellular respiration.
- Foods containing high-energy products of photosynthesis include plant-based foods.
Ecosystem
- An ecosystem involves both living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) components interacting within a specific area
- Biotic factors include living organisms and their remains.
- Abiotic factors are the non-living physical and chemical components, like water, temperature or sunlight.
Ecology Chapter 3
- Natural ecosystems offer vital services, including water regulation, air quality improvement and preventing flooding.
- Renewable services are more valuable than non-renewable services because they sustain and renew themselves.
- Equilibrium in an ecosystem implies a balanced state, where living and non-living things are relatively stable.
- Primary and secondary succession describe the stages of ecosystem development following a disturbance.
- Species richness measures the variety of species in an ecosystem.
Species richness
- Species richness is the count of different species within a specific geographical region.
- Tropical rainforests generally have higher species richness.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
Explore the various methods of forest harvesting and their ecological impacts in Canada. This quiz covers clear cutting, shelterwood cutting, and selective cutting, along with the effects of tree harvesting on soil nutrients and erosion. Test your knowledge on ecological niches and food webs as well.
