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Questions and Answers
What is the primary source of anchorage for plants?
Which layer of soil is referred to as the topsoil?
What is the diameter range of sand particles?
Which type of soil has particles with a diameter of less than 0.002 mm?
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What defines the concept of topography?
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Which factor does NOT influence vegetation according to topography?
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What are micropores in soil characterized by?
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Which temperature classification refers to temperate regions?
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What classification is given to animals that are warm-blooded?
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Which group of microorganisms can tolerate temperatures ranging from 40-90 °C?
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What is the specific heat required to raise one gram of water by one degree Celsius?
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What is the latent heat of vaporization for converting one gram of water to vapor?
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At what temperature does water have maximum density?
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Which ecological type of water refers to water that is part of the atmosphere?
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What percentage of the Earth's surface is covered by liquid water?
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Which of the following describes the term 'relative humidity'?
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What is the primary role of abiotic factors in the environment?
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Which of the following best describes the term 'synecology'?
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What percentage of light that reaches the surface of the Earth is typically reflected by materials like plants?
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In terms of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), which range of wavelengths is critical for photosynthesis?
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What process in plants is affected by photoperiodism?
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How does light affect animal behaviors, as outlined in the content?
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What is considered the main source of energy impacting global temperature?
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What are the main components of soil composition?
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What is the relationship between air temperature and relative humidity?
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Which type of plant is adapted to survive in areas with very little water?
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What is a characteristic of alluvial soil?
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What wind speed range defines a ‘strong breeze’?
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Which of the following substances is NOT primarily produced during combustion?
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What type of fire is characterized by burning organic matter down to mineral substrates?
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Which of the following is a common effect of wind on plant life?
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Natural fires can be caused by which of the following?
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Study Notes
What is the Environment?
- Environment is the sum of all external factors that affect an organism.
- It has two main components: biotic and abiotic.
- Geographical or natural environments are created by nature.
- Man-made environments can be further categorized as outer or inner, referring to physical and social components respectively.
Components of Environment
-
Biotic Components are living organisms.
- Producers/Autotrophs produce their own food through photosynthesis.
- Consumers obtain food by consuming other organisms.
- Decomposers break down dead organisms and waste.
-
Abiotic Components are non-living factors.
- Physical Factors include temperature, sunlight, water, wind, and soil.
- Chemical Factors include nutrients and pollutants.
Abiotic Components
- Environmental Resources are directly consumed by organisms, such as mineral elements like N, P, K, and CO2.
- Environmental Conditions are not directly consumed, but they affect growth and survival, such as temperature, salinity, and pH.
Ecology
- The word "ecology" originates from the Greek words "oikos" (household) and "logos" (to study).
- Ernst Haeckel coined the term "Oecologie" in 1869.
- Ecology focuses on the interactions between living organisms and their environment.
- Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary field combining natural and social sciences.
Divisions of Ecology
- Autecology: Studies the ecology of individual organisms.
- Synecology: Studies the ecology of groups of organisms.
Interactions
- Biotic to Biotic: Interactions between living organisms, such as predator-prey relationships or competition.
- Biotic to Abiotic: Interactions between living organisms and their environment, such as plants absorbing nutrients from the soil.
- Abiotic to Abiotic: interactions between non-living components, such as the influence of temperature on wind patterns.
Abiotic Factors and Adaptations
- This section focuses on how organisms adapt to abiotic factors.
Light
- Light is visible light or white light with wavelengths between 0.4 and 0.7 microns.
- PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) is the portion of light used for photosynthesis.
Roles of Light
- Photosynthesis: Plants use light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose.
- Vision: Animals use light for sight, and its variations and patterns allow for communication and navigation.
- Visual Color: Light creates the colors we see.
- Global Temperature: The sun is the main source of energy driving global temperature.
- Distribution of Plants: Light influences where plants grow, both above and below water.
- Animal Activity: Light affects daily and seasonal activities of animals, leading to nocturnal and diurnal behaviour.
Effects of Light
- Animals: Light impacts pigmentation and circadian rhythms.
- Plants: Light affects photosynthesis, photoperiodism (flowering response), transpiration, pigmentation, stomatal movement, and leaf movements.
Soil
- Soil is a natural product formed from weathered rock, influenced by climate and living organisms.
- Soil composition: Water (25%), Gases (25%), Minerals (40%), and Organic Materials (10%).
Importance of Soil
- Provides anchorage for plants.
- Influences plant activities, such as seed germination.
- Serves as shelter, storage for waste, and a source of food for many animals.
Soil Profile
- O Layer: Organic layer, consisting of decomposing plant and animal matter.
- A Layer: Topsoil; rich in humus, a dark, decayed organic matter.
- B Layer: Subsoil; minerals leached down from upper layers.
- C Layer: Partially weathered bedrock, fragments of rocks.
Soil Classification
- Clay: Particle size less than 0.002 mm.
- Silt: Particle size between 0.002 and 0.02 mm.
- Sand: Particle size between 0.02 and 2 mm.
- Loam: A mixture of sand, silt, and clay.
Soil Types
- Residual Soil: Formed from the underlying bedrock.
- Transported Soil: Soil moved from one location to another, such as alluvial soil (deposited by rivers), colluvial soil (deposited by gravity), glacial soil (deposited by glaciers), and eolian soil (deposited by wind).
Soil Porosity
- Micropores: Small spaces less than 20 μm in diameter, capillary pores, hold water.
- Macropores: Larger spaces between 20 and 50 μm in diameter, non-capillary pores, allow for air circulation.
Topography
- The physical geography of the Earth's surface, shaped by diastrophism (movements of the Earth's solid components).
Types of Topography
- Altitude: Elevation above sea level impacts temperature, precipitation, and vegetation.
- Steepness of Slope: Affects soil erosion, water drainage, and vegetation patterns.
- Exposure to Sunlight: Determines the amount of solar radiation received, influencing plant growth and animal activity.
- Direction of Mountain Chains and Valleys: Creates variations in precipitation and weather patterns.
Importance of Topography
- Vegetation: Influences the types of plants that can thrive in different locations.
- Climatic Factors: Modifies local temperatures, precipitation, and wind patterns.
Effects of Topography
- Tree Line: The elevation or latitude beyond which trees cannot grow due to cold temperatures.
- Slope: Steep slopes can cause rapid water runoff and soil erosion, while gentle slopes allow for better drainage.
- Sunfacing Slope (Mesophytic): Plants adapted to moderate water conditions.
- Nonsunfacing slope (Xerophytic): Plants adapted to arid conditions.
- Continental Air Circulation: Topography influences air circulation patterns, creating weather variations.
Temperature
- The degree of hotness or coldness measured on a specific scale.
Importance of Temperature
- Metabolism: Temperature influences chemical reactions in organisms, affecting their metabolism and survival.
- Morphology: Temperature affects the physical structure and adaptations of organisms (e.g., the shape of leaves or the thickness of fur).
- Activities: Regulates the behavioral activities of organisms.
- Distribution of Plants and Animals: Temperature limits where organisms can live.
- Thermal Energy: Temperature is a source of heat energy.
Global Temperature Classification
- Megatherms: Tropical regions with long periods of warm temperatures and little variation.
- Mesotherms: Temperate regions with distinct seasons and alternating high and low temperatures.
- Microtherms: Regions with generally low temperatures.
- **Hekistotherms: ** Coldest areas with very low temperatures.
Effects of Temperature on Animals
- Homeotherms: Animals that maintain a stable body temperature (warmblooded)
- Poikilotherms: Animals whose body temperature varies with the environment (cold-blooded).
- Endotherms: Animals generate their own heat internally.
- Ectotherms: Animals rely on external sources for heat.
Temperature in Animals
- Animals are either warm-blooded (homoiotherm) or cold-blooded (poikilotherm), which influences their ability to regulate their body temperature and their distribution.
Effects of Temperature on Microorganisms
- Thermophiles: Can tolerate high temperatures (40-90 °C).
- Mesophiles: Prefer moderate temperatures (10-45 °C).
- Psychrophiles: Can survive in cold temperatures (-5-40 °C).
Water
- Water covers 75% of the Earth's surface.
- 97% of Earth's water is saltwater in oceans, 2% is frozen in glaciers and ice caps, and less than 1% is fresh liquid water in lakes, rivers, and streams.
Ecological Types of Water
- Atmospheric Water: Water vapor in the air.
- Precipitation: Water that falls to the Earth's surface, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
- Soil Water: Water present within the soil, both on the surface and underground.
- Bodies of Water: Large water masses like ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, seas, and oceans.
Properties of Water
- Universal Solvent: Many substances dissolve in water, making it crucial for chemical reactions and transport.
- Liquid State at Wide Temperature Range: Water remains liquid over a large temperature range, essential for life.
- Neutral pH: Water has a pH of approximately 7.
- Three Phases: Exists in solid (ice), liquid (water), and gaseous (water vapor) states.
- Viscosity: The resistance of water to flow, influencing the movements of organisms and the transport of materials.
- High Specific Heat: Water requires a lot of energy to change temperature, helping to moderate climates.
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Latent Heat: Energy released absorbed during phase changes.
- Latent Heat of Fusion: 80 calories per gram to convert ice to liquid water.
- Latent Heat of Vaporization: 536 calories per gram to convert water to vapor.
Importance of Water
- Habitat: Provides a home for aquatic organisms.
- Temperature Regulation: Helps moderate temperatures, both for organisms and the environment.
- Photosynthesis: Water is necessary for plant photosynthesis.
- Transport Medium: Water transports nutrients and waste within organisms.
- Weathering: Water breaks down rocks and minerals, contributing to soil formation.
- Source of Energy: Hydropower uses water for energy production.
Humidity
- The amount of moisture, in the form of water vapor, present in the air.
Types of Humidity
- Absolute Humidity: The actual amount of water vapor in a given volume of air.
- Relative Humidity: The percentage of water vapor in the air compared to the maximum amount the air could hold at a given temperature.
Humidity Calculations
- Relative Humidity (RH) = (Water Vapor Density / Saturation Water Vapor Density) * 100
Relationship Between Temperature and Humidity
- Temperature is inversely proportional to relative humidity. As temperature increases, the amount of water vapor needed for saturation increases, potentially leading to decreased relative humidity.
Plants and Water Requirements
- Xerophytes: Plants adapted to survive with limited water (e.g. cacti).
- Mesophytes: Plants adapted to moderate water conditions (e.g., most trees and grasses).
- Hydrophytes: Plants adapted to aquatic environments (e.g., water lilies).
- Halophytes: Plants adapted to water with high salt concentrations (e.g., mangroves).
Example of Transported Soil
- Alluvial Soil: Deposited by rivers.
- Colluvial Soil: Deposited by gravity or landslides.
- Glacial Soil: Deposited by glaciers.
- Eolian Soil: Deposited by wind.
Wind
- The horizontal or vertical movement of air or gases on the Earth's surface.
- Wind is formed due to uneven heating of land and water, creating differences in air pressure and movement.
Importance of Wind
- Transport: Moves pollen, seeds, clouds, and rain.
- Weathering: Erodes and shapes landscapes.
- Energy Source: Used for wind power.
- Effects on Organisms: Impacts the morphology, habits, and distribution of organisms.
Effects of Wind
- Plants: Can cause stunted growth, leaf damage, and lodging (falling over).
- Animals: Some develop thick fur or seek shelter during strong winds.
- Land and Aquatic Environments: Wind can cause abrasion, erosion, and salt spray.
Wind Speed
- Measured in kilometers per hour.
- Strong Breeze: 40-60 kph.
- Gales (Strong Wind): 60-90 kph.
- Storms: 90-120 kph.
- Hurricanes: Greater than 120 kph.
Fire
- A chemical reaction called combustion, producing flames and heat.
- The ignition point is the temperature at which combustion occurs.
- Flames consist of carbon dioxide, water vapor, oxygen, and nitrogen.
Types of Fire
- Natural Fire: Caused by lightning, volcanic eruptions, or friction between dried materials.
- Anthropogenic Fire: Started by human activities.
Levels of Fire
- Ground Fires: Burn through organic matter, reaching the mineral substrate.
- Surface Fires: Burn shrubs, herbs, and the bases of trees.
- Crown Fires: Burn the canopy of trees, the most destructive type.
Effects of Fire
- Destruction: Fire can destroy vegetation and displace animals.
- Regeneration: Fire also plays a role in ecological renewal, clearing space for new growth.
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Description
This quiz explores the comprehensive concept of the environment, including its biotic and abiotic components. It covers the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers, as well as the significance of various environmental resources and conditions. Test your knowledge on how these factors interact within different types of environments.
