Biology Flashcards: Analyze Ecosystem Change And Recovery

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Analyze Ecosystem Change And Recovery, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for Biology.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What is resistance in an ecosystem?

Answer: Ability to remain relatively unchanged when disturbed. Stable systems show high resistance to environmental changes.

Flashcard 2: Identify the dependent variable in a study testing fertilizer runoff effects on algae.

Answer: Algal growth (for example, chlorophyll concentration). The measured response variable that depends on fertilizer input.

Flashcard 3: Which evidence best indicates negative effects of habitat fragmentation?

Answer: Reduced gene flow and increased local extinctions in isolated patches. Small patches cannot support viable populations long-term.

Flashcard 4: Which study design best supports a causal claim about ecosystem recovery actions?

Answer: Controlled comparison with treatment and control sites over time. Controls eliminate alternative explanations for observed changes.

Flashcard 5: Which population pattern best indicates overshoot of carrying capacity ($K$)?

Answer: Rapid increase followed by sharp decline (crash). Population exceeded $K$ then crashed due to resource depletion.

Flashcard 6: Which observation indicates improving stream water quality after cleanup?

Answer: Increase in pollution-sensitive macroinvertebrates (for example, mayflies). Sensitive species return when water quality improves sufficiently.

Flashcard 7: Which statement correctly distinguishes correlation from causation in ecosystem change?

Answer: Correlation shows association; causation requires evidence of mechanism and control. Experimental design and controls help establish causal relationships.

Flashcard 8: What is hypoxia in aquatic ecosystems?

Answer: Low dissolved oxygen levels that stress or kill aquatic organisms. Results from algal decomposition consuming dissolved oxygen rapidly.

Flashcard 9: What is a trophic cascade?

Answer: Indirect effects across trophic levels triggered by predator changes. Classic example: wolves controlling deer populations affects vegetation.

Flashcard 10: What is resilience in an ecosystem?

Answer: Ability to recover structure and function after disturbance. Measured by speed and completeness of recovery processes.

Flashcard 11: What is a disturbance in ecosystem ecology?

Answer: An event that disrupts community structure and resource availability. Can be natural (fire, flood) or human-caused (logging, pollution).

Flashcard 12: What is bioremediation?

Answer: Use of organisms (often microbes) to remove or detoxify pollutants. Bacteria can break down oil spills and other contaminants.

Flashcard 13: Which evidence most directly indicates eutrophication in a lake?

Answer: High nitrate/phosphate with low dissolved oxygen and algal blooms. Nutrients fuel algae; decomposition depletes oxygen levels.

Flashcard 14: What evidence most strongly indicates secondary succession after a fire?

Answer: Rapid regrowth from surviving roots and existing soil nutrients. Shows secondary succession utilizing pre-existing soil resources.

Flashcard 15: Which evidence best indicates successful reforestation after clear-cutting?

Answer: Increasing canopy cover with native tree recruitment and soil stabilization. Shows forest structure and function are being restored successfully.

Flashcard 16: If $GPP = 1200$ and $R = 800$, what is $NPP$?

Answer: $400$. Subtract respiration from gross primary productivity: $1200 - 800$.

Flashcard 17: What is primary succession?

Answer: Succession beginning on bare substrate with no soil present. Requires soil formation before plant establishment can occur.

Flashcard 18: Which observation is strongest evidence of climate-driven range shifts?

Answer: Species distributions moving poleward or to higher elevations over decades. Species track suitable temperature zones as climate warms.

Flashcard 19: What is restoration ecology?

Answer: Science of assisting recovery of degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems. Focuses on returning ecosystems to functional, self-sustaining states.

Flashcard 20: What is a pioneer species?

Answer: Early colonizer that tolerates harsh conditions and initiates soil formation. Examples include lichens on rock and grasses after disturbance.

Flashcard 21: Which evidence most strongly supports that a new species is invasive?

Answer: Rapid spread with decline of native species and altered community structure. Shows ecosystem disruption and competitive displacement patterns.

Flashcard 22: What is the greenhouse effect in the context of ecosystem change?

Answer: Atmospheric gases trap heat, increasing Earth surface temperature. CO₂ and other greenhouse gases absorb and re-emit infrared radiation.

Flashcard 23: What is a baseline in environmental monitoring?

Answer: Reference condition used to compare changes over time. Establishes starting point for measuring ecosystem changes accurately.

Flashcard 24: What is a disturbance in ecosystem ecology?

Answer: An event that disrupts community structure and resource availability. Can be natural (fire, flood) or human-caused (logging, pollution).

Flashcard 25: What is resilience in an ecosystem?

Answer: Ability to recover structure and function after disturbance. Measured by speed and completeness of recovery processes.

Flashcard 26: What is a bioindicator used to assess water quality in streams?

Answer: Macroinvertebrate community composition (sensitive vs tolerant taxa). Different species have varying tolerance to pollution levels.

Flashcard 27: What is bioaccumulation?

Answer: Toxin buildup within an organism over time. Occurs within individual organisms, unlike biomagnification across levels.

Flashcard 28: What evidence most strongly indicates secondary succession after a fire?

Answer: Rapid regrowth from surviving roots and existing soil nutrients. Shows secondary succession utilizing pre-existing soil resources.

Flashcard 29: Which evidence best indicates negative effects of habitat fragmentation?

Answer: Reduced gene flow and increased local extinctions in isolated patches. Small patches cannot support viable populations long-term.

Flashcard 30: Which observation is best evidence of biomagnification?

Answer: Top predators show highest concentrations of persistent pollutants. Demonstrates toxin concentration increasing up food chains.

Flashcard 31: What is hypoxia in aquatic ecosystems?

Answer: Low dissolved oxygen levels that stress or kill aquatic organisms. Results from algal decomposition consuming dissolved oxygen rapidly.

Flashcard 32: Which evidence most strongly supports that a new species is invasive?

Answer: Rapid spread with decline of native species and altered community structure. Shows ecosystem disruption and competitive displacement patterns.

Flashcard 33: Identify the independent variable in a study testing fertilizer runoff effects on algae.

Answer: Fertilizer (nutrient) input level. The manipulated variable that researchers control in the experiment.

Flashcard 34: What is species evenness?

Answer: How evenly individuals are distributed among species. High evenness means no single species dominates the community.

Flashcard 35: Which observation is strongest evidence of climate-driven range shifts?

Answer: Species distributions moving poleward or to higher elevations over decades. Species track suitable temperature zones as climate warms.

Flashcard 36: What is resistance in an ecosystem?

Answer: Ability to remain relatively unchanged when disturbed. Stable systems show high resistance to environmental changes.

Flashcard 37: Identify the dependent variable in a study testing fertilizer runoff effects on algae.

Answer: Algal growth (for example, chlorophyll concentration). The measured response variable that depends on fertilizer input.

Flashcard 38: What is the relationship between GPP, respiration, and NPP?

Answer: $NPP = GPP - R$. NPP is energy remaining after plants use some for respiration.

Flashcard 39: What is eutrophication?

Answer: Nutrient enrichment causing algal blooms and oxygen depletion. Excessive nutrients stimulate rapid algae growth and decay.

Flashcard 40: What evidence suggests an ecosystem is recovering after a disturbance?

Answer: Increasing native species richness and stable nutrient cycling. Indicates restoration of ecological structure and function.

Flashcard 41: Which evidence best indicates ocean acidification is increasing at a reef site?

Answer: Decreasing pH with reduced calcification rates in corals or shellfish. Ocean absorbs atmospheric CO₂, forming carbonic acid that lowers pH.

Flashcard 42: What is ecological succession?

Answer: Directional community change over time after disturbance or new habitat. Involves predictable stages from pioneer to climax species.

Flashcard 43: What is bioremediation?

Answer: Use of organisms (often microbes) to remove or detoxify pollutants. Bacteria can break down oil spills and other contaminants.

Flashcard 44: Which population pattern best indicates overshoot of carrying capacity ($K$)?

Answer: Rapid increase followed by sharp decline (crash). Population exceeded $K$ then crashed due to resource depletion.

Flashcard 45: What is a keystone species?

Answer: Species with disproportionately large ecosystem effects relative to abundance. Removal causes cascading effects throughout the entire ecosystem.

Flashcard 46: If $GPP = 1200$ and $R = 800$, what is $NPP$?

Answer: $400$. Subtract respiration from gross primary productivity: $1200 - 800$.

Flashcard 47: What is ecological succession?

Answer: Directional community change over time after disturbance or new habitat. Involves predictable stages from pioneer to climax species.

Flashcard 48: What is restoration ecology?

Answer: Science of assisting recovery of degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems. Focuses on returning ecosystems to functional, self-sustaining states.

Flashcard 49: What is a limiting factor?

Answer: Resource or condition that restricts population growth or distribution. Could be food, water, space, or any essential resource.

Flashcard 50: What is biodiversity (species richness) in a community?

Answer: Number of different species present in a defined area. Higher richness generally indicates healthier, more stable ecosystems.

Flashcard 51: What is correlation in ecological data analysis?

Answer: Statistical association between variables without proving causation. Shows relationship but does not establish cause-and-effect mechanisms.

Flashcard 52: Identify the independent variable in a study testing fertilizer runoff effects on algae.

Answer: Fertilizer (nutrient) input level. The manipulated variable that researchers control in the experiment.

Flashcard 53: What is a baseline in environmental monitoring?

Answer: Reference condition used to compare changes over time. Establishes starting point for measuring ecosystem changes accurately.

Flashcard 54: If $NPP = 500$ and $R = 300$, what is $GPP$?

Answer: $800$. Add respiration to net primary productivity: $500 + 300$.

Flashcard 55: What evidence suggests an ecosystem is recovering after a disturbance?

Answer: Increasing native species richness and stable nutrient cycling. Indicates restoration of ecological structure and function.

Flashcard 56: Which measurement is a direct indicator of primary productivity in an ecosystem?

Answer: Net primary productivity (NPP) rate. Measures energy available to support higher trophic levels.

Flashcard 57: What is biodiversity (species richness) in a community?

Answer: Number of different species present in a defined area. Higher richness generally indicates healthier, more stable ecosystems.

Flashcard 58: If a forest changes from absorbing $2$ to emitting $1$ unit of carbon, what change occurred?

Answer: It shifted from carbon sink to carbon source. Net carbon flux reversed from negative to positive values.

Flashcard 59: What is phytoremediation?

Answer: Use of plants to absorb, immobilize, or degrade contaminants. Plants can extract heavy metals and other toxins from soil.

Flashcard 60: What is carrying capacity ($K$)?

Answer: Maximum population size an environment can sustainably support. Determined by resource availability and environmental constraints.

Flashcard 61: What is secondary succession?

Answer: Succession after disturbance where soil and seed bank remain. Faster than primary succession due to existing soil infrastructure.

Flashcard 62: If $NPP = 500$ and $R = 300$, what is $GPP$?

Answer: $800$. Add respiration to net primary productivity: $500 + 300$.

Flashcard 63: If a forest changes from absorbing $2$ to emitting $1$ unit of carbon, what change occurred?

Answer: It shifted from carbon sink to carbon source. Net carbon flux reversed from negative to positive values.

Flashcard 64: What is a carbon sink?

Answer: Reservoir that absorbs more carbon than it releases (for example, forests). Photosynthesis removes CO₂ from atmosphere and stores it long-term.

Flashcard 65: What is a bioindicator used to assess water quality in streams?

Answer: Macroinvertebrate community composition (sensitive vs tolerant taxa). Different species have varying tolerance to pollution levels.

Flashcard 66: What is a trophic cascade?

Answer: Indirect effects across trophic levels triggered by predator changes. Classic example: wolves controlling deer populations affects vegetation.

Flashcard 67: What is carrying capacity ($K$)?

Answer: Maximum population size an environment can sustainably support. Determined by resource availability and environmental constraints.

Flashcard 68: What is an indicator species?

Answer: Species whose presence or absence reflects specific environmental conditions. Used for monitoring ecosystem health and environmental quality.

Flashcard 69: Which evidence best indicates ocean acidification is increasing at a reef site?

Answer: Decreasing pH with reduced calcification rates in corals or shellfish. Ocean absorbs atmospheric CO₂, forming carbonic acid that lowers pH.

Flashcard 70: What is a limiting factor?

Answer: Resource or condition that restricts population growth or distribution. Could be food, water, space, or any essential resource.

Flashcard 71: Which evidence best indicates successful reforestation after clear-cutting?

Answer: Increasing canopy cover with native tree recruitment and soil stabilization. Shows forest structure and function are being restored successfully.

Flashcard 72: What is a pioneer species?

Answer: Early colonizer that tolerates harsh conditions and initiates soil formation. Examples include lichens on rock and grasses after disturbance.

Flashcard 73: What is the relationship between GPP, respiration, and NPP?

Answer: $NPP = GPP - R$. NPP is energy remaining after plants use some for respiration.

Flashcard 74: Which statement correctly distinguishes correlation from causation in ecosystem change?

Answer: Correlation shows association; causation requires evidence of mechanism and control. Experimental design and controls help establish causal relationships.

Flashcard 75: What is an invasive species?

Answer: Non-native species that spreads and causes ecological or economic harm. Lacks natural predators or competitors in new environment.

Flashcard 76: What is an invasive species?

Answer: Non-native species that spreads and causes ecological or economic harm. Lacks natural predators or competitors in new environment.

Flashcard 77: Which study design best supports a causal claim about ecosystem recovery actions?

Answer: Controlled comparison with treatment and control sites over time. Controls eliminate alternative explanations for observed changes.

Flashcard 78: Which evidence most directly indicates eutrophication in a lake?

Answer: High nitrate/phosphate with low dissolved oxygen and algal blooms. Nutrients fuel algae; decomposition depletes oxygen levels.

Flashcard 79: What is species evenness?

Answer: How evenly individuals are distributed among species. High evenness means no single species dominates the community.

Flashcard 80: What is phytoremediation?

Answer: Use of plants to absorb, immobilize, or degrade contaminants. Plants can extract heavy metals and other toxins from soil.

Flashcard 81: What is biomagnification?

Answer: Increase in toxin concentration at higher trophic levels. Fat-soluble toxins accumulate through predator-prey relationships.

Flashcard 82: What is habitat fragmentation?

Answer: Breaking continuous habitat into smaller, isolated patches. Creates edge effects and isolates populations from each other.

Flashcard 83: Which observation is best evidence of biomagnification?

Answer: Top predators show highest concentrations of persistent pollutants. Demonstrates toxin concentration increasing up food chains.

Flashcard 84: Which observation indicates improving stream water quality after cleanup?

Answer: Increase in pollution-sensitive macroinvertebrates (for example, mayflies). Sensitive species return when water quality improves sufficiently.

Flashcard 85: What is correlation in ecological data analysis?

Answer: Statistical association between variables without proving causation. Shows relationship but does not establish cause-and-effect mechanisms.

Flashcard 86: What is the greenhouse effect in the context of ecosystem change?

Answer: Atmospheric gases trap heat, increasing Earth surface temperature. CO₂ and other greenhouse gases absorb and re-emit infrared radiation.

Flashcard 87: What evidence most strongly indicates primary succession on new rock?

Answer: Lichens and mosses colonizing bare rock with minimal soil. These organisms break down rock to create the first soil.

Flashcard 88: What is secondary succession?

Answer: Succession after disturbance where soil and seed bank remain. Faster than primary succession due to existing soil infrastructure.

Flashcard 89: Which measurement is a direct indicator of primary productivity in an ecosystem?

Answer: Net primary productivity (NPP) rate. Measures energy available to support higher trophic levels.

Flashcard 90: What evidence most strongly indicates primary succession on new rock?

Answer: Lichens and mosses colonizing bare rock with minimal soil. These organisms break down rock to create the first soil.

Flashcard 91: What is biomagnification?

Answer: Increase in toxin concentration at higher trophic levels. Fat-soluble toxins accumulate through predator-prey relationships.

Flashcard 92: What is primary succession?

Answer: Succession beginning on bare substrate with no soil present. Requires soil formation before plant establishment can occur.

Flashcard 93: What is a carbon sink?

Answer: Reservoir that absorbs more carbon than it releases (for example, forests). Photosynthesis removes CO₂ from atmosphere and stores it long-term.

Flashcard 94: What is an indicator species?

Answer: Species whose presence or absence reflects specific environmental conditions. Used for monitoring ecosystem health and environmental quality.