On the Wild Side

• What is an ecosystem?

  All organisms and nonliving elements in an area
• What is a community?

  All populations of organisms in a habitat
• What defines a population?

  All organisms of a species in a habitat
• What is a habitat?

  The place where an organism lives
• What factors control the distribution and abundance of organisms?

  Biotic and abiotic factors
• What is an ecological niche?

  Species' interactions with the environment
• How does species distribution depend on ecological niches?

  On the number and type of niches available
• What does the niche concept state?

  Only one organism can occupy each niche
• What happens when species have overlapping niches?

  The best adapted will out-compete others
• What is succession?

  Change in species inhabiting an area over time
• What initiates primary succession?

  Colonization of previously lifeless areas
• What is an example of primary succession?

  After a volcanic eruption
• What occurs during secondary succession?

  Occurs with existing soil cleared of vegetation
• What are pioneer species?

  First organisms to colonize an area
• How do pioneer species adapt to harsh conditions?


  They can survive where others cannot
• What role do decomposers play in succession?

  They add humus to the soil
• What happens as soil becomes richer in minerals?

  Larger and more varied plants can survive
• What is a climax community?

  The most productive and stable community
• What are the two stages of photosynthesis?

  Light-dependent and light-independent reactions
• What occurs during the light-dependent reaction?

  Electrons are excited using light energy
• What is the role of chlorophyll in photosynthesis?

  Traps light energy for electron excitation
• What is photophosphorylation?

  Process generating ATP from ADP and phosphate
• What is the final electron acceptor in light-dependent reactions?

  NADP
• What is cyclic phosphorylation?

  Electrons return to chlorophyll in PSI
• What happens during non-cyclic phosphorylation?

  Electrons are passed to NADP after PSII
• What is photolysis in photosynthesis?

  Light energy breaks water into hydrogen and oxygen
• What is the Calvin cycle?

  Light-independent reaction producing glucose
• What is the role of RUBISCO in the Calvin cycle?

  Catalyzes the reaction of RuBP and CO2
• What happens to the unstable 6 carbon intermediate in the Calvin cycle?

  It splits into two GP molecules
• What is GALP in the Calvin cycle?

  Product formed from reduced GP molecules
• What happens to GALP molecules in the Calvin cycle?

  One in six is used to make glucose
• What are chloroplasts?

  Sites of photosynthesis in plant cells
• What are grana in chloroplasts?

  Stacks of thylakoid membranes containing pigments

  
• What is the stroma in chloroplasts?

  Fluid surrounding the grana with enzymes

  
• What is the function of the chloroplast envelope?

  Controls movement of substances in and out
• What do starch granules do in chloroplasts?

  Store products of photosynthesis
• What is net primary productivity (NPP)?

  Rate of energy converted into new plant biomass
• What is gross primary productivity (GPP)?

  Energy transferred to primary consumers
• What pigments are contained in chloroplasts?

  Chlorophyll
• What is the site of the light-dependent stage of photosynthesis?

  Photosystems in chloroplasts