On the Wild Side

• What is an ecosystem?

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

  Populations of all organisms in a habitat
• Define a population.

  Organisms of a particular 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?

  Role of a species in its habitat
• How does species distribution depend on ecological niches?

  Depends on 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 in ecology?

  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 contribute to soil formation?

  Decompose and add humus to the soil
• What happens as more organisms decompose over time?

  Soil becomes richer in minerals
• 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 is the role of chlorophyll in photosynthesis?

  Traps light energy for electron excitation
• What occurs during the light-dependent reaction?

  Electrons are excited using light energy
• What are the two types of phosphorylation in photosynthesis?

  Cyclic and non-cyclic phosphorylation
• What happens during cyclic phosphorylation?

  Electrons return to chlorophyll in PSI
• What is photolysis in non-cyclic phosphorylation?

  Light energy breaks apart water molecules
• What is the final product of the light-dependent reactions?

  ATP and reduced NADP
• 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 GP in the Calvin cycle?

  Reduced to GALP using NADP and ATP
• What do chloroplasts contain for photosynthesis?

  Thylakoid membranes and stroma

  
• What is the function of starch granules in chloroplasts?

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

  Rate of energy conversion into 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
• What fluid surrounds the grana in chloroplasts?

  Stroma

  
• What does the stroma contain for photosynthesis?

  Enzymes for the light-independent stage
• What is the function of the chloroplast envelope?

  Controls movement of substances
• How does the chloroplast envelope support the endosymbiotic theory?

  It has a double membrane structure
• What do starch granules store in chloroplasts?

  Products of photosynthesis
• What does net primary productivity (NPP) measure?

  Rate of energy conversion into biomass
• How is NPP calculated?

  NPP = GPP - R