On the wild side

• What is an ecosystem?

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

  Populations of all organisms in a habitat
• What defines 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 in a habitat?

  Biotic and abiotic factors
• What is an ecological niche?

  A species' role in its habitat
• How does species distribution depend on ecological niches?

  It depends on the number and type of niches
• What does the niche concept state?

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

  The best adapted species out-competes others
• What is succession?

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

  Colonization of previously lifeless areas
• What occurs during secondary succession?

  Existing soil is cleared of vegetation
• What are pioneer species?

  First organisms to colonize an area
• How do pioneer species contribute to soil formation?

  They decompose and add organic matter
• What happens as more organisms decompose over time?

  Soil becomes richer in minerals
• What is a climax community?

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

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

  Electrons are excited and ATP is generated
• What is the role of chlorophyll in photosynthesis?

  Traps energy from light
• What is photophosphorylation?

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

  NADP
• What is cyclic phosphorylation?

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

  Electrons are transferred to NADP
• What is the role of photolysis in photosynthesis?

  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 6-carbon intermediate in the Calvin cycle?

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

  Product formed from reduced GP molecules
• What happens to one in six GALP molecules?

  It is used to make glucose
• What is the function of chloroplasts?

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

  Stacks of thylakoid membranes

  
• What is stroma in chloroplasts?

  Fluid surrounding the grana

  
• What does the chloroplast envelope do?

  Controls substance movement in and out
• 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?

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

  Controls movement of substances