All Flashcards
What is the effect of increased sea otters?
Decreased sea urchins and increased kelp (trophic cascade).
What is the effect of melting ice?
Darker ground, more heat absorption, and more melting (positive feedback).
What is the effect of invasive species introduction?
Decline of native species and further ecosystem imbalance (positive feedback).
What is the effect of more herbivores in an ecosystem?
Less vegetation, leading to fewer herbivores (negative feedback).
What is the effect of deforestation on local climate?
Reduced rainfall, increased temperatures, and altered weather patterns.
What is the effect of fertilizer runoff on aquatic ecosystems?
Eutrophication, algal blooms, and oxygen depletion, harming aquatic life.
What is the effect of increased CO2 emissions on the ocean?
Ocean acidification, harming marine organisms with calcium carbonate shells.
What is the effect of habitat fragmentation on wildlife populations?
Reduced genetic diversity, increased risk of extinction, and disrupted migration patterns.
What is the effect of overfishing on marine ecosystems?
Disrupted food webs, decline of fish populations, and ecosystem imbalance.
What is the effect of pesticide use on pollinators?
Decline in pollinator populations, reduced crop yields, and ecosystem disruption.
Define Food Chain.
A linear path of energy transfer in an ecosystem.
Define Food Web.
A complex network of interconnected food chains.
Define Producers.
Organisms that make their own food via photosynthesis.
Define Primary Consumers.
Herbivores that eat producers.
Define Secondary Consumers.
Carnivores that eat herbivores.
Define Trophic Cascade.
Ripple effect in an ecosystem triggered by a change at the top of the food web.
Define Negative Feedback Loop.
A process that counteracts change, bringing a system back to its original state.
Define Positive Feedback Loop.
A process that amplifies change, leading to instability.
Define Invasive Species.
Non-native species that can cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health.
Define Herbivores.
Animals that eat only plants.
What is the effect of increased sea otters?
Decreased sea urchins and increased kelp.
What is the effect of melting ice?
Darker ground is exposed, leading to more heat absorption and further melting.
What is the effect of introducing invasive species?
Decline or extinction of native species and ecosystem imbalance.
What is the effect of removing vegetation?
Increased soil erosion and decreased habitat for herbivores.
What is the effect of increased greenhouse gas emissions?
Increased global temperatures and climate change.
What is the effect of deforestation?
Loss of habitat, increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and soil erosion.
What is the effect of overfishing?
Decline in fish populations, disruption of marine food webs, and economic impacts on fishing communities.
What is the effect of fertilizer runoff?
Eutrophication of water bodies, leading to algal blooms and oxygen depletion.
What is the effect of pesticide use?
Harm to non-target species, development of pesticide resistance, and contamination of water and soil.
What is the effect of urbanization?
Habitat loss, increased pollution, and altered water cycles.