2.3 flows of energy and matter

Question 1

solar radiation through the atmosphere

Answer 1

• not all solar radiation makes it through the atmosphere
• 51% absorbed at surface
• other half
  reflected and scattered by atmosphere, clouds, earth
  absorbed by atmosphere

Question 2

absorption of light energy

Answer 2

• light energy retained by the substance and transformed into heat

Question 3

biomass

Answer 3

• mass of living organisms in an area expressed as dry weight

Question 4

productivity

Answer 4

• conversion of energy into biomass in a given time
• the rate of growth of plants and animals in the ecosystem

Question 5

gross

Answer 5

• total amount of products made
• total amount of biomass made

Question 6

net

Answer 6

• what is left over after losses
• respiration, fecal loss

Question 7

primary

Answer 7

• plants

Question 8

secondary

Answer 8

• animals

Question 9

gross primary productivity

Answer 9

• all biomass produced by primary producers, before any is used for respiration

Question 10

net primary productivity

Answer 10

GPP - R

Question 11

gross secondary productivity

Answer 11

• total amount of energy/biomass assimilated by consumers
  food eaten - fecal loss

Question 12

net secondary productivity

Answer 12

GSP - R

Question 13

sustainable yield

Answer 13

• amount of biomass that can be extracted without reducing the natural capital of the ecosystem

Question 14

why does productivity of an ecosystem vary over time

Answer 14

• cold vs warm seasons
• young organisms have higher growth rates
• disease/pests
• damage due to disasters

Question 15

carbon cycle stores

Answer 15

atmosphere
terrestrial plants
phytoplankton
soil/organic matter
coal,oil,gas
sediments, sedimentary rocks
ocean surface
deep ocean

Question 16

carbon cycle flows

Answer 16

respiration, photosynthesis
decay
combustion

Question 17

carbon cycle purpose

Answer 17

• regulates climate through the amount of Co2 in the atmosphere

Question 18

nitrogen cycle stores

Answer 18

atmosphere
soil/organic matter
ocean
terrestrial plant biomass

Question 19

nitrogen cycle transformations

Answer 19

• biological fixation, bacteria turn nitrogen into ammonium
• physical fixation, lightning

Question 20

ways nitrogen will leave the ecosystem

Answer 20

• denitrification, bacteria turns nitrates in soil into oxides and release into the atmosphere, happens in anaerobic conditions
• leaching, dissolve soluble nitrates and wash them out of the soil
• combustion, releases nitrogen in organic material as a gas

Question 21

humans impacting the nitrogen cycle

Answer 21

• fossil fuel combustion and forest fires increasing nox in the atmosphere
• draining wetlands where denitrification happens, less nitrogen in atmosphere
• use of inorganic fertilizers, removes nitrogen from the atmosphere, cause leaching
• livestock increases ammonia, nearby aquatic systems