APES Chapter 5 Flashcards
Hypoxia
low concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the bottom of waters
System
a network of relationships amoung parts, elements, or components that interact with influence one another through the exchange of energy, matter or information
Feedback
when a system’s output can serve as an input to the same system
Negative Feedback Loop
an output that results form a system that acts as an input that moves the system in a different direction
Positive Feedback Loop
an output that results from a system that acts as an input but drives it to the extreme
Dynamic Equilibrium
when a system is stabilized by negative feedback and the processes move in oposing diections at equilivilent rates, their effects balance out
Homeostasis
the tendency of a system to maintain constant or stable internal conditions
Emergent Properties
characteristics not evident in the components alone
Watershed
the entire area of land that a river drains
Eutrophication
the process of nutrient enrichment, increased production of organic matter, and subsequent ecosystem degradation a water body
Biosphere
all the planet’s organisms and abiotic portions of the environment
Lithosphere
planets uppermost layers, rock and sediment
Atmosphere
composed of air surrounding our planet
Hydrosphere
encompasses all water (salt/fresh, liquid, ice, vapor)
Ecosystem
all living and nonliving entities that occur and interact in a particular area at the same time
Gross Primary Production
the assimilation of energy by autotrophs
Net Primary Production
energy that is left over after respiration and that is used to generate biomass
Productivity
the rate that production occurs
Net Primary Productivity
the rate at which net primary production is produced
Ecotones
areas called transitional zones where elements of each ecosystem mix
Landscape Ecology
the study of how landscape affects the abundance, distribution and interaction of organisms
Patches
landscape made up of spacial array
Mosaic
when patches that are spread spatially over the landscape
Metapopulation
populations that move along patches and mate with members of other patches
Conservation Biologists
scientists who study the loss, protection, and restoration of biodiversity
Geographic Information System (GIS)
tool used for research in landscape ecology
Model
a simplified representation of a complex natural process, used to help us understand how the process occurs and makes predictions
Ecological Modeling
the practice of constructing and testing models to explain and predict how ecological systems function
Ecosystem Services
a servie an ecosystem provides that supports life and makes economic activity possible
Nutrients
elements and compounds that organisms consume and require for survival
Nutrient Cycles/ Biogeochemical Cycles
the cycle in which nutrients move through the ecosystem
Pool/Reservoir
a location in which nutrients in a biogeochemical remain for a period of time before moving to another one
Residence Time
the amount of time a nutrient is in one place
Flux
the rate at which materials move between reservoirs
Source
when a reservoir releases more materials than it accepts
Sink
When a reservoir accepts more than it releases
Water Cycle/Hydrologic Cycle
how water (in liquid, solid, or gas) flows through our environment
Evaporation
the conversion of liquid to gaseous form
Transpiration
the release of water vapr by plants through their leaves
Preciptation
when water vapor condenses and falls as rain or snow
Runoff
water from precipitation that flows into streams, rivers, lakes, etc.
Aquifiers
underground reservoirs
Groundwater
water found underground beneath layers of soil
Water Table
the upper limit of ground water held in a n aquifer
Carbon Cycle
the routes that carbon atoms take though the environment
Nitrification
the process where ammonium ions are first converted into nitrite ions then to nitrate ions
Nitrogen Fixation
the process where inert nitrogen combines with hydrogen to form ammonium
Nitrogen-fixing Bacteria
bacteria that lives in a mutualistic relationship with many plants, giving them nutrients by converting nitrogen to a usable form
Denitrifying Bacteria
bacteria that converts nitrates in soil/water to gaseous nitrogen
Nitrogen Cycle
a major nutrient cycle consisting of the routes that nitrogen atoms take through the nested networks of environmental systems
Haber-Bosch Process
combing nitrogen and hydrogen gases to synthesize ammonium
Phosphorus Cycle
a major nutrient cycle consisting of the routes that phosphorus atoms take through the nested networks of environmental systems
