apes summer work Flashcards
non living
abiotic
the process of an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment
adaptation
rapid grown of algae or cyanobacteria in water, leaving colored scum on the surface
algal bloom
results from the influence of human beings on nature
anthropogenic
raising of aquatic animals or cultivation of aquatic plants for food
aquaculture
organism that can produce its own food
autotroph
variety of life in the world, particular habitat, or ecosystem
biodiversity
any natural pathway that essential elements of living matter are circulated
biogeochemical cycle
large area characterized by its vegetation, soil, climate, and wildlife (ex: forest, tundra)
biome
living parts of an ecosystem
biotic
meat eater
carnivore
number of people, living organisms, or crops that a region can support with environmental degradation
carrying capacity
weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period
climate
organism that eats other organisms to obtain energy (heterotroph)
consumer
an organism that decomposes organic material
decomposer
animal that feeds on dead organic material, especially plant waste
detritivore
impact of a person or community on the environment, shown by the amount of land required to sustain their use of natural resources
ecological footprint
the study of physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the surroundings organisms live in
environmental science
excessive enrichment of nutrients in a body of water, causing dense plant and algae growth and death of animal life
eutrophication
the hierarchy of organisms that depend on other organisms as a food source
food chain
a system of interdependent food chains
food web
a species that can thrive in a variety of environmental conditions
generalist species
a large increase in crop production in developing countries achieved by using fertilizers, pesticides, and high yield crop varieties
the green revolution
total amount of carbon compounds produced by photosynthesis of plants in an ecosystem in a given period of time
gross primary productivity
animal that feeds on plants
herbivore
organism that eats other plants or animals
heterotroph
they have stable populations that remain around carrying capacity of their environment
k-selected species
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere
layers of the atmosphere
self regulating system, increased output from the system to prevent future production by the system
negative feedback loop
difference between all carbon that’s fixed by the primary producers of the ecosystem and the part of that fixed carbon that the primary producer uses for its own cellular respiration needs
net primary productivity
animal that eats both plants and animals
omnivore
colorless, unstable, and toxic gas with a pungent odor and powerful oxidizing properties formed from oxygen by electrical discharges or UV light
ozone
theory that the pieces of earths lithosphere are in constant motion, driven by convection currents in the mantle
plate tectonics
contamination of air, water, or soil with undesirable amounts of material or heat
pollution
self regulating system, occurs in nature when the product of a reaction leads to an increase in that reaction
positive feedback loop
autotroph that uses energy of the sun to produce usable forms of energy
producer
species whose populations are governed by their biotic potential (max number of individuals that a species can produce)
r-selected species
a resource that can be replenished if not used up too fast
renewable resources
has a narrow niche and can not adapt to change in their environment
specialist species
number of different species in a community
species richness
any relationship or association between members of 2 or more species
symbiosis
fulfilling the needs of current generations without compromising the needs of future generations
sustainability
concept that humans will pursue self interest rather than a common good when using a shared resource
the tragedy of the commons
an organisms position in a food web
trophic level
conditions of the atmosphere over a short period of time
weather
every time somethings eaten, only 10 percent of its energy makes it to the next level, the other 90 is used to live, grow, reproduce, and is lost to the environment as heat
10% rule
