1B - Ecology Flashcards
Cycling of Matter AP
What are the biogeochemical cycles
Water cycle
Carbon/Oxygen cycle
Nitrogen cycle
Phosphorus cycle
Sulfur cycle
Which of the five/six geological cycles does NOT occur in earths atmosphere?
The phosphorous cycle
Why is water so important to the geological cycles? What are its unique properties?
Its polarity and hydrogen bonding
-> ability to dissolve and transport materials
-> high surface tension
-> cohesion and adhesion
-> density of ice and survival of aquatic organisms during winter
-> acts as a carbon sink
intermolecular force (IMF)
attractive force between molecules, NOT atoms
Carbon sequestration
long term storage of carbon (removal from atmosphere)
detritus
decaying matter
decomposers
return matter by breaking down dead organisms into smaller particles and create new compounds
What state change is evaporation?
LIQUID TO GAS
What state change is condensation?
gas to liquid
What state change is percipitation?
gas to liquid OR gas to solid )snow
Transpiration/ evotranspiration
evaporation of H2O from plants
Photosynthesis vs Cellular respiration reaction
Photosynthesis traps CO2 and releases O2. Cellular respiration traps O2 and releases CO2.
Nitrogen fixation
the trapping of nitrogen
Ammonification
bacteria and legumes convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) to a plant avaliable form, (NH3/4/AMMONIUM).
Nitrification
a microbial process by which reduced nitrogen compounds (primarily ammonia) are sequentially oxidized to nitrite and nitrate