Chapter 3: Ecology Flashcards
biosphere
region of Earth where life resides, combination of all ecosystems
producer/autotroph
organism that uses energy of sun to produce usable forms of energy
photosynthesis
process by which producers use solar energy to convert to carbon dioxide and water into glucose
cellular respiration
process by which cells unlock energy of chemical compounds
aerobic respiration
process which cells convert glucose/water/oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide, and water
anaerobic respiration
process by which cells convert glucose into energy in the absence of oxygen
consumer/heterotroph
organism that needs to get energy from consuming other organisms
herbivore/primary consumers
consumer that eats producers
carnivore
consumer that eats other consumers
secondary consumer
carnivore that eats primary consumers
food chain
sequence of consumption from producers through tertiary consumers
food web
complex model of how energy moves between trophic levels
trophic levels
successive levels of organisms consuming one another
tertiary consumers
carnivore that eats secondary consumers
scavenger
organism that consumes dead animals
detritivore
organism that breaks down dead tissue and waste into smaller particles
decomposer
fungi/bacteria that convert organic matter into small elements that can be recycled back to the ecosystem
GPP
total amount of solar energy producers can capture with photosynthesis over a certain time
NPP
energy captured by producers minus energy producers respire
biomass
total mass of all living matter in an area
standing crop
amount of biomass present in an ecosystem at a particular time
ecological efficiency
proportion of consumer energy that is passed from one trophic level to another
trophic pyramid
representation of distribution of biomass, numbers, energy among trophic levels
biogeochemical cycle
movements of matter within and between ecosystems
hydrologic cycle
movement of water through biosphere
transpiration
release of water from leaves during photosynthesis
evapotranspiration
combined amount of evaporation and transpiration
runoff
water that moves across land surface and into streams/rivers
carbon cycle
movement of carbon around the biosphere
macronutrient
one of 6 key elements that organisms need it large amounts
nitrogen
phosphorus
potassium
calcium
magnesium
sulfur
limiting nutrient
nutrient needed for growth but less available than other nutrients
nitrogen cycle
movement of nitrogen around the biosphere
nitrogen fixation
when some organisms can convert nitrogen gas molecules into ammonia
nitrification
conversion of ammonia into nitrate, nitrite
assimilation
producers incorporating elements into their tissues
mineralization
when fungal and bacterial decomposers break down dead organic matter to waste products, convert to inorganic compounds
ammonification
fungal and bacterial decomposers break down organic nitrogen, convert to inorganic ammonium
denitrification
conversion of nitrate into gases nitrous oxide then nitrogen gas
leaching
transportation of dissolved molecules through soil via groundwater
phosphorus cycle
movement of phosphorus through biosphere
algal bloom
rapid increase in algal population
sulfur cycle
movement of sulfur through the biosphere
eutrophication
when a body of water becomes progressively enriched with nutrients and minerals
