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Earth 122 > Chapter 3: Ecosystems > Flashcards

Chapter 3: Ecosystems Flashcards

1
Q

Open System

A

Receives inputs AND produces outputs of BOTH energy and matter

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2
Q

Closed System

A

Receives inputs and produces outputs of energy but NOT matter

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3
Q

Biomagnification

A

the concentration of toxins in an organism as a result of ingesting other plants or animals(animals higher up in the food chain will have higher concentrations of toxins)

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4
Q

Bioaccumulation

A

the accumulation of a toxic chemical in the tissue of a particular organism
combine easily with fats and build up over time
(DIFFERENT FROM BIOMAGNIFICATION, has nothing to do with consuming other species)

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5
Q

Hypoxia

A

Lack of dissolved oxygen (affects the st lawrence belugas)

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6
Q

Eutrophication

A

Nutrient over-enrichment in a body of water(can result from both natural and man-made influences)

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7
Q

Feedback Loop

A

When a systems output also serves as input to that system (input-output loop)

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8
Q

What is the difference between a NEGATIVE feedback loop and a POSITIVE feedback loop?

A

a NEGATIVE feedback loop moves a system towards another direction to stabilize the system (eg. when the body is hot, it sweats to keep cool)
a POSITIVE feedback loop drives a system towards a further extreme(does not stabilize).

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9
Q

Dynamic Equilibrium

A

When system processes move in opposing directions at equivalent rates, eventually achieving equilibrium(NOT STATIC)

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10
Q

Homeostasis

A

The tendency of a system to maintain constant/stable internal conditions

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11
Q

Resistance

A

the strength of a systems tendency to remain constant

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12
Q

Resilience

A

How quickly a system will return to its original state after being disturbed

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13
Q

Emergent properties

A

Characteristics of a system that are not easily apparent by looking at its individual components alone

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14
Q

Autotrophs

A

Organisms that produce their own food energy(green plants, algae)

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15
Q

Gross Primary Production

A

conversion of solar energy to the energy of chemical bonds in sugar by autotrophs. Autotrophs use a portion
of this production to power their own metabolism by respiration(intake of oxygen/release of CO2)

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16
Q

Net primary production

A

The energy remaining after respiration by autotrophs(NPP=GPP-respiration)

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17
Q

Biomass

A

Total mass of organic material of which living organisms are formed

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18
Q

Secondary Production

A

The biomass generated by heterotrophs due to the consumption of autotrophs

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19
Q

Nutrients

A

Elements & compounds needed for survival

20
Q

MACRONutrients

A

required in relatively LARGE amounts(eg. nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon)

21
Q

MICRONutrients

A

required in SMALL amounts (eg. zinc)

22
Q

High net primary productivity

A

ecosystems whose plants rapidly convert solar energy to biomass

23
Q

Ecotones

A

transitional zones between 2 systems in which elements of different ecosystems mix

24
Q

Rate from largest to smallest: biome, landscape, ecosystem

A

Landscape, Ecosystem, Biome

25
Q

Define Remote Sensing & GIS

A

Remote sensing: satellites, technologies that collect info about an object from a distance
GIS: Geographic information system, computer software used in landscape ecology research

26
Q

Nutrient cycles

A

the movement of nutrients through ecosystems

27
Q

Pools(reservoirs)

A

Where nutrients reside for varying amounts of time(residence time)

28
Q

Flux

A

The movement of nutrients among pools

29
Q

What is the difference between a POOL and a SINK?

A

a pool releases more nutrients than they accept, while a sink accepts more nutrients than they release

30
Q

Turnover time

A

the amount of time it would take for all the atoms/particles of a material to be flushed through a reservoir

31
Q

Aquifer

A

Underground reservoirs of rock and soil that hold groundwater

32
Q

Transpiration

A

Release of water vapor by plants

33
Q

Water table

A

The upper limit of groundwater in an aquifer

34
Q

About how much fresh water is easily accessible?

A

1%

35
Q

What are potential sources that can contaminate groundwater?

A

Landfills, dumps, septic tanks

36
Q

What is the largest reservoir of carbon? The second largest?

A

1st, Sedimentary rock.

2nd, The ocean

37
Q

How do humans affect the carbon cycle?

A
  • burning fossil fuels moves carbon from the ground into the air
  • cutting forests and burning fields moves carbon from organisms into the air; moves carbon into the ocean causing ocean acidification
38
Q

How is nitrogen fixation accomplished?

A
  • by the intense energy of lightning strikes

- by the action of specialized nitrogen-fixing bacteria

39
Q

nitrification

A

when ammonium ions are first converted into nitrite ions and then nitrate ions, by other specialized bacteria

40
Q

How do animals obtain nitrogen?

A

By eating plants or other animals

41
Q

Denitrification

A

converts nitrates from soil or water back into nitrogen gas(completes the carbon cycle)

42
Q

How much of the earth’s atmosphere is made up of Nitrogen

A

78%

43
Q

What is the Haber Bosch Process?

A

the synthetic production of fertilizers by combining nitrogen and hydrogen to synthesize ammonia

44
Q

How does the Haber Bosch Process affect earth?

A
  • enabled people to overcome limits on agricultural productivity
  • increased emissions of nitrogen-containing greenhouse gases
  • acidified water and soils
  • reduced biodiversity of plants
45
Q

How is the phosphorus cycle different from the carbon and nitrogen cycles?

A

Has no atmospheric component

46
Q

Eutrophication

A

The process of nutrient-over enrichment, blooms of algae, increased production of organic matter, and ecosystem degradation

Earth 122 (15 decks)

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