Chapter 4 Flashcards
Solar Energy
Radiant energy from the sun which includes visible light and ultra violet radiation
Biogeochemical Cycle
The cycling of matter through living components and non-living components
Energy
The capacity to cause change, to do work
Food Chain
A model that represents the transfer of energy from one trophic level to another
Food webs
A diagram that shows how different organisms feed on each other
Trophic Level
A feeding level in a food chain
Trophic Efficiency
The percentage of energy at one trophic level that ends up in the next level
Detrivores
An organism that feeds on small pieces of dead plant or animal matter
Decomposers
Organisms that break down complex organic matter into simple inorganic molecules: includes fungi and bacteria
Detritus
Organic waste including faeces and dead tissues
Zooplankton
Term for the tiny heterotrophic organisms present in bodies of water
Phytoplankton
Term for tiny photosynthetic organisms present in bodies of water
Pyramid of Numbers
Shows the number/ population of individual organisms at each trophic level in a given area
Pyramid of Biomass
Shows the relationship between the total amount of organic matter at each trophic level
Pyramid of Energy
Shows the rate at which energy is transferred from one trophic level to another in a given area
Reservoirs
An abiotic or biotic component of a biochemical cycle that holds matter for a long time
Carbon Cycle
The biochemical cycle in which carbon moves through biotic and abiotic reservoirs in ecosystems
Carbon Sinks
Biochemical reservoirs store carbon because it absorbs more carbon than it releases
Nitrogen cycle steps
- Ammonification - waste the in soil is turned into ammonia by ammonifying bacteria and fungi on Plant nodules
- Nitrification - Ammonia is turned into nitrites by nitrifying bacteria
- Nitrification 2- Nitrites turned into nitrates by nitrifying bacteria
- Assimilation - Nitrates are absorbed by plants
- Denitrification - Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrates into gaseous nitrogen
Ecological Niche
The role an organism has in its ecosystem and the condition required for it to persist
Fundamental Niche
The potential role an organism could fulfill if there were no competitors, parasites or preditors
Realised Niche
The actual niche a species inhabits
Resource Partitioning
The divided use of resources that allow a number of species to coexist in an ecosytem
Competitive exclusivity
The theory that no two similar species can occupy the same ecological niche for an extended period of time
