Chapter 4 Flashcards

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1
Q

Solar Energy

A

Radiant energy from the sun which includes visible light and ultra violet radiation

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2
Q

Biogeochemical Cycle

A

The cycling of matter through living components and non-living components

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3
Q

Energy

A

The capacity to cause change, to do work

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4
Q

Food Chain

A

A model that represents the transfer of energy from one trophic level to another

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5
Q

Food webs

A

A diagram that shows how different organisms feed on each other

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6
Q

Trophic Level

A

A feeding level in a food chain

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7
Q

Trophic Efficiency

A

The percentage of energy at one trophic level that ends up in the next level

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8
Q

Detrivores

A

An organism that feeds on small pieces of dead plant or animal matter

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9
Q

Decomposers

A

Organisms that break down complex organic matter into simple inorganic molecules: includes fungi and bacteria

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10
Q

Detritus

A

Organic waste including faeces and dead tissues

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11
Q

Zooplankton

A

Term for the tiny heterotrophic organisms present in bodies of water

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12
Q

Phytoplankton

A

Term for tiny photosynthetic organisms present in bodies of water

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13
Q

Pyramid of Numbers

A

Shows the number/ population of individual organisms at each trophic level in a given area

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14
Q

Pyramid of Biomass

A

Shows the relationship between the total amount of organic matter at each trophic level

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15
Q

Pyramid of Energy

A

Shows the rate at which energy is transferred from one trophic level to another in a given area

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16
Q

Reservoirs

A

An abiotic or biotic component of a biochemical cycle that holds matter for a long time

17
Q

Carbon Cycle

A

The biochemical cycle in which carbon moves through biotic and abiotic reservoirs in ecosystems

18
Q

Carbon Sinks

A

Biochemical reservoirs store carbon because it absorbs more carbon than it releases

19
Q

Nitrogen cycle steps

A
  1. Ammonification - waste the in soil is turned into ammonia by ammonifying bacteria and fungi on Plant nodules
  2. Nitrification - Ammonia is turned into nitrites by nitrifying bacteria
  3. Nitrification 2- Nitrites turned into nitrates by nitrifying bacteria
  4. Assimilation - Nitrates are absorbed by plants
  5. Denitrification - Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrates into gaseous nitrogen
20
Q

Ecological Niche

A

The role an organism has in its ecosystem and the condition required for it to persist

21
Q

Fundamental Niche

A

The potential role an organism could fulfill if there were no competitors, parasites or preditors

22
Q

Realised Niche

A

The actual niche a species inhabits

23
Q

Resource Partitioning

A

The divided use of resources that allow a number of species to coexist in an ecosytem

24
Q

Competitive exclusivity

A

The theory that no two similar species can occupy the same ecological niche for an extended period of time

25
Q

Keystone species

A

A species of relatively low abundance that has a disproportionately large influence on lower trophic levels

26
Q

Where is energy lost in food chains?

A

90% percent of the energy is lost to the surroundings as heat and chemical energy from bodily functions.

27
Q

Biomass

A

The total mass of biological matter in a given area that can be used as an energy source

28
Q

Photosynthesis Equation

A

Carbon dioxide + wate —light enegry +chlorophyll—-> glucose + energy

29
Q

Heterotrophs

A

An organism that cannot synthesize its own organic compounds from simple inorganic material; rely on other organisms for their energy

30
Q

Productivity

A

Percentage of energy entering an ecosystem

31
Q

Gross primary productivity

A

The total organic matter in an ecosystem produced by photosynthesis

32
Q

Cellular respiration equation

A

Glucose + Oxygen —-> Carbon dioxide + water