Chapter 4 Vocabulary Flashcards

1
Q

Organism

A

Any form of life

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2
Q

Eukaryotic

A

When an organism is surrounded by a membrane and has a distinct nucleus and several other internal parts called organelles

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3
Q

Prokaryotic

A

When an organism’s cell is surrounded by the membrane, but the cell contains no distinct nucleus or other internal parts enclosed by membranes

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4
Q

Species

A

Groups of organisms that resemble one another in appearance, behavior, chemistry, and genetic makeup

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5
Q

Population

A

A group go interacting individuals of the same species occupying a specific area

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6
Q

Genetic Diversity

A

When individuals in a population vary slightly in their genetic makeup, which is why they do not all look or act alike

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7
Q

Habitat

A

The place or environment where a population (or individual organism) normally lives

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8
Q

Distribution/Range

A

The area over which we can find a species

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9
Q

Community/Biological Community

A

consists of all the populations of the different species living and interacting in an area

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10
Q

Ecosystem

A

A community of different species interacting with one another and with their physical environment of matter and energy

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11
Q

Biosphere

A

All of the earth’s ecosystems together make up what we call the biosphere

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12
Q

Atmosphere

A

A thin envelope or membrane of air around the planet

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13
Q

Troposphere

A

The inner layer, extends only about 17 kilometers above sea level

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14
Q

Stratosphere

A

The layer after the Troposphere, stretching 17-48 kilometers above the earth’s surface
The ozone layer is found here

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15
Q

Hydrosphere

A

Consists of the earth’s water. It is found as liquid water, ice, and water vapor in the atmosphere

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16
Q

Lithosphere

A

The earth’s crust and upper mantle

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17
Q

Biome

A

Large regions such as forests, deserts, and grasslands characterized by a distinct climate and specific species adapted to it

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18
Q

Anaerobic Respiration/Fermentation

A

Form of cellular respiration when some decomposers get the energy they need by breaking down glucose in the absence of oxygen

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19
Q

Genetic Diversity

A

The variety of genetic material within a species or a population

20
Q

Species Diversity

A

The number of species present in different habitats

21
Q

Ecological Diversity

A

The variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems found in an area or on the earth

22
Q

Functional Diversity

A

The biological and chemical processes such as energy flow and matter cycling needed for the survival of species, communities, and ecosystems

23
Q

Food Web

A

A more realistic type of chain that takes into account the complexity of nature

24
Q

Biomass

A

The dry weight of all organic matter contained in its organisms

25
Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)
The total amount of solar energy that the producers in an ecosystem capture via photosynthesis over a given amount of time
26
Net Primary Productivity (NPP)
The energy captured (GPP) minus the energy respired by producers
27
Soil Horizon
Mature soils, or soils that have developed over a long time, are arranged in a series of horizontal layers called soil horizons, each with a distinct texture and composition that varies with different types of soil
28
Soil Profile
A cross-sectional view of the horizons in a soil
29
Infiltration
Downward movement of water through soil
30
Leaching
Process when the water seems down, it dissolves various minerals and organic matter in super layers ad carries them to lower layers
31
Evaporation
Conversion of water into water vapor
32
Transpiration
Evaporation from plant leaves after water is extracted from soil by roots and transported throughout the plant
33
Condensation
Conversion of water vapor into droplets of liquid water
34
Precipitation
Rain, sleet, hail, snow
35
Percolation
Downward flow of water through soil and permeable rock formations to groundwater storage areas called aquifers
36
Runoff
Surface movement down slopes to the sea to resume the cycle
37
Condensation Nuclei
Tiny particles on which droplets of water vapor can collect
38
Glaciers
One-tenth of the fresh water returning to the earth's surface as precipitation becomes locked up in slowly flowing ice and snow
39
Surface Runoff
When precipitation falling on terrestrial ecosystems
40
Aerobic Respiration
Complex process that occurs in the cells of most living organisms, in which nutrient organic molecules such as glucose combine with oxygen and produce carbon dioxide, water, and energy
41
Fossil Fuels
Products of partial or complete decomposition of plants and animals that occur as crude oil, coal, and natural gas, or heavy oils as a result of exposure to heat and pressure in the earth's crust over millions of years
42
Nitrogen Fixation
Conversion of atmospheric nitrogen gas into forms useful to plants by lightning, bacteria, and cyanobacteria; It is part of the nitrogen cycle
43
Nitrification
Process when specialized aerobic bacteria convert most of the ammonia in soil to nitrite ions and nitrate ions
44
Nitrite Ions (NO2)
Toxic to plants
45
Nitrate Ions (NO3)
Easily taken up by plants as a nutrient
46
Ammonification
Step when vast armies of specialized decomposer bacteria convert this detritus into simpler nitrogen-containing inorganic compounds such as ammonia and water-soluble salts containing ammonium ions
47
Denitrification
Step in which other specialized anaerobic bacteria in water-logged soil and in the bottom sediments of lakes, oceans, swamps, and bogs convert to NH3 and Nh4+ back into nitrite and nitrate ions and then into nitrogen gas (N2) and nitrous oxide gas (N2O)