Chapter 4 Vocabulary Flashcards
Organism
Any form of life
Eukaryotic
When an organism is surrounded by a membrane and has a distinct nucleus and several other internal parts called organelles
Prokaryotic
When an organism’s cell is surrounded by the membrane, but the cell contains no distinct nucleus or other internal parts enclosed by membranes
Species
Groups of organisms that resemble one another in appearance, behavior, chemistry, and genetic makeup
Population
A group go interacting individuals of the same species occupying a specific area
Genetic Diversity
When individuals in a population vary slightly in their genetic makeup, which is why they do not all look or act alike
Habitat
The place or environment where a population (or individual organism) normally lives
Distribution/Range
The area over which we can find a species
Community/Biological Community
consists of all the populations of the different species living and interacting in an area
Ecosystem
A community of different species interacting with one another and with their physical environment of matter and energy
Biosphere
All of the earth’s ecosystems together make up what we call the biosphere
Atmosphere
A thin envelope or membrane of air around the planet
Troposphere
The inner layer, extends only about 17 kilometers above sea level
Stratosphere
The layer after the Troposphere, stretching 17-48 kilometers above the earth’s surface
The ozone layer is found here
Hydrosphere
Consists of the earth’s water. It is found as liquid water, ice, and water vapor in the atmosphere
Lithosphere
The earth’s crust and upper mantle
Biome
Large regions such as forests, deserts, and grasslands characterized by a distinct climate and specific species adapted to it
Anaerobic Respiration/Fermentation
Form of cellular respiration when some decomposers get the energy they need by breaking down glucose in the absence of oxygen
Genetic Diversity
The variety of genetic material within a species or a population
Species Diversity
The number of species present in different habitats
Ecological Diversity
The variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems found in an area or on the earth
Functional Diversity
The biological and chemical processes such as energy flow and matter cycling needed for the survival of species, communities, and ecosystems
Food Web
A more realistic type of chain that takes into account the complexity of nature
Biomass
The dry weight of all organic matter contained in its organisms
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
Net Primary Productivity (NPP)
The energy captured (GPP) minus the energy respired by producers
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
Soil Profile
A cross-sectional view of the horizons in a soil
Infiltration
Downward movement of water through soil
Leaching
Process when the water seems down, it dissolves various minerals and organic matter in super layers ad carries them to lower layers
Evaporation
Conversion of water into water vapor
Transpiration
Evaporation from plant leaves after water is extracted from soil by roots and transported throughout the plant
Condensation
Conversion of water vapor into droplets of liquid water
Precipitation
Rain, sleet, hail, snow
Percolation
Downward flow of water through soil and permeable rock formations to groundwater storage areas called aquifers
Runoff
Surface movement down slopes to the sea to resume the cycle
Condensation Nuclei
Tiny particles on which droplets of water vapor can collect
Glaciers
One-tenth of the fresh water returning to the earth’s surface as precipitation becomes locked up in slowly flowing ice and snow
Surface Runoff
When precipitation falling on terrestrial ecosystems
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
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
Nitrogen Fixation
Conversion of atmospheric nitrogen gas into forms useful to plants by lightning, bacteria, and cyanobacteria; It is part of the nitrogen cycle
Nitrification
Process when specialized aerobic bacteria convert most of the ammonia in soil to nitrite ions and nitrate ions
Nitrite Ions (NO2)
Toxic to plants
Nitrate Ions (NO3)
Easily taken up by plants as a nutrient
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
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)
