Chapter 5 - Environmental Systems and Ecosystem Ecology Flashcards

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1
Q

hypoxia

A

the condition of extremely low dissolved oxygen concentration in a body of water

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2
Q

feedback loop

A

a circular process in which a systems output serves as input to that same system

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3
Q

negative feedback loop

A

a feedback loop in which out put of one type acts as input that moves the system in the opposite direction. the input and output essentially neutralize each others effects, stabilizing the system

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4
Q

positive feedback loop

A

a feedback loop in which output of one type acts as input that moves the system in the same direction. the input and output drive the system further towards on extreme or another

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5
Q

emergent tree

A

an especially tall tree that protrudes above the canopy of tropical rain-forest

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6
Q

dynamic equilibrium

A

the state reached when processes within a system are moving in opposing directions at equivalent rates so that their effects balance out

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7
Q

homeostasis

A

the tendency of a system to maintain constant or stable internal conditions

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8
Q

runoff

A

the water from precipitation that flows into streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds, and (in many cases) eventually to the ocean

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9
Q

hydrosphere

A

all water- salt or fresh, liquid, ice, and vapor- in surface bodies, underground, and in the atmosphere

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10
Q

eutrophication

A

the process of nutrient enrichment. increased production of organic matter, and subsequent ecosystem degradation in a water body

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11
Q

airshed

A

the geographic area that produces air pollutants likely to end up in a waterway

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12
Q

estuary

A

an area where a river flows into the ocean, mixing fresh and salt water

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13
Q

lithosphere

A

the outer layer of earth, consisting of crust and uppermost mantle and located just above the asthenosphere, more generally the solid part of earth, including rocks, sediments, and sail at the surface and extending many miles underground

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14
Q

primary production

A

the conversion of solar energy to the energy of chemical bonds in sugars during photosynthesis, performed by autotrophs

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15
Q

gross primary production

A

the energy that results when autotrophs convert solar energy to the energy of chemical bonds in sugars during photosynthesis. autotrophs use a portion of this production to power their own metabolism, which entails oxidizing organic compounds by cellular respiration

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16
Q

net primary production

A

the energy or biomass that remains in an ecosystem after autotrophs have metabolized enough for their own survival through cellular respiration. net primary production is the energy or biomass that is available for consumption by heterotrophs

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17
Q

net primary productivity

A

the rate at which net primary production is produced

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18
Q

secondary production

A

the total biomass that heterotrophs generate by consuming autotrophs

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19
Q

productivity

A

the at which plants convert solar energy to biomass. ecosystems whose plants convert solar energy to biomass rapidly are said to have high productivity

20
Q

nutrient

A

an element or compound that organisms consume and require for survival

21
Q

macronutrients

A

elements and compounds required in relatively large amounts by organisms. examples include nitrogen, carbon, and phosphate

22
Q

micronutrients

A

elements and compounds required in relatively small amounts by organisms. examples include zinc, copper, and iron

23
Q

ecotone

A

a transitional zone where ecosystems meet

24
Q

landscape ecology

A

the study of how landscape structures affects the abundance, distribution, and interaction of organisms. this approach to the study of organisms and their environment. landscape studies follow broad geographical areas that include multiple ecosystems

25
Q

patch

A

in landscape ecology, spatial area within a landscape, depending on a researchers perspective patches may consist of habitat for a particular organism, or community, or ecosystem. an array of patches forms a mosaic

26
Q

mosaic

A

in landscape ecology, a spatial configuration of patches arrayed across a landscape

27
Q

nutrient cycle (biogeochemical cycle)

A

the comprehensive set of cycle pathways by which a given nutrient moves through the environment

28
Q

reservoir (pool)

A

an artificial water body behind a dam that stores water for human use

29
Q

residence time

A

(1) in a biogeochemical cycle, the amount of time a nutrient remains in a given pool or reservoir before moving to another. (2) in the atmosphere, the amount of time a gas molecule or pollutant stays aloft

30
Q

flux

A

the movement of nutrients among pools or reservoirs in a nutrient cycle

31
Q

source

A

in a nutrient cycle, a pool that releases more nutrients than it accepts

32
Q

sink

A

in a nutrient cycle, a pool that accepts more nutrients than it releases

33
Q

water cycle (hydrologic cycle)

A

the flow of water - in liquid, solid, or gaseous form - through our biotic and abiotic environment

34
Q

evaporation

A

the conversion of a substance from a liquid to a gaseous form

35
Q

transpiration

A

the release of water vapor by plants through their leaves

36
Q

precipitation

A

water that condenses out of the atmosphere and falls into earth in droplets or crystals

37
Q

ground water

A

water held in aquifers underground

38
Q

aquifer

A

an underground water reservoir

39
Q

water table

A

the upper limit of groundwater held in an aquifer

40
Q

carbon cycle

A

a major nutrient cycle consisting of the routes that carbon atoms take through the nested networks of environmental systems

41
Q

nitrogen cycle

A

a major nutrient cycle consisting of the routes that nitrogen atoms take through the nested networks of environmental systems

42
Q

nitrogen fixation

A

the process by which inert nitrogen gas combines with hydrogen to form ammonium ions (NH4+), which are chemically and biologically active and can be taken up by plants

43
Q

nitrogen-fixing bacteria

A

bacteria that live independently in the soil or water, or those that form mutualistic relationships with many types of plants and provide nutrients to the plants by converting gaseous nitrogen to a usable form

44
Q

nitrification

A

the conversion by bacteria of ammonium ions (NH4+) first into nitrite ions (NO2-) and then into nitrate ions (NO3-)

45
Q

denitrifying bacteria

A

bacteria that convert the nitrates in soil or water to gaseous nitrogen and release it back into the atmosphere

46
Q

Haber-Bosch process

A

a process to synthesize ammonia on an industrial scale. developed by german chemistFritz Haber and Carl Bosch, the process has enabled humans to double the natural rate of nitrogen fixation on earth and thereby increase agricultural productivity, but it has also dramatically altered the nitrogen cycle

47
Q

phosphorus cycle

A

a major nutrient cycle consisting of the routes that phosphorus atoms take through the nested networks of environmental systems