chapter 55 Flashcards
what is an ecosystem?
all organisms and a/biotic factors in an environment; can be big or small
what are the 2 important factors of an ecosystem?
energy flow and chemical cycling
what is energy flow?
energy coming in and out
what is chemical cycling?
chemicals are coming in and out
what is trophic efficiency?
percent energy that gets passed from one trophic level to another; avg 10%
why do consumers only get 10% of energy from their prey?
the organism uses 90% for energy, reproduction, and metabolism so they only have 10% left for predators
what are the atmospheric gases?
carbon, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen
what are the terrestrial and aquatic gases?
phosphorus potassium and carbon
what is a flux?
rate of substance goes through environment
what is a pool?
in a certain environment for a while
what is a sink?
element taken out of environment
what 4 factors do ecologists focus on when studying nutrient cycling?
chemical’s biological importance
the forms of the chemicals available or used by organisms
major reservoirs for each chemical
key processes of driving movement of chemical
why is the water cycle unique?
water is found naturally in 3 forms
which phase of water is used the most in the water cycle?
liquid
what is residence time?
how long 1 molecule stays in its place
how do human alter the water cycle in a bad way?
we change residence time with dams irrigation. asphalt and cement dont allow water into aquifers
why is carbon important to living organisms?
every macromolecule has it
what role do autotrophs play?
they turn inorganic->organic and do photosynthesis
where does CO2 in the atmosphere come from?
humans, burning fossil fuels, respiration, volcanoes
what are some long term carbon reservoirs?
fossil fuels and sedimentary rock
what are some short term carbon reservoirs?
biomass, soil, sediment, atmosphere, solutes in ocean
what are fossil fuels?
buried under sediment without oxygen->fossils
what are greenhouse gases?
gases that trap heat but the heat cant get out