Chapters 2 - 4 Flashcards
matter
Anything that occupies space and has mass.
mass
A measurement of the amount of matter an object contains.
atom
The smallest particle that can contain the chemical properties of an element.
element
A substance composed of atoms that cannot be broken down into smaller simpler components.
periodic table
A chart of all chemical elements currently known, organized by their properties.
molecule
A particle that contains more than one atom.
compound
A molecule containing more than one element.
atomic number
The number of protons in the nucleus of a particular element.
mass number
A measurement of the total number of protons and neutrons in the element.
isotopes
Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.
radioactive decay
The spontaneous release of material from the nucleus of radioactive isotopes.
covalent bond
The bond formed when elements share electrons. A stronger bond
half life
The time it takes for part of an original radioactive parent atom to decay.
ionic bond
A chemical bond between two ions of opposite charge. (Transfer of electrons)
hydrogen bond
A weak chemical bond that forms when hydrogen atoms that are covalently bonded to one atom are attracted to another atom on another molecule.
polar molecule
A molecule in which one side is more positive, and the other side is more negative.
polarity
As seen in water, the hydrogen atoms spend more time near the oxygen atom than near themselves.
surface tension
A property of water that results from the cohesion (water sticking to water) of water molecules at the surface of a body of water and that creates a sort of skin on the water’s surface.
capillary action
A property of water that occurs when adhesion (water sticking to other substances) of water molecules to a surface is stronger than the cohesion between the molecules.
acid
A substance that contributes hydrogen ions to a solution.
base
A substance that contributes hydroxide ions to a solution.
pH
The number indicating the relative strength of acids and bases in a substance.
ocean acidification
Increase in the acidity of the Oceans.
chemical reaction
A reaction that occurs when atoms separate from molecules or recombine with other molecules.
law of conservation of matter
A law of nature stating that matter cannot be created or destroyed, it can only change form.
inorganic compound
A compound that does not have the element carbon or contains carbon bound to elements other than hydrogen.
organic compound
A compound that contains carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds.
carbohydrate
A compound composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms.
protein
A critical component of living organisms made up of a long chain of nitrogen-containing organic molecules known as amino acids.
nucleic acid
Organic compounds found in all living cells.
RNA
A nucleic acid that translates the code stored in DNA, which makes protein synthesis possible.
lipid
A smaller organic biological molecule that does not mix with water.
cell
A highly organized living entity that consists of the four types of macromolecules and other substances in a water solution, surrounded by a membrane.
energy
The ability to do work, or to transfer heat.
power
The time it takes to do the work, the rate.
joule
The amount of energy used when a 1-watt electrical device is turned on for 1 second.
electromagnetic radiation
A form of energy emitted by the Sun that includes but is not limited to, visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared energy.
photon
A massless packet of energy that carries electromagnetic radiation at the speed of light.
potential energy
Stored energy that has not been released.
chemical energy
Potential energy stored in chemical bonds.
kinetic energy
The energy of motion.
temperature
The measure of the average kinetic energy of a substance.
first law of thermodynamics
A physical law which states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed but can change from one form to another.
second law of thermodynamics
The physical law stating that when energy is transformed, the quantity of energy remains the same, but its ability to do work diminishes.
energy efficiency
The ratio of the amount of energy expended in the form you want to the total amount of energy that is introduced into the system.
energy quality
The ease at which an energy source can be used for work.
entropy
Randomness in a system.
open system
A system in which exchanges of matter or energy occur across system boundaries.
closed system
A system in which matter and energy exchanges do not occur across boundaries.
input
An additional to a system.
output
A loss from a system.
system analysis
An analysis to determine inputs, outputs and changes in a system under various conditions.
steady state
A state in which inputs are equal to outputs, so that the system is not changing over time.
negative feedback loop
A feedback loop in which a system responds to a change by returning to its original state, or by decreasing the rate at which the change is occurring.
positive feedback loop
A feedback loop in which change overtime is amplified.
biosphere
The region of our planet where life resides, the combination of all ecosystems on Earth.
autotroph
An organism that uses the energy of the Sun to prudence usable forms of energy. (producer)
photosynthesis
The process by which autotrophs use solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.
cellular respiration
The process by which cells unlock the energy of chemical components (how oxygen gets turned back into water and carbon dioxide).
aerobic respiration
The process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide, and water. → NEEDS O2!
anaerobic respiration
The process by which cells convert glucose into energy with the absence of oxygen. →Does NOT NEED O2!
heterotroph
An organism that is incapable of photosynthesis and must obtain its energy by consuming other organisms. (consumer)
primary consumer
A consumer that eats producers. (herbivore)
carnivore
A consumer that eats other consumers.
secondary consumer
A carnivore that eats primary consumers.
tertiary consumer
A carnivore that eats secondary consumers.
trophic levels
The successive levels of organisms consuming one another.
food chain
The sequence of consumption from producers through tertiary consumers.
food web
A complex model of how energy and matter move between trophic levels. A combination of food chain and trophic levels in an overall ecosystem
scavengers
An organism that consumers dead animals.
detritivore
An organism specialized in breaking down dead tissues and waste products into smaller particles.
decomposer
Fungi and bacteria that convert organic matter into small elements and molecules that can be recycled back into the ecosystem.
gross primary productivity
The total amount of solar energy that producers in an ecosystem capture via photosynthesis over a given amount of time.
net primary productivity
The energy captured by producers in an ecosystem minus the energy producers respire.
biomass
The total mass of all living matter in a specific area.
standing crop
The amount of biomass present in an ecosystem at a particular time. →amount of energy
productivity
The rate of energy production over a span of time.
ecological efficiency
The proportion of consumed energy that can be passed from one trophic level to another.
trophic pyramid
A representation of the distribution of biomass, numbers or energy among trophic levels.
biogeochemical cycle
The movements of matter within and between ecosystems.
pools
Components containing the matter. Ex: water, air, organisms
flows
A process that moves matter between pools.
hydrologic cycle
The movement of water through the biosphere.
transpiration
The release of water from leaves during photosynthesis.
evapotranspiration
The combined amount of evaporation and transpiration.
runoff
Water that moves across the land surface and into streams and rivers.
carbon cycle
The movement of carbon around the biosphere.
macronutrient
One of the six key elements that organisms need in relatively large amounts: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur.
limiting nutrient
A nutrient required for the growth of an organism, but available in a lower quantity than other nutrients. Ex: Nitrogen
nitrogen cycle
The movement of nitrogen around the biosphere.
nitrogen fixation
The process that converts nitrogen gas in the atmosphere (N2) into forms of nitrogen that producers can use.
nitrification
The conversion of ammonia (NH4+) into nitrite (NO2-) and then into nitrate (NO3-).
assimilation
The process by which producers incorporate elements into their tissues.
mineralization
The process by which fungal and bacterial decomposers break down the organic matter found in dead bodies and waste products and convert it into inorganic compounds.
ammonification
The process by which fungal and bacterial decomposers break down the organic nitrogen found in dead bodies and waste products and convert it into inorganic ammonium (NH4+).
dentrification
The conversion of nitrate (NO3-) in a series of steps into the gasses nitrous oxide (N2O) and, eventually, nitrogen gas (N2), which is emitted into the atmosphere.
leaching
The transportation of dissolved molecules through the soil via groundwater.
phosphorus cycle
The movement of phosphorus around the biosphere.
algal bloom
A rapid increase in the algal population of a waterway.
hypoxic
Low on oxygen.
dead zone
When O2 concentrations become so low that it kills fish and other aquatic animals.
calcium and magnesium cycles
Originate from rocks and decomposed vegetation , dissolve in water as positively charged ions, do not have a gas phase, but do move out of the air via dust particles, attracted to the commonly negatively soil particles, high concentrations, abundancy, and attraction to soil particles.
potassium cycle
Originate from rocks and decomposed vegetation , dissolve in water as positively charged ions, do not have a gas phase, but do move out of the air via dust particles, attracted to the commonly negatively soil particles, more weakly attracted to soil particles, therefore less abundant, lower concentration.
sulfer cycle
The movement of sulfur around the biosphere. Found in rocks, released via erosion, has a gas phase, natural sources of atmospheric sulfur include volcanoes, human activities producing sulfur include burning fossil fuels, mining metals. Converts into Sulfuric acid when combined with water, which when increased by human activity disrupts ecosystem balance.
disturbance
An event, caused by physical, chemical, or biological agents, resulting in changes in population size or community composition.
resistance
A measure of how much a disturbance can effect flows of energy and matter in an ecosystem. → High resistance: affecting population and community, no effect on energy and matter flows
resilience
The rate at which an ecosystem returns to its original state after a disturbance.
restoration ecology
The study and implementation of restoring damaged ecosystems.
watershed
All land in a given landscape that drains into a particular stream, river, lake, or wetland.
intermediate disturbance hypothesis
The hypothesis that ecosystems experiencing intermediate levels of disturbance are more diverse than those with high or low disturbance levels.
climate
The average weather that occurs in a given region over a long period of time. (Typically measured over several decades)
weather
The short-term conditions of the atmosphere in a local area, which include temperature, humidity, clouds, precipitation, and wind speed.
troposphere
A layer of the atmosphere closest to the surface of Earth, extending up to approximately 16 km (10 miles).
statosphere
The layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere, extending roughly 16 to 50 km (10 - 31 miles) above the surface of Earth.
albedo
The percentage of incoming sunlight reflected from a surface.
saturation point
The maximum amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature.
adiabatic cooling
The cooling effect of reduced pressure on air as it rises higher in the atmosphere and expands.
adiabatic heating
The heating effect of increased pressure on air as it sinks toward the surface of Earth and decreases in volume. → closer to surface, more pressure
latent heat release
The release of energy when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into liquid water.
atmosphereic convection current
Global patterns of air movement that are initiated by the unequal heating of the Earth.
hadley cell
A convection current in the atmosphere that cycles between the equator and 30 degrees North, and 30 degrees South.
intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)
The latitude that receives the most intense sunlight, which causes the ascending branches of the two Hadley cells to converge.
polar cell
A convection current in the atmosphere, formed by air that rises at a 60N and 60 S and sinks at the poles 90N and 90S.
ferrell cell
A convection current in the atmosphere that lies between Hadley cells and polar cells.
coriolis effect
The deflection of an object’s path due to the rotation of the Earth.
windward side
Lots of precipitation falls here, adiabatic cooling occurs moving air upwards faster, condensing to form precipitation.
leeward side
Cold air arrives here, undergoes adiabatic heating and increases in pressure to create dry warm air.
rain shadow
A region with dry conditions found on the leeward side of a mountain range as a result of humid winds from the ocean causing precipitation on the windward side.
gyre
A large scale pattern of water circulation that moves clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
upwelling
The upward movement of ocean water toward the surface as a result of diverging currents.
thermohaline circulation
An oceanic circulation pattern that drives the mixing of surface water and deep water.
El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
A reversal of wind and water currents in the South Pacific.
every 3 - 7 years, and starts on Dec 25
ENSO occurance
prevention of upwelling in Peru, extreme dryness in Southeastern Asia and Africa, and wet and cool Southeastern US
Results of ENSO
terrestrial biome
A geographic region categorized by a particular combination of average annual temperature, annual precipitation, and distinctive plant growth forms on land.
aquatic biome
An aquatic region characterized by a particular combination of salinity, depth, and water flow.
habitat
An area where a particular species lives in nature.
tundra
A cold and treeless biome with low growing vegetation.
permafrost
An impermeable, permanently frozen layer of soil.
boreal foest
A forest biome also made up primarily of coniferous evergreen trees that can tolerate cold winters and short growing seasons. Known as the Taiga.
temperate rainforest
A coastal biome typified by moderate temperatures and high precipitation.
temperate seasonal forest
A biome with warm summers and cold winters with over 1 m (39 inches) of precipitation annually.
woodland / shrubland
A biome characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters.
temperate grassland / cold desert
A biome characterized by cold, harsh winters, and hot, dry summers.
tropical rainforest
A warm and wet biomen found between 20N and 20S of the equator, with little seasonal temperature variation and high precipitation.
tropical seasonal forest / savanna
A biome marked by warm temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons.
subtropical deser
A biome prevailing at approximately 30N and 30 S, with hot temperatures, extremely dry conditions, and sparse vegetation.
March equinox
equator faces sun directly; neither pole tilts toward sun; all regions on earth experience 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness
June solstice
Northern Hemisphere tilts toward sun and has longest day and shortest night; Southern Hemisphere tilts away from sun and has shortest day and longest night
September equinox
equator faces sun directly; neither pole tilts toward sun; all regions on earth experience 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness
December solstice
northern hemisphere tilts away from sun and has shortest day and longest night; southern hemisphere tilts toward sun and has longest day and shortest night
mangrove swamp
A swamp that occurs along tropical and subtropical coasts, and contains salt-tolerant trees with roots submerged in water.
intertidal zone
The narrow band of coastline between the levels of high tide and low tide.
coral reef
The most diverse marine biome on Earth, found in warm, shallow waters beyond the shoreline.
coral bleaching
A phenomenon in which algae inside corals diet, causing corals to turn white.
open ocean
Deep ocean water, located away from the shoreline where sunlight can no longer reach the ocean bottom.
photic zone
The upper layer of the ocean water that receives enough sunlight for photosynthesis.
aphotic zone
The deeper layer of ocean water that lacks sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis.
chemosynthesis
A process used by some bacteria in the ocean to generate energy with methane and hydrogen sulfide.
