Cycling of Matter Flashcards

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1
Q

Biomass

A

Biomass Material from living or recently living organisms, composed of a mixture of organic molecules containing hydrogen, carbon, often nitrogen, and small quantities of other atoms

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2
Q

Compost Bin

A

A container for piles of biomass to promote decomposition and decay resulting in a recyclable fertilizer

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3
Q

Decomposers

A

Organisms such as bacteria and fungi that break down dead organisms and organic wastes

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4
Q

Decay

A

To break down or decompose

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5
Q

Carbon Cycle

A

The movement of carbon from the nonliving environment into living things and back

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6
Q

Nitrogen Cycle

A

The movement of nitrogen from the nonliving environment into living things and back

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7
Q

Water Cycle

A

The movement of water through the atmosphere, the ground, bodies of water, and living things; the continuous movement of water above, on, and below Earth’s surface

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8
Q

Detritivores

A

An organism like the earthworm that feeds on the decaying matter after it has been broken down by decomposers

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9
Q

Consumers

A

Organisms that eat producers or other consumers to obtain energy

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10
Q

Bacteria

A

Bacteria are important decomposers; they are widely distributed and can break down just about any type of organic matter

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11
Q

Fungi

A

The primary decomposers of litter in manyecosystems, fungi grow a branching network ofhyphae which can penetrate larger pieces of organic matter and create theenzymesnecessary to decomposelignin, a chemically complex substance found in wood

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12
Q

Thermal Energy

A

Thermal energy is the portion of the internal energy that is responsible for a system’s temperature.

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13
Q

Carbon Dioxide

A

Enters the leaves of plants and is used in the photosynthesis process; exhaled by animals as waste from respiration

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14
Q

Glucose

A

A molecule with stored chemical energy that was converted from radiant energy during the photosynthetic reaction

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15
Q

Organic Compounds

A

A compound that contains organic carbon and other atoms usually oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and/or sulfur

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16
Q

Microorganisms

A

An organism too small to be seen by the unaided human eye, such as bacteria and fungi

17
Q

Dry Weight

A

A measurement of the mass of something when completely dried

18
Q

Photosynthesis

A

Process by which plant cells make food using water, carbon dioxide, and light from the Sun

19
Q

Grazing Food Web

A

Energy flows from producers to consumers and finally to decomposers

20
Q

Detrital Food Web

A

Energy from producers flows directly to decomposers as detritus or waste. The decomposers in turn break down the organic matter, furnishing food and energy for consumers.

21
Q

Terrestrial Biosphere

A

A collective term for all living organisms on land

22
Q

Hydrosphere

A

All the waters on Earth’s surface, such as lakes and seas

23
Q

Limestone

A

A common sedimentary rock consisting mostly of calcium carbonate

24
Q

Calcium Carbonate Rocks

A

A colorless or white crystalline compound, CaCO3, occurring naturally as chalk, limestone, or marble

25
Q

Peat Moss

A

A spongy plant thatgrows in very wet places, especially bogs. The leaves of peat moss have large dead cells surrounded by smaller living ones; the dead cells easily absorb water up to 20 times their dry weight.

26
Q

Respiration

A

The transport ofoxygenfrom the outside air to the cells withintissues and thetransportofcarbon dioxidein the opposite direction

27
Q

Methane

A

An odorless, colorless, flammable gas, CH4 , the major constituent of natural gas and one of the simplest organic compounds