Dynamics Of Ecosystems Flashcards
What is an ecosystem?
Includes all the living organisms in a particular place, plus the abiotic environment in which they live and interact.
What are bio geochemical cycles?
The cycling of chemicals through living and non living systems.
Biogeochemical cycles include what 2 things?
- Chemicals moving through eco systems
- Biotic and abiotic processes
What is carbon fixation?
Metabolic reactions that make nongaseous compounds from gaseous ones.
Aerobic cellular respiration releases what?
CO2
What are methanogens?
Produce methane (CH4) by anaerobic respiration.
What is evaporation?
From surface of oceans, lakes, and rivers.
What is transpiration?
Evaporation from leaves and surface of plants.
What is condensation?
Water cools and falls to the ground as precipitation.
What is nitrogen fixation?
Synthesis of nitrogen-containing compounds from N2
What is Nitrification?
Converting NH2 to NO3 (ammonia to nitrate)
What is denitrification?
Converting NO3 to N2
What is the first law of thermodynamics?
Energy is neither created nor destroyed; it only changes from one form to another.
What is the second law of thermodynamics?
Whenever organisms use chemical bonds or light energy, some energy is lost as heat.
What is the greenhouse effect?
Heat accumulating on earth
What are trophic levels?
Level at which an organism feeds.
What are autotrophs?
“Self feeders” synthesize organic compounds from inorganic precursors.
What are photoautotrophs?
They use light as an energy source.
What are chemoautotrophs?
Use energy from inorganic oxidation reactions (prokaryotes)
What are heterotrophs?
Cannot synthesize organic compounds from inorganic precursors.
What are primary producers?
Photo autotrophs
What are primary consumers?
Herbivores, eat primary consumers
What are secondary consumers?
Carnivores, eat herbivores.
What are detritivores
Eat decaying matter, break it into small pieces
