ecology Flashcards
what does reservoir mean
an area where carbon is stored for long period of time
what does biotic reservoirs mean
carbon trapped in the cells of living organisms (forests, fossil fuel, shells, bones)
what does abiotic reservoirs mean
carbon stored in the environment ( lakes, rivers, the ocean)
what are carbon deposits
ways which carbon can get trapped underground ( fossil fuels ( coal, oil, natural gas) that form when decomposed organisms are compressed over long periods)
3 ways humans add carbon to the environment
- burn fossil fuels
- cut down trees ( deforestation)
- pollute the air with car emissions
what does burning fossil fuel do
releases carbon in that reservoir adding more carbon into the atmosphere
what does cutting down trees do
less CO2 removed from the atmosphere for photosynthesis.Any carbon trapped in these trees is released into the atmosphere
what does polluting the air with car emissions do
air pollution from the cars adds more carbon into the atmosphere and this can actually result in acid rain forming
decomposers
return carbon trapped in the bodies of organisms back to the atmosphere in the form of CO2
2 complementary processes’ balancing the carbon cycle
Carbon is recycled in the carbon cycle through several processes but mostly through photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
Why is algal bloom bad for plants
Blocks the sun, preventing them from undergoing photosynthesis.
Eutrophication
Excess nitrogen entering run-off in nearby lakes and ponds.
Algal Bloom
Layer of algae that grows on the surface of water.
Human activities disrupting the nitrogen cycle
Fertilizers–Excess Nitrogen in Run-Off–Eutrophication–Algal Bloom
What do humans add to fertilizers to help plants grow and why is too much of this thing bad?
They add nitrogen and excess fertilizers can damage aquatic ecosystems.
