Ecosystem Ecology Flashcards
System
A network of relationships that interact by exchanging components such as energy, matter, inputs and outputs
Negative Feedback Loop
When a system can serve itself, outputs feed the inputs; example: human body
Positive Feedback Loop
If a system increases its outputs and therefore increases its inputs in a downward spiral, the direction is linear and ultimately leads to collapse; example: desertification
Ultimately a working system will equalize its inputs and outputs. Once these processes work in equivalent rates, the system is in _.
Dynamic Equilibrium
Once a system is in dynamic equilibrium, it will strive to stay there. All process intended to maintain conditions of the systems is known as _.
Homeostasis
Systems cannot be viewed on their components alone. _ must also be taken intro consideration.
Emergent Properties
Ecosystem
Consists of all living organisms and abiotic factors that interact in a given are at the same time. It is the marriage of biological, chemical, and physical factors in an environment
The most important factor in an ecosystem is the way energy is converted to _.
Biomass
Productivity
The rate at which an ecosystem converts energy to biomass
Lithosphere
The rock and sediment layer beneath out feet, but not the inner layers of the earth
Atmosphere
The air surrounding our planet. Composed of different layers
Hydrosphere
All the water on Earth including vapor, ice, and groundwater
Biosphere
The area where all living organisms are and the abiotic factors that influence them
The chemicals and nutrients that we have on our planet will always be there, they just change forms and where they are located. The movement of nutrients through ecosystems is called a _.
Nutrient Cycle (AKA Biogeochemical Cycle)
Carbon Cycle
Carbon composes organic matter
The carbon cycle takes into account all the forms and routes of carbon
The majority of carbon is trapped in underground sources
The levels are shifting to the atmosphere
Phosphorus Cycle
Phosphorus is vital for life and is a major component of cell development. Think DNA, RNA, etc.
No major atmospheric sources of phosphorus
Overwhelmingly found in sediment and rock
Taken in by primary producers and enters the food chain
Nitrogen Cycle
Major component of cells, proteins, DNA, RNA, and plant growth
Primarily found in the atmosphere and must go through biological fixation
Nitrogen Fixation
A process where inert N2 combines with hydrogen to form ammonia (NH3), and whose water soluble ions (NH4) can be taken up by plants. Now this process can only happen in two ways
Lightning striking
Air on the top layer of soil comes in contact with nitrogen fixing bacteria. Without certain types of bacteria, some plants can’t get nitrogen at all. This process is also similar to nitrification
How does nitrogen get back into the atmosphere?
Denitrifying bacteria convert the nitrates into N2
Until 1917, we were unable to reproduce this process synthetically. That changed when Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch, two Germans looking for ways to make bigger bombs, discovered how to convert nitrogen into ammonia. Now _ are all over the place.
Synthetic Fertilizers
Unfortunately, excess nitrates in an ecological system will lead to runoff into streams and rivers that ultimately flows to steady lakes, ponds, etc. and sits. These nitrates (and to a lesser extent phosphates) cause algae to bloom in large numbers. These _ eat up all the oxygen in the lake, causing it to become _. This process is called _.
Algal Blooms; Hypoxic; Eutrophication
Hydrologic Cycle
AKA the water cycle
Water goes through the process of evaporation, converts to a gas, becomes less dense, rises into the atmosphere, condenses into a liquid forming precipitation and falls as rain or snow
Water can also enter the system through transpiration, or the release of water vapor by plants and animals
Water is stored in many different places…
Underground reservoirs/aquifers. Water here is called groundwater and is held in a sponge-like rock/soil layer. Uppermost layer here is called the water table
Rock Cycle
Slowest, almost unchanging system. However, rocks do change forms and are also in motion
- Magma cools and becomes _.
Igneous Rock
- Igneous weathers and erodes to become _.
Sediment
- Sediment compresses into _.
Sedimentary Rock
- Over time, sedimentary rock becomes _.
Metamorphic Rock
- Metamorphic rock ultimately melts to form _, and we start again.
Magma
Ultimately, the rock cycle is under the bigger umbrella of _.
Plate Tectonics (the movement of the Earth’s mantle upward as it heats up, and downward as it cools)
There are _ major tectonic plates that drive continent movement and natural disasters.
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Divergent Plate Boundaries
When two plates are drifting apart from a bubble of magma between them
Transform Plate Boundaries
When two plates are slipping and grinding past one another in opposite directions (earthquakes)
Convergent Plate Boundaries
Two plates colliding that either subduct (one goes under the other), or uplift (both lift up)
Landscape Ecology
Scientists use all of this info to predict, plan, and inform about how to use the region for future and present development.
Since there are no defined lines between ecosystems, there will be interaction between two meeting systems. This intermingling area is known as an _. _ is used to help map this in the modern age.
Ecotone; GIS
