Ecosystem Ecology

Question 1

System

Answer 1

A network of relationships that interact by exchanging components such as energy, matter, inputs and outputs

Question 2

Negative Feedback Loop

Answer 2

When a system can serve itself, outputs feed the inputs; example: human body

Question 3

Positive Feedback Loop

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Ultimately a working system will equalize its inputs and outputs. Once these processes work in equivalent rates, the system is in _.

Answer 4

Dynamic Equilibrium

Question 5

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 _.

Answer 5

Homeostasis

Question 6

Systems cannot be viewed on their components alone. _ must also be taken intro consideration.

Answer 6

Emergent Properties

Question 7

Ecosystem

Answer 7

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

Question 8

The most important factor in an ecosystem is the way energy is converted to _.

Answer 8

Biomass

Question 9

Productivity

Answer 9

The rate at which an ecosystem converts energy to biomass

Question 10

Lithosphere

Answer 10

The rock and sediment layer beneath out feet, but not the inner layers of the earth

Question 11

Atmosphere

Answer 11

The air surrounding our planet. Composed of different layers

Question 12

Hydrosphere

Answer 12

All the water on Earth including vapor, ice, and groundwater

Question 13

Biosphere

Answer 13

The area where all living organisms are and the abiotic factors that influence them

Question 14

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 _.

Answer 14

Nutrient Cycle (AKA Biogeochemical Cycle)

Question 15

Carbon Cycle

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Phosphorus Cycle

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Nitrogen Cycle

Answer 17

Major component of cells, proteins, DNA, RNA, and plant growth
Primarily found in the atmosphere and must go through biological fixation

Question 18

Nitrogen Fixation

Answer 18

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

Question 19

How does nitrogen get back into the atmosphere?

Answer 19

Denitrifying bacteria convert the nitrates into N2

Question 20

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.

Answer 20

Synthetic Fertilizers

Question 21

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 _.

Answer 21

Algal Blooms; Hypoxic; Eutrophication

Question 22

Hydrologic Cycle

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Water is stored in many different places…

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Rock Cycle

Answer 24

Slowest, almost unchanging system. However, rocks do change forms and are also in motion

Question 25

1. Magma cools and becomes _.

Answer 25

Igneous Rock

Question 26

2. Igneous weathers and erodes to become _.

Answer 26

Sediment

Question 27

3. Sediment compresses into _.

Answer 27

Sedimentary Rock

Question 28

4. Over time, sedimentary rock becomes _.

Answer 28

Metamorphic Rock

Question 29

5. Metamorphic rock ultimately melts to form _, and we start again.

Answer 29

Magma

Question 30

Ultimately, the rock cycle is under the bigger umbrella of _.

Answer 30

Plate Tectonics (the movement of the Earth’s mantle upward as it heats up, and downward as it cools)

Question 31

There are _ major tectonic plates that drive continent movement and natural disasters.

Answer 31

15

Question 32

Divergent Plate Boundaries

Answer 32

When two plates are drifting apart from a bubble of magma between them

Question 33

Transform Plate Boundaries

Answer 33

When two plates are slipping and grinding past one another in opposite directions (earthquakes)

Question 34

Convergent Plate Boundaries

Answer 34

Two plates colliding that either subduct (one goes under the other), or uplift (both lift up)

Question 35

Landscape Ecology

Answer 35

Scientists use all of this info to predict, plan, and inform about how to use the region for future and present development.

Question 36

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.

Answer 36

Ecotone; GIS