ecosystem energetics Flashcards
cohesion - water properties
the attraction of molecules for other molecules of the same kind (linkage by multiple hydrogen bonds makes water more structured, collectively the bonds hold the substance together)
adhesion - water property
water acts as a weak adhesive on solid objects as the molecules stick due to their polarity (electrons not shared equally between atoms, one side negative charge, other positive)
specific heat capacity
energy required to raise 1kg of a material by 1 degree celsius; 4184 j/kg for water
nucleic acids
carry genetic information, regulates protein synthesis, e.g. DNA, RNA
ecosystem
a community of living organisms and other biotic and abiotic factors
solvent
dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution. water is a key solvent for life.
residence time
the average time a given molecule of water will stay in a given water source
percolation
the process in which water moves downwards through soil driven by gravitational forces
sublimation
conversion between solid and gaseous state with no liquid stage, e.g. water vapour changes directly into ice, forming snowflakes and frost
denitrification
converts nitrogen compounds, e.g. nitrate, into gaseous forms
ammonification
conversion - fixing - of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, which can then be used by plants
autotrophs
generate their own food/energy using abiotic sources
chemotrophs
autotrophic organisms that rely of chemosynthesis - use energy obtained from oxidation to transform CO2 into organic biomass
heterotroph
organism that eats plants or animals for energy and nutrients
entropy
a measure of the disorder of energy dispersal within an ecosystem (law of entropy states that when left alone in natural state, eventually everything goes into disorder)
