ecosystems and material cycles Flashcards
what is nitrogen fixation
the process of turning nitrogen gas from air into nitrogen-containing ions in the soil which plants use
what type of bacteria turns ammonia into nitrites
nitrifying bacteria
what term is used for the process of removing salt from sea water
desalination
what is potable water
potable water is water that’s suitable for drinking
how is carbon transferred between organisms in an ecosystem
compounds containing carbon are passed up the food chain when animals eat plants and other animals
describe the role of respiration in the carbon cycle
when organisms respire, carbon is returned to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide
T or F?
conserving one species can prevent the extinction of other species
true
what is reforestation
when new forests are planted
what is biodiversity
a variety of living organisms in an ecosystem
what is a non-indigenous species
one that doesn’t naturally occur in an area
how can eutrophication cause the plants at the bottom of a lake to die
can cause large algae which blocks light
what is a quadrat
a square frame enclosing a known area
what is an ecosystem
a community of organisms along with abiotic conditions
what is meant by the term interdependence
the way that each species in a community depends on other species
what are the biotic factors
new predators
food availability
