Ecosystems at Risk Flashcards
What are diverse ecosystems?
Can be defined as either terrestrial or aquatic.
Energy cycles and trophic scale
- Explanation of the energy flows of an ecosystems; food chain.
- Trophic scale is the position an organism maintains on the food chain
What are nutrient cycles?
Four cour nutrient cycles; carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus cycle. The growth and energy transferred amongst ecosystems utilised by life.
Biophysical interactions - Atmosphere
- Layer of gases in air, impacting climate and chemical composition.
- amount of water in environment
- survival of environment
- Soil in environment
Biophysical interactions - Hydrosphere
- Encompasses all water.
- bodies of water
- erosionary forces
Biophysical interactions - Lithosphere
- Rigid outer layer of earth and consists of crust, topography and soils.
Biophysical interactions - Biosphere
- All living things, biosphere impacts ecosystem through energy and nutrient cycling.
What is resilience
Capacity for ecosystems to bounce back after stress, ability of ecosystem to adapt to changing environment and restore function and structure.
What is vulnerability?
Relates to sensitivity of an ecosystem to stress and capacity to withstand it, as ecosystems sit within a constant dynamic equilibrium.
What is the acronym BELL?
Biodiversity
Extent
Location
Linkage
What is biodiversity?
Diversity of habitats, biotic communities and ecological processes.
Ecosystem diversity
- Species diversity
- Genetic diversity
Extent and linkage?
Extent - Size and amount of an ecosystem, can be specific i.e. genetic diversity.
Linkage - Interdependence of different species within ecosystem.
Nature of natural stress?
Natural stresses defined by two types: gradual and catastrophic.
Gradual adaptation
Overtime species adapt and change in response to conditions, species are better than others.