G

Question 1

Gaia concept

Answer 1

Hypothesis that considers biotic and abiotic components of the earth to be part of a self regulating system producing a situation that is hospitable to life. Originated by James lovelock, the concept has been widely criticised; for example being teleogical, involving a predetermined planned purpose, with many doubting that such self regulating mechanisms exist.

Question 2

Gap model

Answer 2

A model that represents all the individual plants in an area the size of a single large individual tree.

Question 3

Garrigue

Answer 3

A type of scrubland composed on low, soft leaved shrubs, such as cistus spp. Found only on dry limestone soils around the Mediterranean basin.

Question 4

General circulation model GCM

Answer 4

A model of large scale atmosphere to ocean flow, often assumed to be a complex, high resolution model.

Question 5

General flux equation

Answer 5

A relationship between driving force and pathway conductance that can be applied to the civil action rate of movement in diverse situations. Such as Darcys law for the flow of water through an aquifer.

Question 6

Gleyed

Answer 6

A soil or soil layer that is waterlogged, leading to anoxic conditions where iron compounds become reduced giving a blue-grey colour.

Question 7

Graminoid

Answer 7

A term meaning “grass like” which is applied to a range of plant families including grasses, sedges and rushes.

Question 8

Grazing lawns

Answer 8

Large areas in prairie (>400 m2) favoured by bison, having shorted and more floristically diverse vegetation.