lecture 25 Flashcards
ecosystem function
the interaction that occurs within an ecosystem that affects the rate of input or output of energy and matter
net primary production npp
rate of which community makes primary producer biomass; measure of flow of materials and energy into the biotic component of the ecosystem
gross primary production gpp
rate at which primary producers capture energy from the sun and convert it into chemical energy
what is the gpp equation
npp+Rp (plant respiration)
what percentage of npp is equivalent to gpp
50%
terrestrial npp
increases in the equator but decreases in colder dryer (deserts) areas
npp varies with
temp and precipitation; more sun good but moderate rain because too little cant photosynthesize and too much makes cells fat
marine npp is highest where and why
near coastlines due to getting constant nutrients
how much of npp is the ocean responsible for
46%
earth is what kind of system in terms of energy
open system since we conserve energy and lose it and gain it back
earth is what kind of system in terms of matter
closed system because we dont get nutrients from outside the plant
pool/reservoir
amount of material contained within each compartment (boxes)
flux
rate at which materials enters and leaves compartments (arrows)
boxes will stay the same size if
the fluxes into the pool are equal to the fluxes going out
what are the three essential materials for ecosystems
water nitrogen and carbon
water is responsible for the movement of what
the physical movement of materials and has heat capacity
what is the biggest pool in the water cycle
ocean
what is the biggest flux
evaporation (sea)
what flux exceeds evaporation over land
precipitation
human effects on global water cycle
removing vegetation dries ecosystems, pumping depletes fossil water and warming climate is causing sea rise, INCREASE RUN OFF AND DECREASED PRECIPITATION
what is floridas primary water use
ground water
rising sea levels causes what to aquafers
salt water intrusion
what percent of water is used indoors
70%
what is stats on lack to safe water
1 in 9 lack access to safe water
what is stats on lack to a toilet
1 in 3 lack access to a toilet
what is stats on death by water related disease
every 2 mins a child dies from a h20 related disease
denitrification
nitrogen going back into atmosphere
fixation
changing chemical comp of nitrogen to make it usable
where do plants get nitrogen
soil and dead things
how have humans contributed to the nitrogen cycle
we have livestock, and factories, an fossil fuel burning
