Matter and Energy Flashcards
primary productivity
the amount of light energy captured by photosynthetic organisms who convert it into organic compounds
Productivity
the RATE at which energy is converted into organic matter
Production
the biomass produced by organisms in an ecosystem over a given period of time
standing biomass
the biomass of producers present in an area at a particular moment in time
Gross primary productivity (GPP)
the total amount of primary productivity in an area, often reported as a rate with units of g/m squared/year
net primary productivity (NPP)
the amount of primary productivity present in biomass, often reported as a rate with units of g/m squared/ year
Human appropriation of net primary productivity (HANPP)
the amount of primary productivity used by humans, often reported as a rate with units gigatons of carbon per year
the principle of ecological efficiency
only a fraction of the energy and biomass at each trophic level is transferred to the next level (around 10%)
Bioaccumulation
accumulation of substances in an organism over time
Biomagnification
the increase in concentration of substances as one moves up the food chain
Pool
the total amount of a particular substance or element within a specific compartment or reservoir in an ecosystem
Fluxes
the movement or transfer of matter, energy, or other substances between pools in an ecosystem
Form
the specific physical or chemical state of a nutrient
Source
releases energy or resources into the ecosystem
Sink
component of ecosystem that absorbs and stores a resource for a significant period of time
