mwtga 2 Flashcards
largest reservoirs of c
carbonate (CO3)2- rocks first, oceans second
sustainability
the ability to meet the current needs of humanity without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs
tragedy of commons
1968 paper by ecologist garret hardin. “freedom to breed” is ruining everything. global commons such as atmosphere and oceans are used by all and owned by none. when no individual has ownership, no one takes responsibility. ex: overfishing oceans, over pumping ogallala aquifer
natural selection
organisms that possess favorable adaptations survive and pass them on to next generation
energy flow in food webs or chains, through tropic systems
only 10% of the usable energy is transferred because usable energy lost as heat (second law); not all biomass is digested and absorbed; predators expend energy to catch prey
biotic and abiotic
living and nonliving components of an ecosystem
competition
a type of population interaction, usually over a limited resources. may be intraspecific or interspecific
producer/autotroph
photosynthetic or chemosynthetic life; chemotroph–organism undergoing chemosynthesis (usually carried out by sulfur bacteria in aphotic zones in ocean)
primary succession
development of communities in a lifeless area not previously inhabited by life or those in which the soil profile is totally destroyed (lava flows); no soil substrate present; begins with lichen action
secondary succession
life progresses where soil remains (clear cut forest, fire, disturbed areas)
mutualism
symbiotic relationship where both partners benefit and both participate
commensalism
symbiotic relationship where one partner benefits and the other is unaffected or may benefit
parasitism
relationship in which one partner obtains nutrients at the expense of the host
biome
large distinct terrestrial region having similar climate, soil, plants and animals; terrestrial biomes determining factors are temperature and precipitation
carrying capacity
the number of individuals (size of pop) that can be sustained in an area (supported by available resources in the environment)
R strategist
reproduce early in life; many small unprotected offspring; tend to be generalists, short lifespan
K strategist
reproduce late in life; few offspring; care for offspring; tend to be specialists
positive feedback
when a change in some conditions triggers a response that intensifies the changing condition (warmer earth–snow melts–less sunlight is reflected and more is absorbed, therefore warmer earth)
negative feedback
when a changing in some condition triggers a response that counteracts the changed condition (warmer earth–more ocean evaporation–more stratus clouds–less sunlight reaches the ground–therefore cooler earth)
malthus
said human population increases exponentially, while food supplies increase arithmetically; factors that keep population in check include war, famine, disease
doubling time
rule of 70; 70 divided by the percent growth rate
transpiration
process where water is absorbed by plant roots, moves up through plants, passes through pores (stomata) in leaves or other parts, evaporates into atmosphere as water vapor
