The Biosphere (Biodiversity) Flashcards
Aerobic Respiration
A chemical reaction that occurs in all living cells and releases energy from glucose. Contrasts with anaerobic respiration, which occurs without oxygen and releases less energy than aerobic respiration, but does so at a much faster pace. In microorganisms, it is called fermentation
Ammonification
The process by which microorganisms present in soil, sediment, or water mineralize low molecular weight, dissolved, organic molecules presenting amine or amide groups (of general formula R-NH2) and produce ammonium (NH4+)
Assimilation
The absorption and digestion of food by a biological system or body (organism)
Autotroph
An organism that is able to form nutritional organic substances from simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide
Background extinction
Ongoing extinction of individual species because of environmental or ecological factors such as climate change, disease, loss of habitat, or competitive disadvantage in relation to other species
Benthos
Flora and fauna found on the bottom (or bottom sediments) of a sea, lake, or other body of water
Biodiversity
The diversity and differences and vast species of flora and fauna around the world, or a particular habitat or region
Biogeochemical cycle
The partitioning and cycling of chemical elements and compounds between the living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem
Biological Diversity
Biodiversity can be described as the sum total of all plants and animals found in a particular area, being basically a measure of all variations found at the genetic, species, and ecosystem level. It is mainly influenced by the environmental, geographical, climatic and topographical conditions of an area
Deciduous Plants
Plants that are falling off or shed seasonally or at a certain stage of development in the life cycle deciduous leaves deciduous scales
Carbon Sink
A forest, ocean, or other natural environment viewed in terms of its ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
Climax Community
An ecological community in which populations of plants or animals remain stable and exist in balance with each other and their environment
Coastal Wetland
An area of land that is permanently or seasonally inundated with fresh, brackish, or saline water and contains a range of plant species that are uniquely adapted to the degree of inundation, the type of water that is present, as well as the soil conditions
Commensalism
An association between two organisms in which one benefits and the other derives neither benefit nor harm
Competitive Exclusion
The inevitable elimination from a habitat of one of two different species with identical needs for resources
Denitrification
The conversion of nitrate (NO3-) into quasi-inert gases N2 (dinitrogen) and N2O (nitrous oxide) by microbial oxidation of organic matte
Detritivore
An animal that feeds on dead organic material, especially plant detritus
Detritus feeder
Heterotrophs that obtain nutrients by consuming detritus. There are many kinds of invertebrates, vertebrates and plants that carry out coprophagy. By doing so, all these detritivores contribute to decomposition and the nutrient cycles
Diffusion
Net movement of anything generally from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration
Ecological Diversity
Variations in ecosystems within a geographical location and its overall impact on human existence and the environment. Ecosystem diversity addresses the combined characteristics of biotic properties and abiotic properties
Ecological Niche
The position of a species within an ecosystem, describing both the range of conditions necessary for persistence of the species, and its ecological role in the ecosystem
Endemism
Term used in biology to talk about the distribution of a taxon limited to a small geographic area and which can therefore be found naturally in this place
Endemic Species
Endemic species are those that live in a limited area, such as a mountain range, lake or island, among others
Energy Productivity
Energy productivity (EP) of an industry is measured by relating the energy consumption of an industry (input) to its output: EP = output / energy input
Fundamental Niche
The fundamental niche (NF) is defined as the set of conditions within which a species can live in the absence of competitors, and a realized niche (NR) is a NF hypothetically reduced by competitive interactions (and some other limiting factors)
1st Law of Thermodynamics
Branch of physical science that deals with the relations between heat and other forms of energy (such as mechanical, electrical, or chemical energy), and, by extension, of the relationships between all forms of energy
Generalist Species
Species that consists of a broad ecological niche
Genetic Diversity
The range of different inherited traits within a species. In a species with high genetic diversity, there would be many individuals with a wide variety of different traits. Genetic diversity is critical for a population to adapt to changing environments
Geographic Isolation
Physical separation of members of a population. populations may be physically separated when their original habitat becomes divided
Gross Primary Productivity
Gross primary production (GPP) is the total amount of carbon dioxide “fixed” by land plants per unit time through the photosynthetic reduction of CO2 into organic compounds
Indicator Species
An animal or plant species that can be used to infer conditions in a particular habitat
Infiltration
The process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil. It is commonly used in both hydrology and soil sciences. The infiltration capacity is defined as the maximum rate of infiltration
Interspecific Competition
A form of competition in which individuals of different species compete for the same resources in an ecosystem
Intraspecific Competition
Competition between members of the same species
Keystone Species
Species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically
Mutualism
Symbiosis that is beneficial to both organisms involved
Net Primary Productivity
The amount of carbon retained in an ecosystem (increase in biomass); it is equal to the difference between the amount of carbon produced through photosynthesis (GPP) and the amount of energy that is used for respiration (R), called NPP
Niche
The match of a species to a specific environmental condition. It describes how an organism or population responds to the distribution of resources and competitors and how it in turn alters those same factors
Nitrogen fixation
The chemical processes by which atmospheric nitrogen is assimilated into organic compounds, especially by certain microorganisms as part of the nitrogen cycle
Nitrification
The oxidation by bacteria of ammonium salts to nitrites and the further oxidation of nitrites to nitrates
Parasitism
Relationship between two organisms of different species where one benefits and the other is harmed
Pioneer Species
First species to populate an area during primary succession
Primary Pollutant
Pollutant that is put directly into the atmosphere by human or natural activity
Primary Productivity
Rate at which energy is converted to organic substances by photosynthetic producers (photoautotrophs), which obtain energy and nutrients by harnessing sunlight, and chemosynthetic producers (chemoautotrophs), which obtain chemical energy through oxidation
Primary Succession
Beginning step of ecological succession after an extreme disturbance, which usually occurs in an environment devoid of vegetation and other organisms. These environments are typically lacking in soil, as disturbances like lava flow or retreating glaciers shred the environment of nutrients
Range of Tolerance
Range of conditions within which an organism is potentially able to survive. For example, all organisms have a maximum and minimum level of temperature, atmospheric pressure, oxygen concentration etc. within which they can survive
Realized Niche
Phrase relating to ecology, defined by the actual space that an organism inhabits and the resources it can access as a result of limiting pressures from other species
Reproductive Isolation
Inability of a species to breed successfully with related species due to geographical, behavioral, physiological, or genetic barriers or differences
Resource Partitioning
The division of limited resources by species to help avoid competition in an ecological niche. In any environment, organisms compete for limited resources, so organisms and different species have to find ways to coexist with one another
Riprarian Zone
An area located next to a waterway or water body, such as a stream or lake, and has unique soil and plants, and is strongly influenced by the presence of water. Riparian areas are important transition areas that connect water to the land and provide many benefits
2nd Law of Thermodynamics
Hot things always cool down unless you do something to stop them. It expresses a fundamental and simple truth about the universe: that disorder, characterized as a quantity known as entropy, always increases
Secondary Succession
Opposed to primary succession, secondary succession is a process started by an event that reduces an already established lifespan
Specialist Species
Species with a narrow ecological niche. They may be able to live in only one type of habitat, tolerate only a narrow range of climatic and other environmental conditions, or use only one type or a few types of food
Speciation
The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution
Species evenness
A description of the distribution of abundance across the species in a community. Species evenness is highest when all species in a sample have the same abundance. Evenness approaches zero as relative abundances vary
Species Diversity
The number and relative abundance of species found in a given biological organization (population, ecosystem, Earth). Species are the basic units of biological classification and hence, this is the measure most commonly associated with the term “biodiversity”
Species Richness
The number of different species represented in an ecological community, landscape or region. Species richness is simply a count of species, and it does not take into account the abundances of the species or their relative abundance distributions
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
A toxic gas responsible for the smell of burnt matches. It is released naturally by volcanic activity and is produced as a by-product of copper extraction and the burning of sulfur-bearing fossil fuels
Sulfuric Acid
Formed in the atmosphere from sulfur dioxide. As microscopic suspended droplets, it is a component of acid deposition. Has the formula H2SO4
Controlled Burns
Known as hazard reduction burning, backfire, swailing, or a burn-off- is a fire set intentionally for purposes of forest management, farming, prairie restoration or greenhouse gas abatement
Maximum Sustainable Yield
Maximum amount of any resource that can be produced without limiting the population
