Unit 10: Ecology - Notes 3 Flashcards
What is biogeochemical cycle?
Recycling process, chemicals move from organisms (bio) to the atmosphere or ocean, to the Earth’s crust (geo) and back to organisms again.
What is a short term cycle
exchange pools
What is a long term cycle, example?
Reservoirs, oceans!
Where does water cycle take place?
above, on, and below Earth
Water occurs in what 3 different states?
gas (water vapor), liquid (water) and solid (ice)
What are the three states of water changing into a gas?
Evaporation, sublimation, and transpiration
What does evaporation mean?
liquid changes to gas due to heat
What does sublimation mean?
ice and snow go directly to gas due to heat
What does transpiration mean?
plants release water vapor through stomata
What are the two states where water vapor changes into liquid water?
Condensation and Precipation
What is condensation?
when water vapor rises in atmosphere, it cools and turns into liquid water/clouds
What is Precipation?
when water gets big enough and falls from atmosphere
Can carbon be made?
No, it is recycled!
Where is carbon?
EVERYWHERE, but is primarly in the atmosphere
How is CO2 released and how is removed?
Cellular respiration releases CO2 and Photosynthesis removes it
When the ocean heats up and cools what happens?
When it heats up = releases CO2
Cools down - removes CO2
Nitrogen makes up how much of Earth’s atmosphere?
78%
Why is nitrogen important?
It makes proteins and nucleic acids, ESSENTIAL FOR LIFE
Plants can’t use what state of Nitrogen? What can they use?
N2 or Nitrogen gas
Can use nitrates ONLY
What is nitrogen fixation?
changing nitrogen gas (n2) to nitrates (no3)
