Unit 2 Flashcards
Key elements we need
carbon
Hydrogen
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Phosphorus
Sulfur
Source
Release the element
________ Release the element
Sources
Sinks
Absorb the element
______ Absorb the element
Sinks
Evaporation
Water turns from liquid to gas (vapor)
Water turns from liquid to gas (vapor)
Evaporation
Transpiration
Water traveling up through plants and out of leaves as vapor
Water traveling up through plants and out of leaves as vapor
Transpiration
Condensation
Water vapor creates clouds in the atmosphere
Water vapor creates clouds in the atmosphere
Condensation
Precipitation
Water falling from the atmosphere to land via rain, snow, ice
Water falling from the atmosphere to land via rain, snow, ice
Precipitation
Runoff
The path precipitation takes to streams, rivers, lakes, and the ocean
The path precipitation takes to streams, rivers, lakes, and the ocean
Runoff
Seepage
Water that soaks into the ground
Water that soaks into the ground
Seepage
Groundwater/aquifier
Water stored underground.
Another word for groundwater
Aquifier
Largest reservoir of the water cycle
The ocean
Evapotranspiration
Water vapor cools and becomes liquid water
Water vapor cools and becomes liquid water
Evapotranspiration
Uptake
Plants absorb water through their roots
Plants absorbing water through their roots
Uptake
Infiltration
Water seeps down through the soil
Water seeping down through the soil
Infiltration
Photosynthesis
Producers take in CO2 from the atmosphere and create organic compounds such as sugars
Producers take in CO2 from the atmosphere and create organic compounds such as sugars
Photosynthesis
Cellular respiration
producers and consumers digest compounds and release CO2
producers and consumers digest compounds and release CO2
cellular respiration
Deforestation
Prevents carbon from being hidden and stored in trees. If trees are burned, carbon enters the atmosphere.
Prevents carbon from being hidden and stored in trees. If trees are burned, carbon enters the atmosphere.
Deforestation
Burning fossil fuels
Stored carbon from ancient living things. Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) returns carbon to the atmosphere
Stored carbon from ancient living things. Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) returns carbon to the atmosphere
Burning fossil fuels
Ocean acidification
Excess CO2 is absorbed by ocean water and creates carbonic acid. This lowers water pH and dissolves the shells of species, such as coral and muscles.
Excess CO2 is absorbed by ocean water and creates carbonic acid. This lowers water pH and dissolves the shells of species, such as coral and muscles.
Ocean acidification
Largest reservoir of carbon cycle
Sedimentary rock/sediments at the bottom of the ocean
Biogeochemical cycle
Biological geological and chemical processes that move things between living and non-living parts of an ecosystem
Combustion (carbon cycle)
Burning plant matter and fossil fuels
Burning plant matter and fossil fuels
Combustion
Exchange (carbon cycle)
CO2 moves back and forth between the ocean and atmosphere
CO2 moves back and forth between the ocean and atmosphere
Exchange
Burial (carbon cycle)
Carbon enters the earths crust, eventually becoming a mineral or fossil fuel
Carbon enters the earths crust, eventually becoming a mineral or fossil fuel
Burial
Nitrogen fixation
Turns N2 to NH3 (ammonia) and then water forms NH4+ (ammonium). Most nitrogen fixation is done by bacteria on the roots of legumes and by blue-green algae or cynobacteria and water. Sometimes fixation occurs through lightning strikes.
Turns N2 to NH3 (ammonia) and then water forms NH4+ (ammonium). Most is done by bacteria on the roots of legumes and by blue-green algae or cynobacteria and water. Sometimes occurs through lightning strikes.
Nitrogen fixation
NH2
Nitrogen gas
Nitrogen gas compound
NH2
NH3
Ammonia
Ammonia compound
NH3
NH4+
Ammonium
Ammonium compound
NH4+
Biotic fixation
Nitrogen gas (N2) is converted to solid ammonium (NH4+) by soil bacteria
Nitrogen gas (N2) is converted to solid ammonium (NH4+) by soil bacteria
Biotic fixation
Abiotic fixation
Nitrogen gas (N2) is converted to solid nitrates (NO3) by lightning or synthetic fertilizer production
Nitrate
NO3
NO3
Nitrate
Nitrogen gas (N2) is converted to solid nitrates (NO3) by lightning or synthetic fertilizer production
Abiotic fixation
Nitrification
Turns NH4+ to NO2 (nitrite) and then NO3 in the soil (nitrate)
NO2
Nitrite
Nitrite
NO2
Turns NH4+ to NO2 (nitrite) and then NO3 in the soil (nitrate)
Nitrification
Assimilation
When plants take in NH4+ or NO3 from the soil and when animals eat plants
When plants take in NH4+ or NO3 from the soil and when animals eat plants
Assimilation
Ammonification
Animal waste and decomposing dead organisms produce NH4+ (ammonium)
Animal waste and decomposing dead organisms produce NH4+ (ammonium)
Ammonification
Dentrification
Soil bacteria converts nitrates (NO3) and nitrites (NO2) into nitrogen gas (N2)
Largest reservoir of the nitrogen cycle
Atmosphere (in the form of N2 gas)
Weathering (the phosphorus cycle)
Water breaks down rock, releasing phosphorus into the soil, rivers, lakes, and the ocean
Water breaks down rock, releasing phosphorus into the soil, rivers, lakes, and the ocean
Weathering
Mining (the phosphorus cycle)
Phosphates are removed from underground minerals to make fertilizer
Phosphates are removed from underground minerals to make fertilizer
Mining
Largest reservoir of the phosphorus cycle
Sedimentary rock
Which cycle is the only cycle with no atmospheric reservoir?
The phosphorus cycle
How is sulfur deposited
Precipitation, direct fallout from the atmosphere, rock weathering and volcanoes
As rain falls through the atmosphere SO2 (sulfur dioxide) is converted into ______
H2SO4 (sulfuric acid)
Sulfuric dioxide compound
SO2
SO2
Sulfuric dioxide
H2SO4
Sulfuric acid
Sulfuric acid compound
H2SO4
H2S
Hydrogen sulfide
Hydrogen sulfide compound
H2S
Fallout (the sulfur cycle)
Sulfur falling directly from the atmosphere
Sulfur falling directly from the atmosphere
Fallout
Weathering of sulfur-containing rocks does what
Releases sulfur into the soil
Death and decompoisiton of organisms releases sulfur back into the atmosphere as
H2S (hydrogen sulfide)
Burning of fossil fuels releases a large amount of ___
(Sulfuric cycle)
H2S (hydrogen sulfide)
Acid rain
Caused by rainwater falling to the ground through (SO2) sulfur dioxide gas
Caused by rainwater falling to the ground through (SO2) sulfur dioxide gas
Acid rain
Acid precipitation
Sulfate from combustion and volcanic eruptions mixes with water vapor, forming sulfuric acid
Sulfate from combustion and volcanic eruptions mixes with water vapor, forming sulfuric acid
Acid precipitation
Polar
Cold areas
Temperate
Hot/cold seasons
Tropical
Always warm
Arctic circle is where on the globe
All the way south all the way north
Tropic of cancer is located where
Above the equator
Tropic of capricorn is where
Below the equator
Two most significant abiotic factors in biomes
Temperature and precipitation
What are temperature and precipitation influenced by (list 5)
- Latitude
- Altitude
- Prevailing winds
- Oceans and lakes
- Nearby mountains
Latitudes near the equator receive more ______
Direct sunlight
As latitude increases temperature and primary productivity tends to (increase/decrease) and why
Decrease due to the changing sun angle
As altitude increases, temperature and primary productivity (increases/decreases)
Decreases
Ocean conveyor
A moving system of deep ocean currents that circulate warmth across the globe
A moving system of deep ocean currents that circulate warmth across the globe
Ocean conveyor
Prevailing winds
Regions where the wind tends to blow from a certain direction
Regions where the wind tends to blow from a certain direction
Prevailing winds
Trade winds
From the tropics southwest or northwest towards the equator
Right to left on the tropics
Winds from the tropics southwest or northwest towards the equator
Trade winds
Westerlies
From the subtropics west towards the midlatitudes
Left to right
From the subtropics west towards the midlatitudes
Westerlies
Biomes located near bodies of water have greater __________ levels
Precipitation
El niño-southern oscillation (enso) cycle
A period of warming and cooling of the central/eastern pacific ocean caused by shifts in trade winds
A period of warming and cooling of the central/eastern pacific ocean caused by shifts in trade winds
El niño-southern oscillation (enso) cycle
El niño
Warm phase
More evaporation from the pacific
Warmer and more rainfall in western US
Warm phase
More evaporation from the pacific
Warmer and more rainfall in western US
El niño
La niña
Cool phase
Less evaporation from the pacific
Cooler and less rainfall in the western US
Cool phase
Less evaporation from the pacific
Cooler and less rainfall in the western US
La niña
Rainshadow effect
A decrease in precipitation on the side of a mountain facing away from prevailing winds
Windward slope
Leeward slope
A decrease in precipitation on the side of a mountain facing away from prevailing winds
Rainshadow effect
Windward slope (Rainshadow effect)
Faces wind, receives more precipitation
Leeward slopes relation to precipitation (rainshadow effect)
Reduced precipitation
Climatographs
a line/bar graph that shows trends in temperature and precipitation over a typical year in a biome
a line/bar graph that shows trends in temperature and precipitation over a typical year in a biome
Climatographs
Biome in the uppernorthmost canada
Tundra
Biome of most of canada
Coniferous forest
Biome of eastern U.S.
Deciduous forest
Biome of central U.S.
Grassland
Biome of western U.S
Desert
Biome of southern mexico & the islands
Tropical rain forest
Biome of western mexico
Deciduous forest
Deserts
(Precipitation, temperature, npp)
Low precipitation, high temperatures
Lowest net primary productivity
Low precipitation, high temperatures
Lowest net primary productivity
Deserts
Subtropical deserts
(Where they form, temperature)
Form between the topics and the equator
Extreme temperature changes (hot/cold)
Organisms able to tolerate extreme conditions
Form between the topics and the equator
Extreme temperature changes (hot/cold)
Organisms able to tolerate extreme conditions
Subtropical deserts
Rainshadow deserts
Found on the leeward side of mountain ranges
Found on the leeward side of mountain ranges
Rainshadow deserts
Coastal deserts
The result of wind currents that run parallel a coastline
May bring fog but no measurable precipitation
The result of wind currents that run parallel a coastline
May bring fog but no measurable precipitation
Coastal deserts
Temperate deserts
(Temperature)
Deserts with seasonal temperature variations
Polar deserts
Constantly cold and dry
Threats to deserts
-residential development
-off road vehicles
-plant removal by collectors
Grasslands
(Precipitation, temperature, npp)
Moderate or seasonal precipitation
Warm or seasonal temperatures
Moderate net primary productivity
Moderate or seasonal precipitation
Warm or seasonal temperatures
Moderate net primary productivity
Grasslands
Savannas
(Temperature, precipitation, another name etc.)
Located near the equator between tropical forests and subtropical deserts
Temperature: consistently tropical
Precipitation: seasonal
Grassland area with few trees, large animal herds, frequent fires
Lions zebras giraffes elephants
tropical grasslands
Another word for tropical grasslands
Savannas
Located near the equator between tropical forests and subtropical deserts
Temperature: consistently tropical
Precipitation: seasonal
Grassland area with few trees, large animal herds, frequent fires
Lions zebras giraffes elephants
Savannas/tropical grasslands
Prairies/temperate grasslands
(Temperature, precipitation, soil fertility, animals, what roots do plants have)
Temperature: seasonal
Precipitation: moderate
Very fertile soil
Deer coyotes snakes rodents
Plants have deep and complex root structures that allow them to recover from drought, wildfire, cold winters, and grazing animals
Another word for temperate grasslands
Prairies
Temperature: seasonal
Precipitation: moderate
Very fertile soil
Deer coyotes snakes rodents
Plants have deep and complex root structures that allow them to recover from drought, wildfire, cold winters, and grazing animals
Prairies/temperate grasslands
Tundras
(Growing season length, temperature, precipitation, another name for it, etc.)
Short growing seasons and permafrost
Temperate: consistently cold
Precipitation: moderate
Strong winds, no trees, small pants
Arctic fox
Polar ice caps, too cold and dry for plant growth so algae in the water are producers
Polar grasslands
Another name for polar grassland
Tundra
Short growing seasons and permafrost
Temperate: consistently cold
Precipitation: moderate
Strong winds, no trees, small pants
Arctic fox
Polar ice caps, too cold and dry for plant growth so algae in the water are producers
Tundras/ polar grasslands
Permafrost
Permanently frozen soil
Forests
(Precipitation, temperatures, npp)
Consistent moderate to high precipitation that supports tree growth
Warm or seasonal temperatures
High net primary productivity across multiple layers
Consistent moderate to high precipitation that supports tree growth
Warm or seasonal temperatures
High net primary productivity across multiple layers
Forests
Emergent layer
Uppermost layer in a forest
Receives the most direct sunlight
Uppermost layer in a forest
Receives the most direct sunlight
Emergent layer
Canopy
Highest layer that most trees reach and contains mist if the plant and animal life
Highest net primary productivity area
Highest layer that most trees reach and contains mist if the plant and animal life
Highest net primary productivity area
Canopy
Understory
Layer of vegetation below the canopy where only 5% of sunlight reaches
Layer of vegetation below the canopy where only 5% of sunlight reaches
Understory
Forest floor
Bottom most layer of the forest has a community centered around decomposition
Bottom most layer of the forest has a community centered around decomposition
Forest floor
Broadleaf trees
Wide, flat leaves that maximize sun absorption
Prone to moisture loss via transpiration
Shed in winter or dry seasons
Wide, flat leaves that maximize sun absorption
Prone to moisture loss via transpiration
Shed in winter or dry seasons
Broadleaf trees
Coniferous trees
Narrow, wax coated leaves
Absorb less sunlight but transpire less water
Not shed during cold or dry seasons
Narrow, wax coated leaves
Absorb less sunlight but transpire less water
Not shed during cold or dry seasons
Coniferous trees
Tropical rainforests
(Rainfall amount, temperature, type of tree, npp, soil, etc.)
Receive high rainfall and are consistently warm
Broadleaf trees only
Highest net primary productivity of all land biomes
Most biodiversity
Hot & wet year round; poor soil
Receive high rainfall and are consistently warm
Broadleaf trees inly
Highest net primary productivity of all land biomes
Most biodiversity
Hot & wet year round; poor soil
Tropical rainforests
Arboreal
Animals that live in trees
Animals that live in trees
Arboreal
Brachiation
Movement by swinging from tree limb to tree limb using only their arms
Movement by swinging from tree limb to tree limb using only their arms
Brachiation
Temperate rainforests
(Precipitation, temperature, trees)
Receive high rainfall but have seasonal temperature changes
Broadleaf or coniferous trees
Receive high rainfall but have seasonal temperature changes
Broadleaf or coniferous trees
Temperate rainforests
Deciduous forest
(Precipitation, temperature, trees)
Moderate precipitation and significant seasonal temperature changes
Mostly broadleaf trees that shed their leaves each winter
Moderate precipitation and significant seasonal temperature changes
Mostly broadleaf trees that shed their leaves each winter
Deciduous forest
Temperate deciduous forest
(Trees, precipitation, animals)
Deciduous trees, 4 seasons, seasonal rainfall
Maple, elm, oak, pine
Squirrel, songbird, owls, snakes
Deciduous trees, 4 seasons, seasonal rainfall
Maple, elm, oak, pine
Squirrel, songbird, owls, snakes
Temperate deciduous forest
Boreal forests
(Temperature, precipitation, trees, another name)
Coldest and driest forest biome
Coniferous trees only
Evergreen forests, cold long winters, short mild summers
Taiga
Threats to forests
Threats: logging, cattle grazing, farming, hydroelectric dams
Another word for boreal forests
Taiga
Another word for taiga
Boreal forest
Mediterranean forests
(Precipitation, trees, another name)
Highly seasonal rainfall that mostly falls during winter months
Small coniferous trees and shrubs
Dominated by shrubs, frequent fires
Chaparral
Highly seasonal rainfall that mostly falls during winter months
Small coniferous trees and shrubs
Dominated by shrubs, frequent fires
Mediterranean forests/chaparral
Another name for mediterranean forests
Chaparral
Another name for chaparral
Mediterranean forest
Macronutrients
Needed by organisms in large amounts
Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur
Limiting nutrient
A nutrient required for the growth of an organism but available un a lower quality than other nutrients
(Ex. Nitrogen)
Leaching
The transportation of dissolved molecules through the soil via groundwater
The transportation of dissolved molecules through the soil via groundwater
Leaching
Hypoxic
Water low in oxygen
Water low in oxygen
Hypoxic
Chaparral
(Precipitation, trees, another name)
Highly seasonal rainfall that mostly falls during winter months
Small coniferous trees and shrubs
Dominated by shrubs, frequent fires
Mediterranean forest
Taiga
(Precipitation, temperature, trees, another name)
Coldest and driest forest biome
Coniferous trees only
Evergreen forests, cold long winters, short mild summers
Boreal forest
