Unit A Flashcards
Define Equilibrium
A state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced.
Define Trophic Levels
A category of living things defined by how it gains energy; the first trophic level contains autotrophs and each higher-level contains heterotrophs
Define Atmosphere
The envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet
Define Lithosphere
The rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle
Define Hydrosphere
All the waters on the earths surface, such as lakes and seas and sometimes including water over the earth’s surface like clouds.
Define biodiversity
The variety of life in the world or in particular habitats or ecosystems
Define albedo
The proportion of the incident light or radiation that is reflected by a surface, typically that of a planet or moon
Define chemoautotroph
An organism, typically a bacterium, that derives energy from the oxidation of inorganic compounds
Define indicator species
A thing, especially a trend or fact, that indicates the state or level of something.
Define first law of thermodynamics
That energy cannot be created or destroyed it can only change forms.
Define second law of thermodynamics
That during every energy conversion some energy is lost as heat.
Define food chain
A sequence linking organisms that feed on each other, starting with a food source and continuing in order with each consumer
Define food web
A representation of the feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem.
Define pyramid of numbers
Represents the number of organisms in that environment
Define pyramid of biomass
Represents the amount of biomass in that environment
Define pyramid of energy
Represents the amount of energy available at each trophic level
Define biotic
Of having to do with the life or living organisms
Define abiotic
Characterized by the absence of life or living organisms
Define hydrological cycle [water cycle]
The movement of water through the environment from the atmosphere to earth and back
Define percolation
The movement of a liquid through a porous material, such as soil particles
Define Deforestation
The state of being clear of trees
Define Acid deposition
Rain or any type of precipitation that is unusually acidic
Define Carbon cycle
The cycle of matter in which carbon atoms move from an inorganic form to an organic form and then back to an inorganic form
Define greenhouse effect
The trapping of the suns warmth in a planets lower atmosphere due to the greater transparency of the atmosphere to visible radiation from the sun then to infrared radiation emitted from the planets surface
Define carbon reservoir
A Carbon-storing natural feature that exchanges Carbon with other reservoirs
Define nitrogen fixation
Two processes in which atmospheric or dissolved nitrogen is converted into nitrite ions
Define nitrification
The chemical process in which a nature group is added to an organic compound
Define denitrification
Process in which nitrates are converted into nitrites and then to nitrogen gas
Explain why the earth is considered to be a closed system
Because energy can move in and out but matter can’t
Describe the job of ecologists
They are people who study the interactions among biotic and abiotic factors
What causes seasons to occur
Seasons depend on the angle of the sun in reference to where they are on the earth
Given example of two type of organisms that absorb solar energy
Photosynthetic organisms and cellular respiration organisms
What is an ecosystem
They are regions of the biosphere where biotic and abiotic factors interrelate through the flow of energy and cycling of matter
What is the biosphere made of?
Atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere
What is photosynthesis
It is a process that provides the energy required by the entire system. It stores energy and chemical bonds of glucose CO2 + H2O + energy —> C6H12O6 + O2
What is cellular respiration
It is a process that releases energy stored in glucose. This process is one that all organisms, including plants, must undergo. C6H12O6 + O2 –> CO2 + H2O + energy
What is at the base of all ecological pyramids?
Producers (plants)
Define autotroph
An organism that is able to form nutritional organic substances from simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide
In the food chain which consumer obtains the most amount of energy?
The herbivores
What place on earth has no seasons? Why?
Places nearest the equator. Because they have the most solar radiation all months of the year.
In relationship to the sun, during the winter months, which direction is Fort McMurray tilted?
The earth would be tilted away from the sun
Why is energy lost at each trophic level?
Because energy is always lost as heat and
