Ecology Final - Definitions

ecosystem

the collection of interacting living and nonliving objects in a specific volume

ecotone

transitional area between adjoining ecosystem patches

gross primary productivity

rate of carbon fixation by autotrophs in an ecosystem

net primary productivity

rate of carbon capture that can be used to create organic molecules, mostly to increase biomass by autotrophs

net ecosystem productivity

rate of carbon change in an ecosystem

secondary production

production of biomass in which carbon and energy was derived from consumption of organic compounds

production efficiency

percent of consumed material used for biomass

spatial subsidies

movement across ecosystem boundaries

carbon sink

a forest, ocean, or other natural environment viewed in terms of its ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

agricultural soil C sequestration

the process of increasing the amount of carbon stored in agricultural soils, essentially turning farmland into a carbon sink

biochar

black carbon produced from biomass sources that is incorporated into the soil
helps with plant growth, carbon sequestration, and nutrient retention

afforestation

planting forests where there haven’t been forests for a while or ever

biogeochemistry

the study of the transformation and movement of elements in the environment

nitrification

ammonium → nitrate

denitrification

nitrate → nitrogen
the process where bacteria convert nitrate in the soil and water into nitrogen gas, which is then released into the atmosphere

acid rain

acidity in precipitation caused by the release of nitrous oxides into the atmosphere

ecosystem health/integrity

free of distress symptoms and sustainable and resilient

ecosystem services

the benefits that human populations derive, directly or indirectly, from ecosystems

instrumental value

economic, human needs

intrinsic value

nature is important

relational value

society’s culture and a person’s self-identity

wardship

preservation of natural systems, ideally apart from human influence

stewardship

humans and natural systems are integrated, and management involves both restraint and use

utilization

protection of nature for human use

surrogate/umbrella species

individual species whose protection will also result in protection for many other species