Ecosystems, Biomes, and Biogeochemical Cycles

Flashcards generated from lecture notes on ecosystems, biomes, and biogeochemical cycles for exam preparation.

Biosphere

All living things and the areas in which they live, including all ecosystems on Earth.

Ecosystem

All living things functioning together with the physical factors in their environment.

Community

An area occupied by different groups of interacting organisms, ignoring physical factors.

Population

A unit of species living in the same geographical area.

Reservoirs

Temporarily store matter.

Sinks

Store more matter than they give off.

Sources

Move matter around between reservoirs.

Surviving

Maintaining yourself on a basic level.

Thriving

Growing and reaching for further pursuits that fulfill you.

Needs to Survive

Safety and Physiological needs, such as food, water, physical safety, and access to healthcare.

Needs to Thrive

Social needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization.

Organism

An individual living being that can function independently.

Biotic Components

All the living organisms in an ecosystem.

Abiotic Components

All the non-living factors in an ecosystem.

Producers

Organisms that make their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.

Primary Producers

Green plants, algae, and phytoplankton.

Chemosynthetic Producers

Bacteria in deep-sea environments that use chemical energy rather than sunlight.

Consumers

Organisms that obtain their energy by eating other organisms.

Primary Consumers (Herbivores)

Deer, rabbits, and zooplankton; anything that directly eats producers.

Secondary Consumers

Wolves, hawks, frogs, and small fish.

Tertiary Consumers

Lions, eagles, and sharks.

Decomposers

Break down dead organic matter and return nutrients back to the ecosystem.

Bacteria and Fungi

Bacteria and fungi that break down dead plants and animals.

Detritivores

Earthworms, millipedes, etc., that feed on decaying matter.

Physical Abiotic Factors

Temperature, light, water availability, soil quality, topography, and climate.

Chemical Abiotic Factors

pH levels, dissolved O2, nutrient levels, and salinity.

Parasitism

One species benefits and another is harmed (e.g., tapeworms in a human intestine).

Commensalism

One species benefits and the other is unaffected (e.g., barnacles attached to a whale).

Mutualism

Both species benefit (e.g., bees and flowering plants).

Competition

Neither species benefits (e.g., two different bird species competing for the same resources).

Competitive Exclusion Principle

No two species can occupy the same niche in the same environment for an extended period; one either immigrates or dies off.

Resource Partitioning

When resources are divided by species to avoid competition within an ecological community.

Neutralism

Neither species is benefited or harmed (e.g., squirrels in a tree and earthworms in the soil).

Ecosystem Services

The benefits that humans get from functioning ecosystems.

Provisioning Services

Services directly provided by nature, direct products of ecosystems.

Regulating Services

Services where ecosystems help moderate natural events and phenomena.

Cultural Services

A service where ecosystems guide our cultural, intellectual, and social development.

Supporting Services

Fundamental natural processes that allow Earth to sustain basic life forms.

Negative Externalities

Harmful side effects of human activities.

Biological Community

All the interacting populations of different species living in the same area at the same time.

Predation

A feeding relationship where one organism is killed and the other consumes.

symbiotic relationships

Long-term close associations between two organisms.

Taiga

Biome of evergreens, pine, fir, spruce located south of the Tundra

Temperate Rainforest

Biome with the largest found in coastal mountain ranges of the pacific Northwest and has the largest biomass of all rainforests.

Temperate Seasonal Forests

Biome located in eastern North America, Europe, and East Asia and is dominated by deciduous trees that lose leaves in winter to conserve water and energy.

Tropical Rainforests

Biome located near the equator (Amazon, Congo Basin, Southeast Asia) has the highest biodiversity of all biomes but nutrient-poor soils due to rapid decomposition.

Shrubland

Biome located in Mediterranean climates (California, Chile, Mediterranean Basin) and is Dominated by drought-resistant shrubs

Temperate Grassland

Biome located in interior continents (Great Plains, Pampas, Steppes) and has Fertile soils ideal for agriculture

Savanna

Biome located in Africa, South America, Australia, and is a Grassland with scattered trees

Desert

Biome located around 15 to 35° latitude (Sahara, Mojave, Atacama) and has scarce Sparse vegetation adapted to water scarcity

Tundra

Biome located in Arctic regions and high mountains, and has permafrost that prevents deep root growth

Abiotic factors in Lakes

Still or slow-moving water, temperature stratification.

Biotic factors of Lakes

phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish (bass, trout), aquatic plants, waterfowl, amphibians

characteristics of lakes

Nutrient cycling, seasonal turnover, oligotrophic (nutrient-poor) vs eutrophic (nutrient-rich)

Abiotic factors in Streams/Rivers

Flowing water, high dissolved oxygen, temperature varies with location and season, current speed affects erosion

Physical characteristics of Streams/Rivers

Gradient determines flow rate, substrate type (rocky, sandy, muddy)

Biotic factors of Streams/Rivers

Adapted to current (streamlined fish like trout, mayfly larvae, caddisfly larvae), riparian vegetation, migratory species (salmon)

Key factor of streams

Streams and rivers absorb oxygen from the atmosphere as they flow downhill and pick up nutrients from ecosystems in the form of leaves

Abiotic Factors of Oceans

High salinity, temperature decreases with depth, pressure increases with depth, pH around 8.1

Biotic Factors of Oceans

phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish, marine mammals, seabirds, deep-sea organisms, algae, etc.

Abiotic factors of Coral Reef

Warm water (20-30°C), high salinity, clear water for light penetration, shallow depths

location of coral reefs

Tropical waters, typically 30°N to 30°S latitude

Biotic factors of Coral reefs

Coral polyps with symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae), diverse fish species, sea turtles, sharks, invertebrates

Characteristics of Coral reefs

Highest marine biodiversity, calcium carbonate structures, sensitive to temperature and pH changes

Abiotic factors of Estuaries

Brackish water (mixing of fresh and salt water), variable salinity (0.5-35 ppt), nutrient-rich, shallow

Physical characteristics of Estuaries

Tidal influence, sediment deposition, protected from ocean waves

Biotic factors of Estuaries

Salt-tolerant plants (salt marsh grasses), juvenile fish, migratory birds, shellfish (oysters, clams), crabs

Characteristics of Estuaries

Highly productive ecosystems, nursery areas for many marine species, buffer zones for coastal protection

Littoral Zone

the photosynthetic zone near shore, sunlight and nutrients are abundant.

Limnetic Zone

the photosynthetic zone of the lake from the surface to the zone at which light does not penetrate. Area with high oxygen and sunlight levels.

Profundal Zone

immediately above the bottom of the lake, relatively low oxygen levels and no sunlight or plants.

Benthic Zone

the bottom of the lake, with low oxygen levels and low temps

Oligotrophic lakes

low nutrient levels and low productivity

Eutrophic Lakes

High nutrient levels and high productivity.

Mesotrophic Lakes

between oligotrophic and eutrophic lakes in terms of nutrient levels and productivity

Cultural Eutrophication

human-induced increase in nutrients and productivity, often resulting in nitrate and/or phosphate pollution

Source Zone

the area that encompasses the headwaters of the river. Cold water w large amounts of dissolved oxygen.

Transition Zone

a wider, slower area of the river with less dissolved oxygen and more producers.

Flood plain zone

the area that is wider with meander bends and possible deltas, the dissolved oxygen levels are less than in the two other zones, but many producers.

Intertidal zone

area that is exposed to the atmosphere at low tide and covered by the ocean at high tide, also known as littoral zone.

Neritic Zone

zone over the continental shelf receives much sunlight, so photosynthesis occurs. Oxygen levels are high.

Oceanic Zone

open ocean beyond the continental shelf

Euphotic Zone

zone over the continental slope, receives a great deal of light. Oxygen levels are high but few nutrients.

Bathyal Zone

zone over the continental slope, receives little light, no photosynthesis. Fish here rely on food from euphotic zone.

Abyssal Zone

zone over the abyssal plain, receives no sunlight. The water is cold, pressure is high, and little oxygen.

Continental shelf

exists around the perimeter of each continent where ocean depth increases gradually.

Continental Slope

exists past the continental shelf where the ocean floor slopes dramatically.

Abyssal Plain

flat deep ocean

Benthic Zone

ocean floor at any depth

Differences between rivers/streams, freshwater lakes, oceans, coral reefs and estuaries

involves Salinity tolerance, Productivity, Biodiversity, Stability Human impact

Stages of the Hydrologic/Water cycle

Evaporation and transpiration, Sublimation, Condensation, Precipitation, Runoff, Infiltration,. Storage in ice/snow, lakes/rivers, groundwater, oceans

Human Impact on the Hydrologic/Water Cycle

Roads/Concrete, Runoff Pollutants, Deforestation, Dams, Overuse of Freshwater

Various Stages of the Carbon Cycle

Environmental Phase, Organismic Phase

Key Processes of the Carbon Cycle

Photosynthesis, Cellular Respiration, Decomposition, Combustion, Exchanges, Geological Processes, Volcanic Activity, Short-Term Carbon, Long-Term Carbon

Human Impact on the Carbon Cycle

Excess Carbon Presence, Deforestation, Transfer of Long-Term Carbon

Stages of the Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen Fixation, Nitrification, Assimilation, Ammonification, Denitrification

Human Impact on the Nitrogen Cycle

Use of Nitrogen-Rich Fertilizers, Combustion, Industrial Processes

Stages of the Phosphorus Cycle

Weathering, Absorption, Assimilation, Decomposition, Sedimentation

Human Impact on the Phosphorus Cycle

Fertilizer Runoff, Detergents, Deforestation

Work

The process of causing matter to move against an opposing force.