Studied by 4 people
Gaia Hypothesis
A theory in which the earth resembles a complex, living organism where the biotic and abiotic systems interact and are interdependent
Dynamic Equilibrium
The theoretical state of the earth in which change is continually occurring, but adjustments are being made to keep the system stable
Positive Feedback Loop
Enhances/magnifies the changes in a complex system
Negative Feedback Loop
Minimizes or brings to an equilibrium the changes in a complex system
Biosphere
All areas of the earth where life is found
Atmosphere
The envelope of gases surrounding earth, refers to the area above the ground
Lithosphere
The crust of the earth, the ground
Hydrosphere
The combined mass of water on earth, including precipitation and ice
Individual Organism
An individual plant, animal, or single-celled life form
Population
A group of a particular species of organisms living in a particular place at a specific time
Community
All of the populations that live in a specific area at a specific time
Ecosystem
Communities and their abiotic environments
Biodiversity
Describes the biological diversity, number, and variety of species that live in an ecosystem
Keystone Species
Species which can help to define an entire ecosystem due to its disproportionately large affect on its natural environment relative to its abundance
Indicator Species
Species of organisms that provide an early warning that an ecosystem’s biodiversity is compromised because it is very sensitive to changes of ecosystem conditions
Biomagnification
The concentration of toxins in an organism as a result of its ingesting other plants and animals in which the toxins are more widely dispersed
Trophic Level
A category of living things that is defined by how it gains its energy
Autotroph
An organism that creates its own energy
Heterotroph
An organism that obtains energy from other organisms
Food Chains
Describe trophic levels
Food Web
A representation of the feeding relationships amongst organisms in an ecosystem
1st Law of Thermodynamics
Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred
2nd Law of Thermodynamics
During any energy transformation, some of the energy will be transformed into an unusable form (such as heat) and will therefore be lost to the system
10% Rule of Energy
Only around 10% of energy stored in a trophic level is available to be passed from one level to the next
Pyramid of Energy
A graphical representation of energy flow within an ecosystem; at each level the energy found within the bodies of organisms is graphed
Pyramid of Numbers
A tool used by scientists to represent the flow of energy in an ecosystem by using the number of organisms that exists at each level
Pyramid of Biomass
A tool used by scientists to represent the flow of energy in an ecosystem by using biomass of organisms that exist at each level
Organic Molecule
Any compound made by living things that contain carbon
Inorganic Molecule
Any compound that does not contain carbon
Cohesion
The phenomenon in which molecules stick to each other
Adhesion
The phenomenon in which molecules stick to other surfaces
Evapotranspiration
The general term for the process of water evaporating into the atmosphere
Condensation
The process in which water vapour is turned into liquid water
Precipitation
Water/snow falling to the earth
Surface Runoff
Unconfined water flowing over the surface of the ground
Percolation/Infiltration
The process of water moving downwards through the soil due to gravity
Leaching
The loss of water-soluble plant nutrients from the soil due to cohesion or adhesion
Water Table
Where pores/fracture of the ground are saturated with water
Recharge
Replenishment of an aquifer by absorption of water
Acid Deposition
Acid rain/snow from the burning of fossil fuel
Cyanobacteria
A single-celled photosynthesizing microbe that was first responsible for producing oxygen on Earth
Stromatolites
Layered mounds of sheet-like limestone rocks that were originally formed by the growth of cyanobacteria
Inorganic Carbon Compounds
Carbon compounds that are not made by living things
Inorganic Carbon Reservoirs
The atmosphere, the ocean, and the lithosphere
Organic Carbon Compound
A carbon compound derived from plants or animals that usually contains carbon and hydrogen
Organic Carbon Reservoirs
The bodies of living organisms; in peat, coal, crude oil, and natural gas stored in the ground
Human Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
The increase in concentrations of greenhouse gases due to the burning of fossil fuels, which is causing the atmosphere to absorb more heat and increase the rate of climate change
Nitrogen Fixation
The transformation of atmospheric nitrogen gas to a useable form of nitrogen by soil bacteria or legume roots
Assimilation
The incorporation of useable nitrogen into tissue
Ammonification
The transformation of organic nitrogen compounds to ammonia gas during decomposition
Nitrification
The transformation of ammonia into nitrites or nitrites into nitrate via nitrifying bacteria
Ammonia-nitrifying bacteria
Converts ammonia to nitrites
Nitrite-nitrifying bacteria
Converts nitrites to nitrates
Denitrification
The transformation of nitrites into nitrogen gas via denitrifying bacteria
Eutrophication
When the environment becomes enriched with nutrients from the accumulation of nitrates and phosphates, which results in prolific algae growth
Anoxic Water
Water that is low in oxygen
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