APES Unit Unit 8

processes in the carbon cycle

photosynthesis, consumption, respiration, decomposition, exchange, sedimentation, combustion

steps of the carbon cycle

co2 is pulled from the atmosphere through photosynthesis, then it is released back into the atmosphere through cellular respiration, fungi break down dead organic material, putting co2 into the soil, water, and into fossil fuels, burning of fossil fuels release co2 back into the atmosphere, when animals eat other organisms, co2 is going through the food chain

decompisition in the carbon cycle

fungi and bacteria break down dead organisms and release co2 into the soil where it can compact into fossil fuels

exchange in the carbon cycle

co2 dissolves into the ocean and acidifies it

sedimentation in the carbon cycle

over millions of years buried deposits of dead organic material and bacteria are compressed between sediment to form fossil fuels

processes in the nitrogen cycle

nitrogen fixation, nitrification, assimilation, mineralization, dentrification

steps of the nitrogen cycle

nitrogen fixation, nitrogen fixing bacteria turn atmospheric nitrogen (n2) into NH3, nitrification, bacteria turn NH3 into nitrates which can be absorbed by plants, assimilation, plants abosrb the nitrogen into their dna through the roots, ammonification, bacteria break down organic material which relases ammonia into the soil, dentrification, bacteria turn NH3 back into atmopheric nitrogen

nitrogen fixation

bacteria turns N2 (atmopsheric nitrogen) into usable forms for producers

nitrification

bacteria further breaks down nitrogen into the soil into usable forms

assimilation

nitrogen is absorbed by plant roots

mineralization

after death, a organisms nitrogen is released back into the soil

dentrification

specialized bacteria turn nitrogen in the soil back into n2 (atmospheric nitrogen)

what are the processes in the phosphorus cycle

assimilation, mineralization, sedimentation, weathering

steps in the phosphorus cycle

weathering breaks down rocks and puts them into soil and water which releases phosphate into the water, assimilation, plants absorb the phosphorus into their roots, organisms eat other organisms which transfers the phosphate, decomoposition breaks down phosphate back into soil and water, sedimentation, phosphate rocks build up on the ocean floor, geological uplift, over years geological forests can uplift the rocks

weathering in the phosphorus cycle

phosphate containing rocks in the mountains will be weathered by natural forces returning phosphorus to terrestrial and aquatic habitats

tilling

mixing and breaking up the top layer of soil to make plants grow roots easier, increased erosion, increased PM in air (pollution and health risks) and in water (turbidity), loss of organic material in the top soil overtime

slash and burn

cutting down plants and burning land so nutrients can be returned into the soil, causes habitat loss, deforestation, releases CO2 and Nox, lowers albedo, increases PM in air

leaching

water carries excess nutrients into the groundwater or runoff, contaminates groundwater for drinking and causes eutrophication in surface waters

mechanization

use of more tractors and mechanics for farming, compacts soil and decreases water holding capacity

high yield crops

GMO plants which make more yield

irrigation

drawing water from the the ground or nearby water sources and distributing across farm fields

weathering

break down of rock into smaller pieces which can be carried away by erosion, physical (rain, snow), biological (plant roots, burrowing animals) chemical (acid rain, lichen acids)

erosion

the physical removal of rock fragments from a landscape, caused by water or snow moving downscape, rocks are carried (deposition)

soil formation form below

weathering of rocks and primary mineral produces smaller and smaller frgaments that make up the inogranic part of the soil, sand silt, clay, minerals

soil formation from above

deposition of organic material (leaves and animals) which add to the humus

parent material

underlying rock material from which the inorganic components are derived (soil and ph content)

O Horizon

op layer of decomposing leaves, wood, and other organic matter (humus)

A Horizon

Mix of minerals and decomposed organic matter, dark in color, excellent for plant roots.

E Horizon

Leached layer, lighter in color (sandy/ashy), where clay and minerals have washed out.

B Horizon

Accumulates minerals (like clay, iron) leached from above, often reddish or brownish

C Horizon

Slightly weathered rock fragments from which the soil develops

order of horizons

OAEBC

biocontrol

introducing natural pretadors to get rid of pest population

intercropping

growing 2 crops in close proximity, push plant releases VOC that repel pests away, pull plant provide chemicals that attract natural pests

roundup ready plants

plants which are modified to be resistant to broad herbicides so weeds are killed but not the crop, makes excess herbicide buildup

pathogen

living organism, Bacteria parasite that causes a infectious diseas, can adapt, HIV, EBOLA

vectors

living organism (rat) that carry a disease, climate change has made them able to infect more areas

plauge

bacterial infection caused by fleas

Tuberculosis

bacterial infection caused by the spread of bodiliy fluids

Malaria

protist infection caused by mosquitos

west nile virus

viral infection caused by mosquitos

zika virus

viral disease caused by mosquito bite and sexual xontact

severe acute respiratory system

coronavirus caused by getting infect droplets

middle east respiratory syndrome

viral infection transimitted from animals to humans

cholrea

bacterial infection caused by drinking infected drinking water

atrazine

endocrine disruptor from herbicides to control weeds

DDT

insectide phased out of the us but still lingers

phtlates

compounds used in plastic and cosmetic manufacturing

mercury

naturally occuring incoal and anthorpogneic uses

arsenic

naturally occuring element in rocks that can affect ground water

coal ash

large source of mercury lead and arsenic

persisting organic pollutants

synthetic compounds that do no breakdown, build up in water and soil, fat soluable so they can be released in tissue

PCB (POP)

used in plastics

contour plowing

plowing crops according to the natural contour of the land, to reduce run-off and soil erosion

Perennial crops

crops that live year round and are good in many seasons, live longer and more established roots

windbreaks

using trees or other plants to block the force of wind from eroding topsoil

no till

leaving leftover crop remains in the soil instead of tilling them under

strip cropping

may be known as intercropping, alternating rows of dense and less dense crops to prevent runoff from eroding the soil

Green manure

left over plant matter form cover crops that is incorportaed into the soil while still green

acid soil problems

high H ion concentrations dusplaces positivley chared nutrients from the soil, makes toxic metals more soluable in soil

disadvantages of overgrazing

can kill plants, compact soil, and cause soil erosion

manure lagoons

large open storage pits for animal waste, it contains ammonia, hormones, antibiotics, and bacteria, heavy rain can flood lagoons and contaminate surface water

what are the effects of eutrophication

increases in nutrients causes an algal bloom, dead algae is digested by microbes which use the oxygen in the water resultnig in decreased DO levels in the water (hyperoxia), can be the cause of synthetic fertilizers, sewage and manure lagoons

oligotrophic waterways

have very low amounts of nutrients, stable algal population, and high DO levels, can be due to a lack of nutrient pollution or the age of the waterway

what are the factors that affect the watershed

it is when all the land of water drains into a specific body of water, and determined by vegtation, slope, soil permeability, landscape slope, clearcutting, dams, urbanization

furrow irrigation

trench dug along crops and filled with water allowing water to seep slowly into the soil, easy, inexpensive, lead to runoff

spray irrigation

ground or surface water pumped into spray nozzles, more expensive and requires enegery for pumps

waterlogging

overwatering can saturate the soil and fill all the soil pore space, air is now not available to the soil, stunts growth and can kill crops

soil salinzation

process of salt building up in a soil overtime, groundwater used for irrigation naturally has small amounts of salt, overtime walt reaches toxice levels, preventing groth, use dripirgation or f

aquifer

useable groundwater deposits for humans, replenished by rainwater, uncondifined aquifers rechange quickly

what are ways aquifers can deplete

saltwater intrusion, excessive pumping near coasts lowers water table pressure, allowing saltwater to seep into groundwater and cone of depression, forms when water table is lowered by excessive pumping resulting in depleted water and dry nearby wells

primary treatment

physical removal of large debris with a screen/grate followed by settling of soil waste in the bottom of a tank

secondary treatment

biological breakdown of organic matter by bacteria into carbon dioxide and inorganic sludge, which settles at the bottom of the tank

tertiary treatment

use of ecological or chemical process to remove any pollutants left in the water after first two treatments, prior to discharge, the treated water is exposed to one or more disinfectants to kill any remaining bacteria

bioaccumulation

the selective absobtion and concentration of coumpounds in the fat tussues of organisms, because fat solunle compounds dont dissolve readily into water, they do not enter the blood stream, build up more overtime