Ecological Spheres, Carbon Cycle, and Annotation Vocabulary

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards derived from the lecture notes on ecological organization, biological spheres, ocean acidification, organic chemistry, and annotation methods.

Annotation

A thinking tool used to extract claim, evidence, and reasoning from text, which helps locate evidence faster when answering questions.

Correlation

A statistical relationship or connection between two variables observed during data analysis.

Causation

A direct relationship where one event or variable directly produces or causes an effect in another.

Confounding variable

An extra factor that can influence both the cause and effect, potentially confusing the relationship between variables.

Biotic

The living parts of the environment.

Abiotic

The non-living parts of the environment.

Levels of Ecological Organization

The structural hierarchy of life moving from least to most complex: Atom, Molecule, Cell, Tissue, Organ, System, Individual (Organism), Population, Community, Ecosystem, Biome, Biosphere.

Geosphere

The ecological sphere comprising rock and minerals.

Hydrosphere

The ecological sphere comprising water.

Biosphere

The ecological sphere comprising living things.

Atmosphere

The ecological sphere comprising air.

CHONPS

An acronym representing the essential elements of organic life: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Sulfur.

Organic matter

Matter containing Carbon and Hydrogen usually in a 1:2 ratio; without Carbon, a substance cannot be organic (e.g., Glucose $C_6H_{12}O_6$).

Inorganic matter

Matter that has no Carbon, or does not contain both Carbon and Hydrogen (e.g., Water $H_2O$, Carbon Dioxide $CO_2$).

Carbon sink

A reservoir or system that stores more carbon than it releases.

pH

A measure of how acidic or basic a solution can be, ranging on a scale where 1 is strong acid, 7 is neutral, and 14 is strong base.

Indicator

A substance that produces a observable change (such as a color change) in the presence of a specific substance.

Bromthymol Blue

An indicator solution used to detect chemical changes in a solution.

Ocean acidification

The process that occurs when water absorbs $CO_2$, creating more $H^+$ Hydrogen ions and making the water more acidic.

Autotrophs

Organisms that create their own organic nutrients or food from inorganic sources.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that obtain energy and nutrients by consuming other organisms.

Decomposers

Organisms that break down dead or decaying organic material in an ecosystem.