APES Unit 1 Terms

Describe a biological process by which carbon is removed from the atmosphere and converted to organic molecules.

Photosynthesis- In Photosynthesis, plants take in CO2 from the atmosphere and convert it into glucose/complex carbohydrates.

Describe a biological process by which carbon is converted from organic molecules to a gas and returned to the atmosphere.

A biological process in which carbon is converted into a gas is respiration. In respiration, glucose/complex carbohydrates are broken down to CO2 and released into the atmosphere.

Explain how atmospheric carbon is incorporated into two oceanic sinks.

Atmospheric CO2 can be dissolved directly into the ocean or into precipitation and eventually reach the ocean and can then be taken up by marine organisms for shells and skeletons. Carbon can also react with other elements and form limestone or sedimentary rocks.

Identify one terrestrial sink, other than fossil fuels, that stores carbon for thousands to millions of years.

Sedimentary rocks can store carbon for thousands to millions of years.

Discuss TWO other human activities that increase the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere.

Two human activities that increase the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere are deforestation and slash-and-burn agriculture. In deforestation, we are removing the reservoirs for CO2 by cutting the trees down. In slash-and-burn agriculture, burning organic matter releases carbon into the atmosphere.

Identify an environmental problem that results from elevated atmospheric carbon concentrations.

Discuss one consequence of the problem you identified.

The Greenhouse Effect can occur due to elevated amounts of carbon in the atmosphere. This causes the sun's heat to get trapped and increases the temperature of the planet.

Describe one major way in which the phosphorus cycle differs from the carbon cycle.

Unlike the carbon cycle, the phosphorus cycle does not occur in the atmosphere.

Identify one reason that phosphorus is necessary for organisms.

Phosphorus is necessary for organisms because it is required for cellular respiration.

Identify the class of chemical compounds that is primarily responsible for the thinning of the stratospheric ozone layer and describe TWO major uses for which these chemicals were manufactured.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) are primarily responsible for the thinning of the ozone layer. CFC's are used in the production of styrofoam and solvent/cleaner.

Describe how the chemical compounds that you identified in part (A) destroy stratospheric ozone molecules. You may include chemical equation as part of your answer.

CL+03 ---> CLO+02

When a CFC molecule comes into contact with ultraviolet light exposure they tend to split causing a chlorine atom to escape. Due to the fact that chlorine by itself is extremely radioactive, it bonds with oxygen atoms that were stolen from a ozone molecule.

Identify the major environmental consequence of the depletion of stratospheric ozone and describe TWO effects on ecosystems and/or human health that can result.

The major environmental consequence of ozone depletion is that the chlorine can gather in one place, such as the ozone hole in Antarctica, and create a hole in the stratospheric ozone which releases UV-B and UV-C. Two effects can be skin cancer in humans and decreased plant productivity.

Ozone formed at ground level is a harmful pollutant. Describe TWO effects that ground-level ozone can have on ecosystems and/or human health.

In humans, ground-level ozone can cause pain or burning in the chest and shortness of breath. In the environment, it can lead to reduced agricultural crop and commercial forest yields.

Biogeochemical Cycles

The movement of abiotic factors between the living and nonliving components within ecosystems; also known as nutrient cycles (i.e., water cycle, carbon cycle, oxygen cycle, and nitrogen cycle).

The Water Cycle

Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, run off, transpiration, infiltration. Humans impact this by storing water in reservoirs, irrigation, deforestation, and putting chemicals in it

Condensation

The change of state from a gas to a liquid

Run off

The draining away of water (or substances carried in it) from the surface of an area of land, a building or structure, etc.

Transpiration

Evaporation of water from the leaves of a plant

Infiltration

Flow of water from the land surface into the subsurface

The Carbon Cycle

The organic circulation of carbon from the atmosphere into organisms and back again. Humans impact this by burning fossil fuels and cutting down trees,

The Nitrogen Cycle

The transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil, to living organisms, and back to the atmosphere. Humans impact this by altering the amount of nitrogen that is stored in the biosphere.

The Phosphorus Cycle

The movement of phosphorus atoms from rocks through the biosphere and hydrosphere and back to rocks.

The Sulfur Cycle

Cyclic movement of sulfur in various chemical forms from the environment to organisms and then back to the environment. Humans impact this by burning coal, natural gas, and other fossil fuels which greatly increases the amount of sulfur in the atmosphere and ocean and depleted the sedimentary rock sink

Where are the four major areas of water storage on Earth?

Atmosphere, surface water, ground water, and living things

Abiotic Factors

Nonliving components of environment.

Biotic Factors

All the living organisms that inhabit an environment

Habitat

Where an organism lives and any aspect of the location

Niche

Full range of physical and biological conditions in which an organism lives and the way in which the organism uses those conditions

Organism

Any form of life. Belongs to any of the 6 kingdoms

Species

Group of organisms of same type that can reproduce to have fertile offspring

Population

A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. All abiotic and biotic factors.

Producers/Autotrophs

Organisms that make their own food from compounds and energy obtained from the environment

Photosynthesis

Conversion of light energy from the sun into chemical energy

Salinity

A measure of the amount of dissolved salts in a given amount of liquid

Plankton

Small, weakly-swimming, free floating organisms

Decomposers

Organisms that break down the dead remains of other organisms

Phytoplankton

Photosynthetic algae found near the surface of the ocean

Euphotic Zone

Surface layer where photosynthesis is usually confined to

Where are nutrients found in abundance?

In shallow and cold waters

Cultural Eutrophication

When human inputs of nutrients from the atmosphere and nearby urban areas accelerate the eutrophication of lakes

Watershed

The area of land that is drained by a water system

Human Impact on Freshwater Ecosystems

1. Dams, diversions, and canals fragment about 40% of our world's largest rivers

2. Flood control levees destroy aquatic habitats

3. Cities and farmlands add pollutants and excess plant nutrients to streams and rivers causing eutrophication

4. Many inland wetlands have been drained or filled to grow crops or have been covered with concrete, asphalt, and buildings

Biome

A group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms

Climatograms

Chart that is used to better understand climate by looking at the average temperature and precipitation

Desert

An area where evaporation exceeds precipitation and usually has little vegitation. Plants are well adapted to prevent water loss.

Grasslands

Usually occur in the interiors of continents in areas too moist for deserts and too dry for forests. Seasonal drought

Savanna

Has warm temperatures year round with alternating wet and long dry seasons. Plants have deep root systems, grasses and shrubs. Grazing animals

Tundra

Treeless arctic or alpine biome characterized by cold, harsh winters, a short growing season, and potential for frost any month of the year; vegetation includes low-growing perennial plants, mosses and lichens

Tropical Rainforest

Found around the equator and has a wet and warm climate year round allowing for the growth of a dense canopy of tall trees. Have shallow root systems. Soil is low in nutrients. 40% have been destroyed

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Forest in a temperate region, characterized by trees that drop their leaves annually

Taiga(Boreal Forest)

Subarctic climate with long, cold, dry winters, and short , mild summers. Dominated by coniferous evergreen trees. Plant diversity is low

Consumers

An organism that obtains energy and nutrients by feeding on other organisms or their remains

Parasitism

A relationship between two organisms of different species where one benefits and the other is harmed

Mutualism

A relationship between two species in which both species benefit

Commensalism

A relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected

Intraspecific competition

Competition among members of the same species

Interspecific Competition

Competition between members of different species

Resource Partitioning

When species competing for similar scarce resources evolve specialized traits that allow them to share resources by using parts of them, using them at different times, or using them in different ways

How does the phosphorus cycle differentiate from other biogeochemical cycles?

It does not include a gas phase

Predator Adaptations

Camouflage, speed, packs, poisons, acute senses, claws, teeth, fangs, stingers, etc.

Prey Adaptations

retreat, camouflage, warning coloration, poison, mimicry, spines, thorns, etc.

What two factors are most important in determining the type of biome that exists in an area?

Temperature and precipitation

Coral bleaching

A phenomenon in which algae inside corals die, causing the corals to turn white. When this happens, the habitat for the animals are destroyed

What are some major threats to coral reefs?

Overfishing, fishing using cyanide and dynamite, pollution from sewage and agriculture, massive outbreaks of predatory starfish, invasive species, and sedimentation from poor land use practices

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

The amount of energy lost through respiration by producers sublated from the gross primary productivity of an ecosystem.

Food Chain

A series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten

Food web

A community of organisms where there are several interrelated food chains

What limits the number of trophic levels in an ecological pyramid?

Decrease in energy at higher trophic levels limits this. When the number of links keep increasing, the amount of energy available decreases, as only 10% of energy gets transferred from one trophic level to the next

Ecological Efficiency

Percentage of energy transferred from one trophic level to another in a food chain or web

Biomass

A measure of the total dry mass of organisms within a particular region

Pyramid of energy

A pyramid that shows the total amount of energy available at each trophic level

Biomass Pyramid

Diagram representing the biomass in each trophic level of an ecosystem

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

The total amount of solar energy that producers in an ecosystem capture via photosynthesis over a given amount of time

Fresh Water Biomes

ponds, lakes, streams, rivers. Vital source of drinking water

The Ocean

a major storage reservoir of carbon

For a primary producer, the main function of photosynthesis is to manufacture

glucose

In a typical forest ecosystem, dead trees and fallen trees are most important because of their role in

providing habitats for wildlife

10% rule

Only 10% of the total energy produced at each trophic level is available to the next level. The amount of energy passed up to the levels of the food pyramid reduces as you go up.

Nitrogen

Most abundant gas in the atmosphere

phosphorus reservoirs

sedimentary rocks from ancient oceans (sediments)

soil

dissolved in oceans

biomass

The two major processes involved in the carbon cycle are

photosynthesis and cellular respiration

The ultimate source of energy for terrestrial ecosystems is the

sun

Tropical rain forest soil

is quickly depleted of nutrients when the forest is removed

competitive exclusion

Strong competition can lead to local elimination of one of the species.

Brazil and Indonesia

Contain the greatest area of rain forests

Bacteria in soil

Responsible for "fixing" atmospheric nitrogen so it can be used for amino acids, DNA, etc.

The approximate efficiency of the conversion of light energy to chemical energy in photosynthesis

1%

resource partitioning

The division of environmental resources by coexisting species such that the niche of each species differs by one or more significant factors from the niches of all coexisting species. Example: Birds and seed size

Terrestrial biome

A geographic region categorized by a particular combination of average annual temperature, annual precipitation, and distinctive plant growth forms on land

Aquatic biome

an aquatic region characterized by a particular combination of salinity, depth, and water flow

Tundra

a cold and treeless biome with low growing vegetation

permafrost

an impermeable, permanently frozen layer of soil, found in tundra.