Studied by 195 people
biomass
the total amount of organic matter in any ecosystem ( a change in biomass over time is production)
biological production
the capture of usable energy from the environment to produce organic matter
gross production
increased in stored energy before any is used
net production
the amount of newly acquired energy stored after some energy has been used
the 3 measures for biomass + biological production are
the quantity of organic matter
energy stored
carbon stored
autotrophs production
primary production as many go through photosynthesis
heterotroph’s production
secondary production
respiration
the use of biomass to release energy that can be used to do work
energy efficiency
the ratio of output to input and usually further defined as the amount of useful work obtained from the same amount of available energy
the rule of thumb for trophic energy efficiency
more than 90% of energy is lost as heat
primary sucession
the establishment and development of an ecosystem where on did not exist previously
no topsoil left behind
ecological succession
ecosystems can recover if the damage is not too great
secondary succession
the re-establishment of an ecosystem after disturbances
disaster leaves only topsoil behind
successional species/pioneers
early = adapted to the early stage
late = adapted to persist competition, slower growing and longer life spans
middle are a mix of both
from early-middle succession
theres an increase in storage of chemical elements
as long as there is an increase in organic matter, there will be ___ storage
increased
global warming potential (gwp) is the highest in
CFCs
_______ rate of loss as live and dead organic matter helps slow erosion
decreased
facilitation
an early successional species changes the local environment in ways so a species from a later stage survives
ex: dune + bog, occurs in mangrove and coral
interference
refers to the situations where an earlier successional species changes the local environment so its unstable to another late-stage species
6 main macronutrients
carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus + sulfur
carbon builds organic compounds and with hydrogen and oxygen it forms carbohydrates
nitrogen makes proteins, phosphorus is the energy element
limiting factor
a prevention of growth in an individual, species or population
biogeochemical cycles
the complete path a chemical takes through the 4 major components of earth: atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere + biosphere
residence time
the average time that an atom is stored in a compartment
source
donating compartment
sink
receiving compartment
human impacts on cycles
transferring chemical elements through air, water and soil for crop production
flow
the amount moving from one compartment to another
flux
the rate of transfer of a chemical that enters/leaves a storage compartment
geological cycle
a group of cycles: tectonic, hydrologic, rock, biogeochemical
tectonic cycle
creation and destruction of the lithosphere
3 types of boundaries occur
a divergent plate boundary occurs at a spreading ocean ridge, producing ocean basins
a convergent plate boundary occurs when plates collide producing linear mountains
a transform fault boundary occurs where one plate slides past another
the rock cycle and its connection to life
depends on the tectonic cycle for energy and the hydraulic cycle for water producing soil and rocks
weather vs climate
weather is what’s happening right now over a short period of time in the atmosphere low to the ground VS climate is the average weather conditions over long period like seasons or years
2 important qualities of the atmosphere are
pressure and temperature
the atmosphere moves because
of the earth’s radiation + the different heating of earth’s surface + atmosphere, resulting in global patterns that include prevailing winds and latitudinal belts of low + high air pressure from the equator to the poles
energy budget
the balance between the energy that earth receives from the sun + loses back into the outer space
albedo
the reflectivity of an object
el nino
caused by variations in ocean currents (the southern oscillations) when there are no cold upwellings on the coast of south America
this causes flooding in Peru, droughts/fires in Australia and Indonesia
the warm ocean provides an atmospheric heat source → el nino changes global atmospheric conditions
the ocean conveyer belt
a global circulation of ocean waves characterized by strong northward movement of upper warm waters
system
a set of components that function together as a whole
key concepts of a system
how a system is connected to the rest of the environment
how matter + energy flows between parts
how it changes over time ( static or dynamic)
average residence time (how long something stays)
feedback ( how outputs affect inputs)
linear and nonlinear flows
open + closed system s
some energy or material moves into or out of the system whereas there in no transfer in a closed system
static system
has a fixed condition and tends to remain in that exact condition
dynamic system
changes continually over time
equilibrium
the rest point/ the point that doesn’t move
steady-state system
the inputs are equal to the outputs so the amount stored in the system is constant
dynamic equilibrium
not a state of inactivity but rather a condition where continuous actions + reactions occur, balancing each other out
ART
average residence time
average residence time (ART)
measure of the time it takes for a given part of the total pool or reservoir of a particular material in a system to be cycled through the system. When the size of the pool and rate of throughput are constant, it is the ratio of the total size of the pool/reservoir to the average rate of transfer through the pool
negative feedback loop
response in which the effects of a reaction slow or stop that reaction
positive feedback loop
enhance or amplify changes; this tends to move a system away from its equilibrium state and make it more unstable
flow
amount transferred
flux
rate of transfer per unit of time
lag time
the delay between a cause and the appearance of its effect
environmental change
the idea that it is impossible to change only one thing and everything affects everything else\
urbanization → clearing of forests for buildings → increased runoff and erosion
uniformitarianism
the idea is that geological and biological processes that occur today are the same kind of process that occurred in the past and vice versa
gaia hypothesis
states that life manipulates the environment for the maintenance of life
the major themes of environmental science
human population growth and how that leads to environmental problems
sustainability, the environmental goal
global perspective to solve the many problems arising across the earth and trying to find a global solution
an urbanizing world and what that means for the environment
people and nature (how they are interconnected)
science and values
to preserve the current population while still using sustainable practices we must ….
expand efficient and sustainable farming practices
turn to other energy resources besides oil
reduce the amount of babies being born
sustainability of an ecosystem
an ecosystem is sustainable if we continue its primary functions for a specified time in the future
sustainable economy
economically viable, doesn’t hurt the enviorment and is socially just for all people
careful management and wide use of the planet and its resources in relation to the management of money and goods
attributes of a sustainable economy
social, legal and political system that’s dedicated to sustainability, equity and justice
effective population control, restructuring of energy programs and instituting economic planning
carrying capacity
the maximum number of individuals of a species that can be sustained by an environment without decreasing the capacity of the environment to sustain that same number in the future
Gaia hypothesis
created by James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis
says that over the history of life on earth, life has significantly changed the global environment which improves the chances of continuation of life on earth
economic development leads to urbanization
in developed countries, 75% of the population lives in urban areas
growth of mega cities
2 in 1950 (NYC and London)
22 in 2005
pros of big cities
usually have extensive public transport
people live in smaller homes that are easier to heat and cool
goods travel less distance to get to customers
two paths when it comes to people and nature
assume the environmental problems are a result of human action and the solution is to simply stop
scientific analysis → problem solving, accepts the connection of people and nature and looks for long-lasting solutions
examples of people and nature being intimately integrated
soil is necessary for plants, so therefore its necessary to us
the atmosphere lets us live through oxygen and protects us from UV rays
precautionary principle
1992 the Rio earth summit on sustainable development
says when there is a threat of serious or irreversible environmental damage, we shouldn’t wait for scientific proof to take action
adopted by EU and San Fransisco
being proactive not reactive
utilitarian justification
some aspects of the environment are only valuable because its beneficial economically or is absolutely necessary for survival
ecological justification
the ecosystem is necessary for the species of interest or the system provides some benefit
aesthetic/recreation justification
appreciation of the beauty of nature and the ability to go outside and enjoy it
gaining legal basis (ex: Alaska recognizing its otters are a recreational attraction and protecting their habitat)
moral justification
our environment has the right to exist and we have a moral obligation to help it
cultural justification
different cultures have many of the same but also different values about the environment
ex: Buddhist monks have strong environmental ethics and won’t even disturb earth worms
Sea otters have an important role for maintaining the kelp forest ecosystem and their disappearance causes the collapse in the functioning of that ecosystem. Because of this they are known as...
keystone species
A species of bird living in the branches of the Acacia tree protect the tree from herbivores and eat the nutrient rich fruits on the tree.
mutualism
Which of the following is the largest reservoir within the hydrologic cycle?
the ocean
Which organisms have the most available energy in an energy pyramid?
producers
If 10,000 J of energy is in the producer trophic level, how much would pass on to the primary consumers?
1,000 J
abiotic factors
nonliving parts of the environment
biotic factors
living parts of the environment
habitat
place where an organism lives out its life; Where it finds shelter, food, and reproduces, etc
niche
organism’s specific role in a habitat
reduces competition with other types of organisms
use of resources/functional role
affected by organisms tolerance
fundamental niche
entire set of conditions under which an animal (population, species) can survive and reproduce itself
realized niche
set of conditions actually used by a given animal (population/species) after interactions with other species (predation and competition) have been taken into account
generalist species
able to eat a wide variety of foods within a range of habitats
main problem is competition
can adapt to changing environments better
specialist species
narrow range of habitat and diet
not much competition
giant panda (main concerns predation and habitat loss)
tend to do well with constant environments; don’t respond well to changes
Niche Overlap/Resource Partitioning
If niches overlap, then species may have to compete for resources like food and living space
Degree that resources are limited determines intensity of competition
If resources are not limited, then species may overlap in many niche dimensions and still exhibit no competition
competition
negative interactions between species(interspecific competition) or within species (intraspecific competition).
predation
organisms that feed on other organisms
Prey species increase in population when predator population is low
As predator populations increase (because of more prey), prey populations decrease
symbiosis
interactions between organisms that may be beneficial or harmful
Interspecific Competition
Competition among members of different species for an important, limiting resource
types of interspecific competition
competitive exclusion and species coexistence
competitive exclusion
Inevitable elimination from a habitat of different species with identical needs for resources
This often happens when Invasive species are introduced to endemic species
species coexistence
Species live in same area
Adjust behaviors to reduce competition
birds that feed on insects from tree trunks vs canopy
intraspecific competition
Competition among members of same species for an important, limiting resource
Primates in general will compete with members of their own species for food, habitat, reproductive mates.
keystone species
Species that have major impacts on community functioning
Not necessarily abundant but has a disproportionate impact on the health of the entire ecosystem
ecosystems engineers
Organisms that create, modify, and maintain habitat
Ecosystem engineering can alter the distribution and abundance of large numbers of plants and animals, and significantly modify biodiversity
Humans are the most prolific and dangerous ecosystem engineers
Note 
Flashcard (201)