APES Unit 1 Quiz Review

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Biosphere

The highest level of organization; all life on Earth

Biome

Large region with similar climate and organisms (e.g., tropical rainforest, tundra)

Ecosystem

All living AND nonliving things in an area

Community

All living organisms in an area

Population

Group of the same species in an area

Individual

One single organism

Mutualism

Species interaction where both organisms benefit (+/+). Example: coral and algae

Commensalism

Species interaction where one benefits and the other is unaffected (+/0). Example: birds nesting in trees

Parasitism

Species interaction where one benefits and the other is harmed (+/-). Example: tapeworm in host

Competition

Species interaction where both organisms are harmed (-/-) fighting for same resources

Predation

Species interaction where one benefits by eating the other (+/-). Example: leopard eating prey

Temporal Resource Partitioning

Reducing competition by using resources at different TIMES (e.g., wolves hunt at night, coyotes during day)

Spatial Resource Partitioning

Reducing competition by using different LOCATIONS or areas

Morphological Resource Partitioning

Reducing competition through different body features allowing use of different resources

Climatogram

Graph showing temperature and precipitation patterns used to identify biomes

Terrestrial Biome Definition

Biomes defined primarily by TEMPERATURE and PRECIPITATION

High Productivity Biomes

Swamps/marshes, tropical rainforest, temperate rainforest (need water + warmth + nutrients)

Low Productivity Biomes

Tundra, desert, open ocean (lack water, warmth, or nutrients)

Littoral Zone

Shallow lake zone near shore with emergent plants and high sunlight

Limnetic Zone

Open water lake zone where light penetrates; contains phytoplankton

Profundal Zone

Deep lake zone where light does NOT reach

Benthic Zone

Murky bottom of lake with nutrient-rich sediments and decomposers

Wetlands Benefits

Flood control, groundwater recharge, water filtration, high productivity

Estuary

Where river meets ocean; mix of fresh and salt water; high productivity

Coral Reef Mutualism

Coral provides CO2 and structure; algae provides sugars through photosynthesis

Photic Zone

Ocean zone where sunlight reaches and photosynthesis occurs

Aphotic Zone

Deep ocean zone too dark for photosynthesis; organisms rely on detritus or chemosynthesis

Intertidal Zone

Area between high and low tide; organisms must survive waves and drying out

Photosynthesis

Process that removes CO2 from atmosphere and creates glucose (CO2 SINK). Formula: CO2 + H2O + sunlight → glucose + O2

Cellular Respiration

Process that releases CO2 into atmosphere for energy (CO2 SOURCE). Formula: glucose + O2 → CO2 + H2O + energy

Combustion

Burning fossil fuels that releases CO2 into atmosphere (CO2 SOURCE)

Sedimentation and Burial

Slow process where dead organisms are compressed into fossil fuels over millions of years

Ocean Acidification

Occurs when excess atmospheric CO2 dissolves into ocean, lowering pH

Nitrogen Fixation

Converting N2 gas into NH3 (ammonia) that plants can use. Done by bacteria, lightning, or Haber process

Rhizobacteria

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules of legumes (beans, peas, clover)

Nitrification

Soil bacteria converting NH4+ → NO2- → NO3- (nitrate) that plants absorb

Assimilation

Process where plants and animals take in and use nutrients

Ammonification

Decomposers converting dead matter and waste into NH3 (ammonia)

Denitrification

Converting NO3- back into N2 gas, returning nitrogen to atmosphere

Eutrophication

Excess nutrients (N and P) → algae bloom → blocks sunlight → plants die → decomposition uses O2 → dead zone

N2O

Nitrous oxide greenhouse gas released from waterlogged agricultural soils

Phosphorus Cycle Key Fact

NO atmospheric component (no gas phase); VERY SLOW cycle

Phosphorus Reservoir

Rocks and sediments are the major reservoir

Limiting Nutrient

Phosphorus is often the limiting nutrient in ecosystems

Weathering (P Cycle)

Rocks breaking down to release phosphate (PO4 3-) into soil

Geologic Uplift

Tectonic forces raising rock layers so weathering can restart the phosphorus cycle

Evaporation

Liquid water changing to water vapor (gas) powered by sun

Transpiration

Plants releasing water vapor from leaves through stomata

Evapotranspiration

Combined evaporation and transpiration

Condensation

Water vapor changing to liquid, forming clouds

Precipitation

Rain or snow falling from clouds

Runoff

Water flowing over land into bodies of water; can carry pollutants

Infiltration

Water soaking into soil to become groundwater; requires PERMEABLE soil

Aquifer Recharge

Infiltration replenishing underground water storage

Why Tundra Has Low Productivity

Low temperature and frozen soil (permafrost) limit plant growth

Why Desert Has Low Productivity

Low water availability and nutrients limit plant growth

Why Open Ocean Has Low Productivity

Low nutrients except in photic zone near surface

Salt Marsh

Temperate estuary ecosystem with salt-tolerant grasses

Mangrove Swamp

Tropical estuary ecosystem with mangrove trees that have prop roots

Leaching

Excess nitrates washing into water bodies causing eutrophication

Carbon Cycle Fast Processes

Photosynthesis, cellular respiration, combustion (happen quickly)

Carbon Cycle Slow Processes

Sedimentation, burial, fossil fuel formation (take millions of years)

Nitrogen Atmospheric Form

N2 gas (unusable by plants and animals)

Nitrogen Usable Forms

NH3 (ammonia), NH4+ (ammonium), NO3- (nitrate)

Haber Process

Synthetic nitrogen fixation process to make fertilizers