Exam 1 - Carbon Cycling, Photosynthesis, Water Types/Potential

physiognomy

the structure of a plant community, including dominant species, spacing, shape, type (deciduous/evergreen), and how this is impacted by local conditions

rain shadow

an area with low precipitation/moisture because of a landmass obstacle, usually a mountain

biome

an area with a distinct type of vegetation, defined by annual temperature and precipitation

observational experiment

ecological experiment that observes many factors at play in an attempt to identify them

manipulative experiment

ecological experiment that varies 1+ factors on a small (often individual) scale

large-scale manipulative experiment

ecological experiment that studies many factors over a large area and/or a long period of time

thylakoid membrane

oval membrane in a chloroplast where the light reactions of photosynthesis take place

granum

stack of thylakoids

stroma

liquid inside a chloroplast where the Calvin Cycle takes place

light reactions

photosynthetic process that produces ATP and NADPH

Calvin Cycle

photosynthetic process that uses ATP and NADPH to produce sugars and O2 byproduct

functional group

groups of organisms that possess a certain trait(s) that allow them to uses resources in a certain way (ex: C4 plants, epiphytes, trees, etc)

photosystems

structures inside thylakoid membranes that help produce NADPH and the proton gradient needed to make ATP

ATP synthase

molecule in the thylakoid membrane that uses a proton gradient to produce ATP

Rubisco enzyme

important enzyme in photosynthesis that helps make CO2 into G3P

G3P

molecule that can be assembled into important sugars like glucose

C3 photosynthesis

the “traditional” model of photosynthesis without water-saving adaptations

C4 photosynthesis

adapted photosynthesis that makes Rubisco into a 4C enzyme stored in the bundle sheaths to increase efficiency

CAM photosynthesis

adapted photosynthesis that intakes CO2 at night to avoid water-loss

Krantz anatomy

bundle-sheath anatomy associated with C4 photosynthesis

photosynthetic adaptation

the phenomenon of plants having an ideal environmental condition that maximizes their photosynthetic production

photosynthetic acclimation

the process of plants increasing their photosynthetic production in a certain environment over time

succulence

descriptor of plant tissue that holds extra water; common in dry environments

mesophyte

plant that inhabits moderate moisture environment

xerophyte

plant that inhabits desert-like conditions

hydrophyte

plant that grows on water and often has air pockets for gas exchange/bouyancy

hygrophytes

plants that grow submerged in water or saturated soil; often possess pneumatophores/’knees’ for air exposure

halophytes

plants that inhabit a saline environment

water potential

the potential for water in a mixture to move across a membrane

biomass allocation

the distribution of a plant’s biomass throughout its anatomy

transpiration

the release of water vapor through stomata as a byproduct of cellular respiration

long-wave infrared

the type of energy radiated out as heat by plants

latent-heat exchange

the plant process of cooling by transpiration

convection cooling

the plant process of cooling when wind disturbs the boundary layer of air

weathering

the combination of topography, time, climate, and organisms that guide soil formation

aggregates

clusters of material that soil (with clay content) organizes itself into

soil porosity

total volume of pores between soil aggregates

wilting point

the soil saturation lowpoint at which plants can no longer extract water