Studied by 1 person
living organisms need supplies of
C, H, O, N, P
carbon cycle
cycling of carbon through an ecosystem
carbon moves between _______ via _______
pools, fluxes
carbon pool
location or system that stores or releases carbon
carbon flux
processes that exchange carbon between pools
fossil fuels form by
incomplete decomposition and fossilization of producers and consumers
main fluxes in an ecosystem
photosynthesis, feeding and respiration
carbon exists and enters ecosystems as
carbon dioxide
carbon sink
net uptake of CO2
(photosynthesis > respiration)
carbon source
net release of CO2
(respiration > photosynthesis)
keeling curve
graphical representation of atmospheric CO2 concentration since 1959
CO2 concentration increases between…
October and May
(Northern Hemisphere Winter)
CO2 concentration decreases between…
May and October
(Northern Hemisphere Summer)
anthropogenic
human caused
anthropogenic emissions of CO2
combustion of fossil fuels and biomass
more severe forest fires
decomposition of biomass and peat
anthropogenic sources of CH4
anaerobic respiration of organic matter in landfills
leaks during fossil fuel extraction and processing
bubbles from melting permafrost
digestive system of ruminants
cattle and sheep
ruminants
changes in climate
increased wind speed —> cyclones, typhoons
increased overall rain but droughts in some places
changes in prevailing wind speed
ecosystems act as carbon sinks by
accumulating biomass, peat and fossil fuels
positive feedback cycle
amplification of process by end
albedo
amt of sunlight reflected by snow & ice
main mechanism of positive feedback loop of albedo
glaciers reflect sunlight and melt with high temperatures
main mechanism of positive feedback loop of decomposition of organic matter
higher temperature speeds up decomposition of organic matter
main mechanism of positive feedback loop of deep ocean CO2
higher temperatures reduce solubility of CO2 in H2O
main mechanism of positive feedback loop of droughts and fires
droughts and fires are caused by high temperatures and release CO2
main mechanism of positive feedback loop of melting permafrost
melting of permafrost increases amt of anaerobic decomposition of organic matter
boreal forests changed from carbon sink to carbon source because…
..warmer temperatures and decreased snowfall increase drought and more frequent & intense forest fires
landfast ice
ice fastened to shore
effect on emperor penguins
antarctic fast ice melts earlier in breeding season —> harder for penguins to breed
sea ice
moving ice on open ocean
walruses ____ on _____ sea ice
raise young on arctic sea ice
ocean stratification results in
warm water on top layer
colder, more saline water below
upwelling
movement of nutrients into upper levels of ocean
how does increased CO2 contribute to coral bleaching
carbonic acid dissolves calcium carbonate which makes coral reef skeletons
coral bleaching
death of polyps and algae
loss of coral causes
collapse of reef ecosystem
sequestration
capture and storage of CO2 from atmosphere
afforestation
planting native or non-native trees where no forest previously existed
forest regeneration
restocking depleted forests
advantage of wetlands
huge carbon sinks
peat
naturally formed in wetland and useful as fuel and fertiliser.
north american tree species are moving
northward
montane birds in new guinea are moving
upslope to higher altitudes
phenology
research into the timing of biological events
photoperiod
length of daylight in 24hrs
(useful for flowering, egg laying & migration)
mostly unchanged
temp patterns
annual cycle of warming and cooling
(bud burst and leaf drop )
reindeer migration coincides with
growth of arctic moose-ear chickweed (emerges earlier bc of warmer temp)
great tit egg hatching coincides with
peak caterpillar biomass (occurring earlier)
spruce bark beetle life cycles per year are
increasing (dormant during winter —> shorter winter —> more life cycle)
Note 
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