Zombie Fires and Energy/Matter Flow (Lessons 1-4)

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary related to zombie fires, energy flow, and matter within ecosystems, focusing on concepts from the discussed lessons.

Zombie Fires

Fires that burn under ice throughout winter, becoming increasingly common.

Permafrost

Ground that remains frozen for years or even centuries, revealing peat when thawed.

Burn Scar

Land that has been previously burned and damaged by a forest fire.

Socio-ecological systems

Complex webs of relations in ecosystems involving human and nonhuman interactions.

Matter Flow

The movement of materials such as peat and carbon dioxide from one part of the ecosystem to another.

Energy Flow

The transfer of energy through an ecosystem, often from one species to another.

Driving Question Board (DQB)

A tool used to co-construct questions for investigation in a classroom setting.

Peat

A fuel made from ancient plants, carbon-based, and widespread in nature.

CO2 Emission

Release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, especially during burning.

Chemical Indicator

Bromothymol blue (BTB) changes color in response to carbon dioxide presence.

Fire Triangle

The three essential elements for fire: oxygen, heat, and fuel.

Ethical Considerations

Factors taken into account to minimize environmental impact during scientific investigations.

Decomposition

The process of breaking down dead plant and animal matter to recycle nutrients.

Cellular Respiration

Process where energy and matter are transferred through living organisms, releasing energy.

Carbon Sink

A large store of carbon kept out of the atmosphere, often seen in peat.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants convert solar energy into chemical energy in the form of sugar.

Solar Radiation

The amount of sunlight reaching Earth, which influences photosynthesis levels.

Glucose

A simple sugar that serves as a primary energy source for living organisms.

Low Oxygen Conditions

Environments where there is limited oxygen, slowing down decomposition rates.

Energy Loss

Energy that is not efficiently transferred, often lost as heat in biological processes.

Nutrient Recycling

The process of decomposers returning nutrients from dead matter back into the ecosystem.

Temperature Effects on Decomposition

Higher temperatures increase decomposition rates, while lower temperatures slow them down.

Energy Storage

The concept that peat acts as a battery, storing chemical energy and matter from the past.

Arctic Ecosystem

An ecological region characterized by its cold climate and unique biological processes.

Chemical Reaction of Cellular Respiration

The transformation of glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide, water, and energy.

Burial of Organic Matter

The process that contributes to the formation of peat when plant matter accumulates.

Photosynthetic Organisms

Living things, such as plants and algae, that convert light energy into chemical energy.

Hydrological Effects

Impacts on water flow and conditions due to the presence of peat and permafrost.

Human-Affected Systems

Ecosystems altered or influenced by human activity, affecting fires and carbon cycling.

Environmental Impact

The effect that scientific research and demonstrations may have on the surrounding ecosystem.

Thermal Energy

The energy that is lost as heat during energy transfer processes.

Long-term Carbon Storage

The retention of carbon in peat layers over extended geological time.

Plant Growth History

The historical factors that influenced the amount of plant matter forming peat.

Photosynthesis Efficiency

The effectiveness of plants in converting solar energy into usable chemical energy.

Arctic Past Conditions

Historical climatic conditions influencing the amount of solar energy in the Arctic.

Biosphere

The global ecological system integrating all living beings and their relationships.

Ecosystem Dynamics

The changing and interacting relationships between organisms and their environments.

Bromothymol Blue - BTB

A pH indicator used to detect changes in carbon dioxide levels in experiments.

Carbon Cycling

The movement of carbon through the ecosystem in various forms such as CO2 and organic matter.

Evidence of Peat Formation

Indicators that show how significantly plant material has contributed to peat development.

Chemical Energy

Energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds; released during chemical reactions.

Temperature and Decomposition

Relationship where cooler temperatures inhibit decomposition.

Organic Material Breakdown

The process by which decomposers break down dead organic substances.

Matter Transfer

The transition of matter, such as peat and CO2, within various parts of the ecosystem.

Photosynthetic Efficiency in Ecosystems

The ratio of energy captured in photosynthesis to available solar energy.

Interactions in Socio-ecological Systems

The effects of human actions on ecological relationships and outcomes.

Future Impact of Warming

The potential changes in carbon release and ecosystem function due to climate change.

Environmental Observations

Data gathered during scientific investigations to assess impacts and outcomes.

Temperature Dynamics in Decomposition

Variations in temperature influencing the rate at which organic materials decompose.

Energy Transfer in Photosynthesis

The conversion of solar energy to chemical energy in plant matter.

Peat as an Energy Source

The use of peat as fuel due to its slow-burning properties and energy content.

Dynamics of the Carbon Cycle

The continuous movement of carbon among living organisms and the environment.