Unit 3: Iceland

bathymetric

topographic map of the Ocean Floor

BioMass

the total quantity or weight of organisms in a given area or volume

Biome

an area classified according to the species that live in that location

Consumer

organisms that consume other organisms to obtain their energy

Conduction

energy transfer through solids via vibration of atoms

Convection

energy transfer in fluids in a circular nature via density differences

Endemic Species

a species that is native and isolated to a small geographic area

Erosion

transport of sediment and earth materials via wind, water, or gravity

Extrusive

igneous rock type formed from lava from outside the volcano

Felsic

rich is Si, Al, light in color, low in density

Habitat

place where an organism makes its home

Hot Spot

volcanic location,thought to be fed by underlying mantle, that is comparatively hotter than the surrounding mantle and crust

Joule

unit of energy in the SI system

Keystone Species

a species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically.

Kilowatt Hour

non-SI unit of energy equal to 3.6 megajoules in SI units which is the energy delivered by one kilowatt of power for one hour

Law of 10%

each trophic level transfers 10% of its energy to the level above them in the food chain

Mafic

rich in Fe, Mg, dark in color, high in density

Magma

molten rock inside of Earth that is mineral rich and contains water

Mid-Ocean-Ridge

series of volcanoes that mark a divergent boundary

Peat Bog

wet spongy ground of decomposing vegetation

Producer

organism that makes its own energy, which makes it the basis for all food chains

Sulfur Dioxide

SO2, is a colorless gas produced from the burning of fossil fuels and the smelting of mineral ores that contain sulfur.

Trophic Level

steps in an ecological pyramid, at which the transfer of food / energy takes place from one organism to another organism

Tundra

a vast, flat, treeless Arctic region of Europe, Asia, and North America in which the subsoil is permanently frozen