Ecosystem Productivity
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Flashcards covering key concepts about ecosystem productivity, secondary production, nutrient cycling, and related topics from the lecture.
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What two primary factors determine ecosystem productivity (NPP)?
Precipitation and temperature.
Where is the most productive region of the world typically found?
Around the equator, where rainforests are abundant.
What is the importance of shallower waters in marine NPP?
Shallower waters allow light to penetrate, enhancing productivity.
What does the root-to-shoot ratio indicate in plants?
It indicates the allocation of energy and biomass between roots and shoots.
How do plants respond to nutrient-poor soil conditions?
They allocate more biomass to developing roots.
What is the primary source of energy for living organisms?
The Sun.
What is secondary production?
The production of biomass by heterotrophs.
What is assimilation efficiency in the context of secondary production?
The ratio of energy assimilated by an organism to the energy consumed.
What average assimilation efficiency is typical for homeothermic animals?
70%.
In a grazing food chain, what is the order of energy transfer?
From primary producers to herbivores to carnivores.
What is an ecological pyramid?
A trophic structure of an ecosystem, with producers at the base and successive levels of consumers above.
What is upwelling in aquatic ecosystems?
The process by which deep, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface.
Why is upwelling ecologically significant?
It brings nutrients to the surface, supporting primary production.
What is the primary impact of acid rain on forests?
It primarily damages coniferous trees.
What role does phosphorus play in plant growth?
It is essential for plant energy storage and DNA/RNA synthesis.
What are the two types of nutrient cycling?
Gaseous cycle and sedimentary cycle.
Why is phosphorus often associated with eutrophication?
Because an excess of phosphorus leads to algal blooms in water bodies.
What happens to phytoplankton in the photic zone?
They perform primary production by using sunlight.
What is the significance of the thermocline in aquatic ecosystems?
It separates warm surface water from colder, denser water below.
What two primary factors determine ecosystem productivity (NPP)?
Precipitation and temperature.
Where is the most productive region of the world typically found?
Around the equator, where rainforests are abundant.
What is the importance of shallower waters in marine NPP?
Shallower waters allow light to penetrate, enhancing productivity.
What does the root-to-shoot ratio indicate in plants?
It indicates the allocation of energy and biomass between roots and shoots.
How do plants respond to nutrient-poor soil conditions?
They allocate more biomass to developing roots.
What is the primary source of energy for living organisms?
The Sun.
What is secondary production?
The production of biomass by heterotrophs.
What is assimilation efficiency in the context of secondary production?
The ratio of energy assimilated by an organism to the energy consumed.
What average assimilation efficiency is typical for homeothermic animals?
70%.
In a grazing food chain, what is the order of energy transfer?
From primary producers to herbivores to carnivores.
What is an ecological pyramid?
A trophic structure of an ecosystem, with producers at the base and successive levels of consumers above.
What is upwelling in aquatic ecosystems?
The process by which deep, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface.
Why is upwelling ecologically significant?
It brings nutrients to the surface, supporting primary production.
What is the primary impact of acid rain on forests?
It primarily damages coniferous trees.
What role does phosphorus play in plant growth?
It is essential for plant energy storage and DNA/RNA synthesis.
What are the two types of nutrient cycling?
Gaseous cycle and sedimentary cycle.
Why is phosphorus often associated with eutrophication?
Because an excess of phosphorus leads to algal blooms in water bodies.
What happens to phytoplankton in the photic zone?
They perform primary production by using sunlight.
What is the significance of the thermocline in aquatic ecosystems?
It separates warm surface water from colder, denser water below.
What is Gross Primary Production (GPP)?
The total amount of energy fixed by producers per unit area over a given time.
On average, how much energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next in an ecosystem?
Approximately 10% (known as the 10% rule).
What is the primary role of nitrogen in plants?
It is a key component of proteins, nucleic acids, and chlorophyll.
What is a detritus food chain?
A food chain where energy flows from dead organic matter (detritus) to decomposers and then to detritivores.
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