Carbon Cycle and Ecological Concepts Review

This set of flashcards encompasses key vocabulary and concepts related to the carbon cycle, ecological philosophies, and species strategies relevant to the upcoming exam.

Carbon Cycle

The process through which carbon is cycled through the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water.

Ocean acidification

The decrease in pH of the Earth's oceans due to the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Mitigation

Methods employed to reduce the severity of climate change impacts.

Dichotomous Key

A tool that allows the identification of organisms by answering a series of questions that lead the user to the correct name.

Simpson's Diversity Index

A measure of biodiversity that takes into account the number of species and their relative abundance.

Ecocentrism

A philosophy that places intrinsic value on all living organisms and their ecosystems, prioritizing nature's value.

Anthropocentrism

A viewpoint that human beings are the central factor in considerations of right and wrong, emphasizing human value.

Technocentrism

A perspective that values technology's ability to solve environmental problems.

Biocapacity

The capacity of an ecosystem to generate renewable resources and absorb waste.

Ecological Footprint

A measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems, representing the amount of biologically productive land and water needed to produce the resources consumed.

Keystone Species

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance, maintaining the structure of an ecological community.

R-strategists

Species that reproduce quickly and have a low survival rate; produce many offspring.

K-strategists

Species that produce fewer offspring with a high survival rate, focusing on parental care.

Zonation

The characteristic spatial distribution of different communities within a biome.

Succession

The process by which ecosystems change and develop over time, particularly following disturbances.