Ecology and Environmental Science Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering ecological terms, aquatic zones, nutrient cycles, and energy flow based on the lecture transcript.

Biotic

Living.

Abiotic

Nonliving.

Sustainability

Living on Earth in a way that allows humans to use its resources without depriving future generations of those resources.

Biodiversity

The diversity of life forms in an environment.

Anthropogenic

Derived from human activities.

biomes

A geographic region categorized by a particular combination of average annual temperature, annual precipitation, and distinctive plant growth forms on land.

photic zone

The upper layer of ocean water in the ocean that receives enough sunlight for photosynthesis.

aphotic zone

The deeper layer of ocean water that lacks sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis.

profundal zone

A region of water below the limnetic zone in very deep lakes where sunlight does not reach.

benthic zone

The muddy bottom of a lake, pond, or ocean.

littoral zone

The shallow zone of soil and water in lakes and ponds where most algae and emergent plants grow.

limnetic zone

A zone of open water in lakes and ponds.

ecosystem

A particular location on Earth with interacting biotic and abiotic components.

assimilation

The process by which producers incorporate elements into their tissues.

transpiration

The release of water from leaves during photosynthesis.

ammonification

The process by which fungal and bacterial decomposers break down the organic nitrogen found in dead bodies and waste products and convert it into inorganic ammonium ($\text{NH}_4^+$).

denitrification

The conversion of nitrate in a series of steps into the gases nitrous oxide and, eventually, nitrogen gas, which is emitted into the atmosphere.

nitrification

The conversion of ammonia into nitrite(NO2-) and then into nitrate(NO3-).

eutrophication

A phenomenon in which a body of water becomes rich in nutrients.

gross primary productivity

The total amount of solar energy that producers in an ecosystem capture via photosynthesis over a given amount of time.

net primary productivity

The energy captured by producers in an ecosystem minus the energy producers respire.

detritivores

An animal that obtains nutrients by consuming detritus (decomposing plant and animal parts as well as feces).

primary consumers

Individuals incapable of photosynthesis; must obtain energy by consuming other organisms.

decomposers

Fungi or bacteria that convert organic matter into small elements and molecules that can be recycled back into the ecosystem.

biomass

The total mass of all living matter in a specific area.