APES chapter 3 (enviornmental interactions)

Ecosystem

a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. ex) a cave

biosphere

combination of all ecosystems on earth

what are the boundaries of ecosystems?

Ecosystem boundaries distinguish one ecosystem from another. Although boundaries can be well-defined, often they are not. Boundaries are commonly defined either by topographic features, such as mountain ranges, or are subjectively set by administrative criteria such as Yellowstone.

Photosynthesis equation

6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂

cellular respiration equation

C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6 O 2 --> 6 CO 2 + 6 H 2 O + ATP

heterotroph

consumer, eats other organisms for energy

autotroph

producer, makes its own enregy

primary producers

produce their own food ex) plants

primary consumers

animals that eat plants ex) butterflies

herbivore

ONLY eats plants (a section of primary consumers)

Secondary consumer

Any animal that consumes an primary consumer ex) a snake

Tertiary consumers

an animal that obtains its nutrition by eating primary consumers and secondary consumers ex) a lion

scavengers

an animal that feeds on carrion, dead plant material, or refuse. ex) vulture

detritivores

an animal which feeds on dead organic material ex) earthworm

decomposers

feeds on and breaks down dead plant or animal matter ex) fungus

Energy is _____ as it goes up the tropic levels

lost

what does the “productivity” of an ecosystem measure

energy

what is GPP (gross primary productivity)

total amount of solar energy captured over a given period of time

What is NPP (Net primary productivity)

Energy used by producers (respiration)

explain the 10% rule

the average amount of energy remaining going up each trophic level

What percentage of incoming solar energy do plants capture during photosynthesis?

1%

flora

pants

fauna

animals

What defines an ecosystem?

temperature and precipitation

tropic cascade

When you remove something it messes up the food web (ex. mice population goes extinct so an owl eats more moles and the mole population depletes)

NPP=

GPP- respiration by producers

what are the most productive ecosystems?

Tropical rainforest, seasonal forest, temperate rainforest, swamps, coral reefs, salt marsh

What are the least productive ecosystems?

extreme desert, desert scrub, tundra, open ocean

where do we find carbon that sits for a long period of time?

In the ocean (or hydrosphere)

Lithosphere

the earth

Transpiration

plants release water from their leaves.

plants like _____

nitrogen, but cant use it in its original form

The atmosphere is made of….

78% nitrogen 28% oxygen 1% everything else

What are the steps of the Nitrogen Cycle?

1) Fixation 2) Nitrification 3) Assimilation 4) Ammonification 5) Denitrification

Abiotic fixation

“zaps” through lightning or fire and turns N Into N0₃

Biotic fixation

Bacteria take N₂ and transform it into Ammonium NH₄ which is how plants can be high in protein

Evaporation

solar energy heats the Earth and evaporates rivers, lakes, streams, and oceans.

precipatation

rain, snow, hail

condensation

the process where water vapor becomes liquid - reverse action of evaporation

percolation

the process of a liquid slowly passing through a filter- ex coffee

“pools” store____

matter

NH₃

Ammonia

NH₄

amonium

NO₃

nitrates

N₂

nitrogen gas

N₂O

Nitrous oxide

Nitrogen fixation

Puts Nitrogen into the soil in a usable form

Biotic (bacteria)- N₂ → NH₃

Abiotic (lightning, fires, fertilizer)- N₂ → NO₃

Phosphorus dose not have a _________ phase

gassus

Phosphorus forms ________ and ___________ compounds

stable

insoluble

Eutrophication

to much phosphorous and too much nutrients in a system

Nitrification

Bacteria makes the change, now it is nitrate which is useable for plants

NH₄ → NO₃

Assimilation

NO₃ is absorbed, gives the plants Nitrogen and protein

Volcanisim

eruption of volcainos

Phosporous is…..

Natural!

watershed

an area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers (ex. Pine flows into Allegheny River)

biological/chemical/physical disturbance

Disturbances caused naturally ex) hurricanes, tsunamis, forest fires

anthropocentric disturbances

disturbances caused by humans ex) pollution, housing developments, overuse pesticides

What are some examples of carbon pools?

the ocean, rocks, living organisms, the atmosphere

what are the 6 steps of the carbon cycle?

1) Photosynthesis

2) Resperation

3) Exchange

4) Sedimentation

5) Extraction

6) Combustion

Long Term/SLOW Carbon Cycling and Pools

-Ocean/Hydrosphere
-Lithosphere
-Atmosphere

Fast Carbon Cycling…

-Photosynthesis
-respiration
-Flora/Fauna

are disturbances good or bad?

not necessarily, fires can turn over soil. Disturbances can help the flow of energy.

What is the importance of the “Hubbard Brook” watersheads

It was found that when trees are no longer present to take up nitrogen, nitrate drains into the watershed.

What are the 5 steps of the nitrogen cycle?

1) Nitrogen fixation

2) nitrification

3) assimilation

4) ammonification

5) denitrification

What is exchange in the carbon cycle?

Carbon dioxide is transferred from one reservoir to another

What is Sedimentation in the carbon cycle?

Carbon Carbonate precipitates out of the water as sediments through heat and pressure. An example of this is limestone and this provides a long term pool for the carbon.

What is extraction in the carbon cycle?

Humans extract fossil fuels bringing carbon to earth’s surface where it can be combusted.

What is combustion in the carbon cycle?

Fossil fules and plant matter are converted into co2 (transfers from biosphere to the atmosphere)