evs100

High surface tension

Property of water that lets it move through tiny plant root channels

Crystallization

Allows ice to float and protect aquatic life

Cohesion

Water molecules sticking to each other

Solvent

Water dissolves nutrients and chemicals like nitrogen and phosphorus

Adhesion

Water sticking to surfaces like grass

Polarity

Uneven electron distribution causing hydrogen bonding

High specific heat

Water buffers temperature changes

Cation

Positively charged ion

Anion

Negatively charged ion

Isotope

Atom with different neutrons; used to date samples

Molecule

Two+ atoms bonded (e.g., O₂)

Electronegativity

Oxygen attracts electrons strongly → creates polarity

Ionic bond

Bond formed by opposite charges attracting

Infiltration

Water moving into the ground

Organic synthetic contaminants

Human-made chemicals affecting wildlife

Hydrogen ions

Determine acidity (pH)

Land management

Best way to control non-point pollution

Aquifer

Underground rock/sand holding water

Elevated stormwater temps

Caused by urban impervious surfaces

Zone of aeration

Unsaturated upper soil layer

Discharge

Water flow past a point in a river

Nutrients

Cause cultural eutrophication

Permeability

How fast groundwater flows in an aquifer

Coliform bacteria

Indicator bacteria for water quality

Primary treatment

Removes large solids in wastewater

Non-point source pollution

Pollution from fertilizers in watershed

Basic pH

pH above 7

Producers

Highest productivity in food webs

Secondary productivity

Baby raccoon drinking milk

Carbon sink

Storage area for carbon

Carbon

Backbone of organic molecules

Cellular respiration

Animals convert food to energy

Biological community

All populations in an area

Decomposers

Organisms that break down final organic matter

Keystone species

Organism with huge impact relative to abundance

Organic molecules

Basic structure of cells

Biomass

Total living tissue in trophic level

Population

Group of one species in an area

Community (vs ecosystem)

Interacting organisms excluding non-living factors

Nitrogen fixation

Legume roots + bacteria converting N₂

Primary consumer

Deer eating vegetation

Homeostasis

System stability

Trophic cascade

Ripple effect from removing a top predator

Negative feedback

Controls a process

Positive feedback

Enhances a process

Productivity is highest at which stage of the food web?

Producers

Baby raccoon drinking mother’s milk is?

Secondary productivity

What is a carbon sink?

A storage area for carbon

“There are five types of cells”

False

Backbone of organic compounds?

Carbon

Animals get energy from food by?

Cellular respiration

All raccoons, snakes, bacteria in one area?

Biological community

Final breakdown of organic matter is done by?

Decomposers

Denitrification is first step in nitrogen cycle?

False

Human disruption of carbon cycle?

Greenhouse gas emissions

CO₂ sources in carbon cycle?

Cellular respiration & fossil fuel combustion

Beavers trapping sediment are what?

Keystone species

Group of fern, oaks, blueberry bushes is a?

Community

Basic structure of cells comes from?

Organic molecules

Basic unit of life?

Cell

Why less energy at higher trophic levels?

Energy used & lost at each step

Total living tissue in trophic level?

Biomass

Spotted mink group in wetland?

Population

Community differs from ecosystem how?

Lacks non-living factors

Legumes + bacteria perform what?

Nitrogen fixation

Deer eating vegetation is a?

Primary consumer

Building blocks of life?

CHNOPS

Stability tendency in systems is called?

Homeostasis

Top predator removal at Yellowstone caused a?

Trophic cascade

Negative feedback vs positive?

Negative controls, positive enhances

Biomass is defined as?

Total living tissue