APES Unit 1 Test Review

Primary productivity

the rate at which the sun's energy is converted into organic compounds via photosynthesis (kcal/m2/year)

**Gross primary productivity**

(GGP) Total photosynthesis rate for ALL autotrophs

Net primary productivity

GPP - energy lost due to cellular respiration

Formula

NPP (net primary productivity) EQUALS GPP (gross primary productivity) MINUS R (respiration)

Ecosystem with highest NPP

swamps, marshes, tropical rainforests

Ecosystems with lowest NPP

deserts, tundra, open ocean

Competition

detrimental to both species

Competition Interspecies Example:

b/w 1 species and another species (bunch of animals fighting for a resource)

Competition Intraspecies Example:

1 species fighting for each other (2 birds competing for a male)

Predation

beneficial to one, detrimental to other (parasitism)

Mutualism

beneficial to both species (timone and pumba)

Commensalism

One species benefits, but the other is unaffected (barnacles)

Producers

(autotrophs); organisms that produce food for themselves and other organisms (photosynthesis)

Examples of producers

Plants, bacteria, phytoplankton

Consumers

(heterotrophs); incapable photosynthesis & must get energy from eating other consumers

Herbivores (primary)

Eat producers

Carnivores (secondary)

consumers that eat other consumers

Carnivores (tertiary)

consumers that eat secondary consumers

Savannah

Animals: zebras, cheetahs, lions, giraffes, rhinos, gazelles

Unique features: transitional b/w forest and grassland, moderate rainfall/droughts, migratory birds

Precipitation and climatographs: small/seasonal precipitation with overall high temperature

Primary productivity: relatively high (diverse vegetation/dry seasons)

Deciduous forest

Animals: blackbird, hawk, deer, bear, wolf, squirrel

Unique features: distinct seasons, trees losing leaves, rugged terrain

Precipitation and climatographs: precipitation is consistently med-high while temperature fluxuates b/w seasons

Primary productivity: high (concentration of plants)

Freshwater wetland

Animals: snake, frog, hornet, heron, fish, shrimp

Unique features: water tolerant plants, algae, amphibians

Precipitation and climatographs: precipitation med-high, with temperatures based on seasons

Primary productivity: high (shallow water and high nutrient levels)

Mangrove forest

Animals: crocodile, crab, blackbird, large fish, otter, turtle

Unique features: cannot be replanted, salt tolerant trees, protect threatened species

Precipitation and climatographs: heavy to light rainfall, changes drastically, temperatures are hot that dip in the summer

Primary productivity: high, (species richness and marine+terrestrial ecosystems)

Coral reef

Animals: lobster, fish, sharks, snakes, turtles

Unique features: supports 1/4th of aquatic life, highest biodiversity, fluorescent

Precipitation and climatographs: high rainfall to very low, low for most months of the year, high temperatures that dip in the summer

Primary productivity: unusually high (efficient regeneration)

Rivers/streams

Animals: herring, bass, catfish, snail, trout, sunfish

Unique features: species diversity increases towards center, shape is formed by movement of water over time, can be many colors (green, blue, black, etc)

Precipitation and climatographs: rainfall is high, lower in the summer, temperature changes with the seasons

Primary productivity: low (composed of fast-moving water)

Lakes/ponds

Animals: minnow, shrimp, salmon, seal, crab, otter

Unique features: has different identifiable zones, slow/standing water, freshwater

Precipitation and climatographs: heavy rainfall that dips in summer, temperature changes with seasons

Primary productivity: ranges in each zone, littoral (high), profundal (low), limnetic (medium)

Estuaries

Animals: flounder, crab, shrimp, snail, rays, heron

Unique features: saltwater and freshwater, protected from ocean, many different forms

Precipitation and climatographs: rainfall increasing in the summer and low during other seasons, while temperature is relatively low but changes with seasons

Primary productivity: very high (rich in organic matter and nutrients)

Temperate rainforest

Animals: cougar, owl, bobcat, deer, vole, elk

Unique features: lower and less dense, distinct seasons, evergreen trees

Precipitation and climatographs: very high rainfall that heavily dips in the summer, with very high temperature all year

Primary productivity: high (high amt of plants, stable temp, fertile)

Tropical rainforest

Animals: jaguar, monkey, toucan, frog, snake, hawk

Unique features: nutrient poor soil, high biodiversity, dense vegetation

Precipitation and climatographs: very heavy rainfall, and consistent high temperatures

Primary productivity: high (sufficient water, and lots of vegetation)

Intertidal zone

Animals: gul, crab, barnacle, fish, worm, clownfish

Unique features: environmental extremes, tidal effect, different types of habitats

Precipitation and climatographs: rainfall dips in the summer, with relatively consistent temperatures throughout the year

Primary productivity: relatively low (different tides, but higher than some)

Open ocean

Animals: shark, tuna, squid, marlin, sea lions, sunfish

Unique features: covers most amount of planet, multiple layers, oxygen producing

Precipitation and climatographs: rainfall increases summer-fall and is really low winter-spring, temperature changes with seasons

Primary productivity: low (size is disproportionate to amt of plantlife)

Tundra

Animals: polar bear, fox, reindeer, rabbit, owl, lemming

Unique features: permafrost (permanently frozen ground), short growing seasons, dry

Precipitation and climatographs: little to no rainfall all year, temperatures are consistently freezing but do change with seasons

Primary productivity: low (cold and poor soil nutrients)

Chaparral

Animals: puma, vulture, skunk, jackrabbit, snake, lizards

Unique features: dry soil, short hardy shrubs, frequent fires

Precipitation and climatographs: rainfall strongly decreases in the summer months but is pretty low, temperature is always high

Primary productivity: low (hot and dry)

Desert

Animals: coyote, mouse, mountain lion, bobcat, ringtail, raven

Unique features: dry/arid, significant temperature change with day/night, sandy with heavy wind

Precipitation and climatographs: little to no rainfall all year, high temperatures all year

Primary productivity: low (absence of water)

Taiga

Animals: bear, wolf, rabbit, owl, squirrel, eagle

Unique features: coniferous trees, 2 seasons (summer/winter), slow decomposition

Precipitation and climatographs: rainfall is relatively low all year, while temperature changes with seasons

Primary productivity: relatively above average (low nutrient soil but lots of trees)

Temperate grasslands

Animals: wolf, sparrow, prairie dog, snake, rabbit, hawk

Unique features: very few trees, lots of grazing, wildfires

Precipitation and climatographs: rainfall increases early summer but is low, temperature is median that changes with seasons

Primary productivity: low (absent of trees and large shrubs)

Hydrologic cycle (water)

movement of water around the biosphere among reservoir sources & sinks

Primary sinks/releases of hydrologic cycle

Sinks: oceans and other bodies of water

Releases: transpiration from plants/soil

human effect on hydrologic cycle

* deforestation
* withdrawal of fresh water
* add nutrients/pollutants

Carbon cycle

movement of carbon around the biosphere through 7 processes (photosynthesis, respiration, exchange, sedimentation, burial, extraction, combustion)

Primary sinks/releases of carbon cycle

Sinks: forests, oceans

Releases: burning of fossil fuels, respiration

Human effect on carbon cycle

* combustion of CO2
* tree harvesting
* deforestation

Nitrogen cycle

Continuous movement of nitrogen on, above, & below surafce of the Earth using processes that move nitrogen in its various forms

Primary sinks/releases of nitrogen cycle

Sinks: atmosphere, bacteria in soil, plant roots

Releases: combustion of fossil fuels and use of nitrogen containing fertilizers

Human effect on nitrogen cycle

* Adding large amts of NOx when burning fuel
* Release lots of nitrogen from soil during slash and burn
* Harvesting nitrogen-rich crops

Phosphorus cycle

movement of phosphorus of around the biosphere among reservoir sources and sinks (land and water)

Primary sinks/releases of phosphorus cycle

Sinks: rocks and sediments

Releases: rain and weathering

Human effect on phosphorus cycle

* use of fertilizers increases phosphorus in waterways
* as algae die, decomposition consumes large amt of oxygen (aquatic animals can’t survive)