Ecology, Energy Flow, and Biogeochemical Cycles Vocabulary

Vocabulary practice flashcards generated from lecture notes covering energy flow, trophic levels, water properties, bioaccumulation, and biogeochemical cycles.

Photosynthesis

Process by which producers use solar energy to convert carbon dioxide into glucose.

Chemosynthesis

Process by deep-sea producers using chemical energy to make organic molecules.

Cellular Respiration

Process by which consumers release the energy stored in the chemical bonds of glucose, producing ATP energy.

Earth's Solar Budget (Producer Capture)

The $1\%$ to $2\%$ of incoming radiant energy from the Sun captured by producers on land and in the ocean.

Pyramid of Energy

An ecological pyramid that represents the available energy at each trophic level.

Pyramid of Numbers

An ecological pyramid that represents the number of organisms at each trophic level.

Pyramid of Biomass

An ecological pyramid that represents the mass of organisms at each trophic level.

Bioaccumulation

The build up of a substance in an organism over time.

Biomagnification

Magnification of a toxin as it moves up the food chain.

Hydrogen Bond

The strong attraction between water molecules caused by a slightly positive charge near hydrogen and a slightly negative charge by oxygen.

Universal Solvent

A term for water because its polarity makes it a good solvent for ionic compounds or polar covalent molecules.

Cohesion

The attraction of water molecules to other water molecules, which results in surface tension.

Adhesion

The attraction of water molecules to other charged particles, which allows a glass to be filled over the top.

Specific Heat Capacity

The amount of energy required to raise $1\,g$ of a substance by 1 degree Celsius.

Biosphere

A closed system in relation to matter, but an open system in relation to energy.

Oxygen

The most common element found in the human body.

Fossil Fuels

Coal, oil, and gas that lock carbon out of the carbon cycle.

Nitrogen Gas ($N_2$)

A very unreactive gas that exists mostly in its elemental form.

Legumes

Plants that contain $N_2$-fixing bacteria in their root nodules and play an important role in the nitrogen cycle.

Phosphorus Cycle

A cycle where phosphorus does not pass through the atmosphere, but is stored in water and geological formations in the biosphere.