AICE Marine Unit 1: Nutrient Cycles and Biochemistry

reservoir

part of the abiotic phase of the nutrient cycle where nutrients can remain for a long period of time

upwelling

The movement of dense, cold, nutrient-rich water to the surface from deep in the ocean; caused by winds and geomorphology; adds to reservoir of nutrients in surface layer of ocean

runoff

Part of the water cycle where an excess of water from precipitation flows from land rather than infiltrates into the soil; eventually makes it to the rivers, lakes, and oceans; carries pollutants and nutrients; adds to reservoir of nutrients in surface layer of ocean

dissolving of atmospheric gases AKA atmospheric dissolution

when gases within the atmosphere (oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen) are added to sea water through the process of diffusion; aided by wave action/turbulence of the sea; adds to reservoir of nutrients in surface layer of ocean

uptake/assimilation/incorporation

a process of taking up or using up or consuming nutrients by organisms in a food chain; depletes reservoir of nutrients in surface layer of ocean

productivity

the rate of production of new biomass by an individual, population, or community; the fertility or capacity of a given habitat or area; primarily determined by available resources (i.e. nutrients)

harvesting fish

removal of organisms from an environment, ex. fishing

carbon cycle

The organic circulation of carbon from the atmosphere into organisms and back again

nutrient cycles (biogeochemical cycles)

the movement and exchange of elements that are essential to life, from inorganic molecules, through fixation and then into living organisms, before being decomposed back into inorganic molecules

nutrient

chemical substance that provides what is needed for an organism to sustain life and grow

decomposers

bacteria and fungi that break down dead organic matter (i.e. wastes and dead organisms) and return nutrients back into the environment

abiotic

the environment's geological, physical and chemical features, the non-living part of an ecosystem

biotic

the living parts of an ecosystem; includes organisms and their effects on each other

assimilation

the conversion of a nutrient into a useable form that can be incorporated into the tissues of an organism

residence time

the average time that a particle spends in a particular system

sink

an area where there is a net loss of material (i.e. where more gas dissolves into the ocean than diffuses into the atmosphere)

source

an area where there is a net gain of material (i.e. where more gas diffuses into the atmosphere than dissolves into the ocean)

infiltration

part of the water cycle where water soaks into the soil from ground level and moves underground

leaching

a process during which water-soluble nutrients are removed from the soil and dissolve in water that is flowing to the sea (runoff)

marine snow

Particles of organic material that fall from surface waters to the deeper ocean

dissociation (dissociates)

a reversible chemical change where the molecules of a single compound separate into two or more other substances

Biomass

total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level

detritus

Dead organic matter

hydrogen carbonate

HCO3-, dissolved form of co2, helps regulate oceans pH

carbonic acid

H2CO3 (weak acid), acid rain, when co2 dissolves in water

primary producers (autotrophs)

Capture energy from the sun or from chemicals and store it in the bonds of sugars, making it available to the rest of the community

Phytoplankton

Microscopic, free-floating, autotrophic organisms that function as producers in aquatic ecosystems

Erosion

Processes by which rock, sand, and soil are broken down and carried away (i.e. weathering, glaciation)

Weathering

The chemical and physical processes that break down rock at Earth's surface.

fossil fuels

Coal, oil, natural gas, and other fuels that are ancient remains of plants and animals.

marine uplift

A process by which the floor of the ocean rises, possibly to the extent that it is no longer beneath the water

sedimentary rock

A type of rock that forms when particles from other rocks or the remains of plants and animals are pressed and cemented together

Polymer

A long molecule consisting of many similar or identical monomers linked together.

Monomer

small chemical unit that makes up a polymer

Starch

A storage polysaccharide in plants consisting entirely of glucose.

Cellulose

A substance (made of sugars) that is common in the cell walls of many organisms

Triglycerides

an energy-rich compound made up of a single molecule of glycerol and three molecules of fatty acid.

fatty acids

Building Blocks of Lipids

Hydrophobic

Water fearing

carbon sequestration

an approach to stabilizing greenhouse gases by removing CO2 from the atmosphere

harmful algal blooms

A population explosion of toxic algae caused by excessive nutrient concentrations.

Anthropogenic

Human-induced changes on the natural environment

Geoengineering

Manipulation of earths climate system to counteract the effects of climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions.

Ocean fertilization

Adding iron and other nutrients to nutrient deficient areas of the ocean to encourage phytoplankton growth, removing CO2 as a result.

Calcium Carbonate

Chem used by organisms to build skeletons, shells,…