Plants and the Carbon Cycle

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to the carbon cycle and its impacts on plant ecology.

Carbon Cycle

The process by which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water.

Cellular Respiration

The metabolic process in which organisms convert glucose and oxygen into energy, releasing carbon dioxide as a byproduct.

Carbon Compounds

Chemical compounds that contain carbon, essential in biological and ecological processes.

Detritus

Dead organic matter, which serves as a source of nutrients in the ecosystem.

Primary Consumers

Organisms that consume primary producers (plants) for energy.

Higher-level Consumers

Predators that consume primary consumers and/or other secondary consumers.

Flux Rate

The rate at which a substance moves through a system, such as carbon in the carbon cycle.

Carbon Sink

A natural reservoir that stores carbon-containing chemical compounds for an indefinite period.

Fossil Fuels

Natural substances from decomposed plants and animals that are used for energy.

Abiotic Components

Non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment.

Biotic Components

Living organisms in an ecosystem that interact with each other and their environment.

CO2 Fertilization Effect

The enhancement of the growth of plants due to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Stomatal Conductance

A measure of the rate of gas exchange through the stomata of plants.

Nutritional Quality

The content of essential nutrients in food, which can be affected by environmental conditions.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Climate Change

Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, mainly caused by human activities.

Greenhouse Effect

The warming of Earth’s surface due to the trapping of heat by greenhouse gases like CO2.

Ice Core Data

Data gathered from ice cores which provide historical climate information.

Micro-organisms

Tiny living organisms, such as bacteria, that play critical roles in ecosystems.

Decomposition

The process of breaking down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil.