APES Unit 1

Symbiosis

The interaction between two different organisms living in close physical proximity

Resource Partitioning

A process where species divide a niche to avoid competition for resources, allowing them to coexist in the same environment.

Mutualism

Both organisms benefit

Commenslaism

One organisms benefit the other is unaffected

Parasitism

One organisms benefits the other is harmed

How are terrestrial biomes determined

Tempature and Rainfall

10% Rule

Only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next level, the rest is lost as heat.

Net Primary Productivity

The rate at which plants in an ecosystem produce net useful chemical energy.

Gross Primary Productivity

The total amount of energy produced by photosynthesis in a given area minus energy used for respiration.

NPP Formula

GPP - R = NPP

Decomposition

The breakdown of dead matter and wastes by decomposers; stored carbon from animal remains is released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide

Carbon Dioxide

The form of carbon released into the atmosphere

Autotroph

(auto=self, troph=feeding); An organism that can create its own food; producers in an ecosystem

Carbon sink

A body or process that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and stores it

Biosphere

Part of Earth in which life exists (including land, water, and air or atmosphere)

Ecosystem

A system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their physical environment

What way can nitrogen become "fixed"?

nitrogen fixing bacteria or lightning

Denitrifying

What type of bacteria release nitrogen into our atmosphere

How is nitrogen used on crops?

Fertilizer

What are the 5 processes of the nitrogen cycle?

Nitrogen Fixation

Nitrification

Assimilation

Ammonification

Denitrification

1. Nitrogen Fixation

2. Ammonification

3. Nitrification

4. Assimilation

5. Denitrification

Nitrogen Fixation

Atmospheric nitrogen is converted into a form usable by living organisms. Facilitated by nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Ammonification

The process by which organic nitrogen is converted into ammonia by decomposer organisms, making it available for uptake by plants.

Nitrification

The biological process in which ammonia is oxidized to nitrites and then to nitrates, making nitrogen available to plants.

Assimilation

The process by which plants and animals take up nitrogen from the soil, converting it into organic molecules. This is essential for the formation of proteins and nucleic acids.

Denitrification

The process by which nitrates and nitrites are reduced to gaseous nitrogen and released back into the atmosphere, completing the nitrogen cycle.