Environmental Science M2

SYSTEM

a network of interdependent components and processes with materials and energy flowing from one component to another

positive feedback

increase a process or component

negative feedback

decrease a process or component

FEEDBACK LOOPS

HELP STABILIZE SYSTEMS

Disturbances of feedbacks

FIRE, FLOODING, INVASION OF NEW SPECIES, CLIMATE CHANGE, DESTRUCTIVE HUMAN ACTIVITIES

RESILIENCE

is the ability to return to a previous condition from being in a disturbance

STATE SHIFT

adapt to the current condition, not going back to the previous condition

EQUILIBRIUM

A relatively stable state that keeps population sizes within a sustainable range

threshold

Tipping point: rapid changes suddenly occurs when passing certain limits.

EMERGENT PROPERTIES

properties that are not evident in the individual components of a system, but show up when combining those components ▪ arise from the collaborative functioning of a system, but do not belong to any one part of that system

element

substances that cannot be broken down into simpler forms by ordinary chemical reactions.

atom

the smallest particle that exhibits the characteristics of an element

principle of conservation of matter

matter is neither CREATED NOR DESTROYED but rather is transformed OVER AND OVER AGAIN

%Composition by Mass of HUMAN BODY

O, C, H, N, Ca, P, K

% Composition by Mass of matter OCEAN WATER

O, H, Cl, Na, Mg, S, Ca

% Composition by Mass of matter EARTH’S CRUST

O, Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Na, K

% Composition by Mass of matter ATMOSPHERE

O, N, Ar, Ca, Ne, He, H

energy

ability to do work

POTENTIAL ENERGY

stored energy that is available for use

KINETIC ENERGY

the energy contained in moving objects

heat energy

the energy that can be transferred between objects of different temperature

thermodynamics

deals with how energy is transferred in natural processes

FIRST LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS

energy is conserved; that is, it is neither created nor destroyed under normal conditions

Earth's energy budget

a concept used to describe the balance of energy flowing into and out of the Earth's atmosphere.

SECOND LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS

with each successive energy transfer or transformation in a system, less energy is available to do work

Photosynthesis

the process by which green plant and certain other organisms transform light energy into chemical energy.

CHEMOSYNTHESIS

the synthesis of organic compounds by bacteria or other living organisms using energy derived from reactions involving inorganic chemicals, typically in the absence of sunlight.

EXTREMOPHILES

organisms that live in "extreme environments“

Green

Chlorophyll

Yellow Orange

Xanthophyll, Flavone, Carotene

Red Purple

Lycopene, Anthocyanin

CELLULAR RESPIRATION

it is a metabolic pathway that breaks down glucose and produces ATP

TOP CARNIVORES

Tertiary consumers

CARNIVORES

Secondary consumers

HERBIVORES

Primary consumers

AUTOTROPHS

Primary Producers

Scavengers Detritivores Decomposers

Consumers that feed at all levels

FOOD CHAIN

the sequence of transfers of matter and energy in the form of food from organism to

FOOD WEB

connection of multiple food chains

TROPHIC LEVELS

an organism’s feeding status in an ecosystem