Unit 2 - Week 4

nitrogen fixation

Process of converting nitrogen gas into ammonia

Dentrification

Conversion of nitrates into nitrogen gas

Eutrophication

A process by which nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, become highly concentrated in a body of water, leading to increased growth of organisms such as algae or cyanobacteria.

primary productivity

rate at which organic matter is created by producers in an ecosystem

limiting nutrient

single essential nutrient that limits productivity in an ecosystem

ecological succession

gradual change in living communities that follows a disturbance

biological legacy

When one community of organisms leaves behind nutrients for future generations

pioneer species

First species to populate an area during primary succession

Primary succession

An ecological succession that begins in an area where no biotic community previously existed

secondary succession

Succession following a disturbance that destroys a community without destroying the soil