RC4 Interdependence within Environmental Systems

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the interdependence within environmental systems.

Carbon Cycle

The process that moves carbon between plants, animals, microbes, minerals in the Earth, and the atmosphere.

Carbon Reservoirs (Sinks)

Carbon reservoirs absorb more carbon than they give off.

Carbon Sources

A source that releases more carbon than it absorbs.

Photosynthesis

The process through which carbon enters living systems.

Ocean Acidification

The lowering of pH levels in the ocean due to excess CO₂, harming marine life.

Disrupted Food Chains

Changes in plant growth and habitat conditions that affect primary producers.

Nitrogen Cycle

The process by which nitrogen is passed through the biosphere, converting it into usable forms.

Nitrogen Fixation

The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia by certain bacteria.

Nitrification

The process where soil bacteria convert ammonia into nitrites and then nitrates.

Eutrophication

The excess nitrogen runoff into water bodies that promotes algal blooms.

Biodiversity

The variety of living species in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Climax Community

A stable and mature ecological community that has reached equilibrium after ecological succession.

Ecosystem Stability

The ability of an ecosystem to maintain itself without inputs from the outside system.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where both species benefit.

Parasitism

A symbiotic relationship where one species benefits at the expense of another.

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship where one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Habitat Restoration

Actions taken to improve or restore habitats, such as replanting native vegetation and removing invasive species.