SCIENCE REVIEWER | LAST QUIZ

BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

Pathways by which chemical substances move through biotic and abiotic components of the Earth

Water (Hydrologic) Cycle

Describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the Earth's surface.

Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen is converted into multiple chemical forms as it circulates among the atmosphere, terrestrial, and marine ecosystems

Carbon Cycle

Series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment

RISE (drastically)

Without the evaporative cooling effect of the water cycle, the temperature on Earth would ______________

CLIMACTIC CHANGES and GLOBAL WARMING

If the carbon cycle is disturbed it will result in serious consequences such as

CARBON

All known life on earth is based on

EVAPORATION

Transformation of liquid water into gas • Sun heats up water in rivers, lakes, or even oceans

CONDENSATION

Transformation of water vapor into liquid that forms the clouds

PRECIPITATION

The water falls back to the Earth in the form of rain, hail, or snow. Occurs when so much water has condensed that the clouds get heavy

COLLECTION

rain, snow, or hail collects in the oceans, rivers, lakes, or streams

SURFACE RUNOFF

Occurs when surface doesn't allow water to penetrate the ground

TRANSPIRATION

Water absorbed by roots will return as vapor

THROUGHFLOW

Water infiltrates the soil then moves slowly back to the body of water

PERCOLATION

Water seeps deeper into the ground and more slowly transfers back into the body of water

NITROGEN

Element essential to the DNA, RNA, and proteins

N2

• comprises 78% of the air in the atmosphere • Unusable; Must be converted to chemically available forms like ammonia (NH3 ) nitrate (NO3 )

NITROGEN FIXATION

PROCESS 1

The N2 in the atmosphere breaks and combines with other compounds

FIXED

The Nitrogen is ____________ when it combines with Hydrogen or Oxygen

SPECIAL BACTERIA

It converts N2 into ammonia (NH3 ) which some PLANTS can use

LIGHTNING STRIKES

They convert N2 into N2O or NO3 -

NITROGEN ASSIMILATION

The process of absorbing Nitrates and Ammonia into Organic Nitrogen • The organic nitrogen is then transferred to animal's body when they eat plants

AMMONIFICATION

Organic Nitrogen from dead biotic components turns into NH4 +

NITROGEN MINERALIZATION

Ammonification is also called

DECOMPOSERS

Ammonification is done by

NITRIFICATION

Nitrifying bacteria add oxygen to nitrogen

• NH3 or NH4 + turns into NO2 - and ultimately into NO3 -

• Bacteria takes in NH3 or NH4 + and transforms it into nitrite (NO3 - )

DENITRIFICATION

NO3 - turns back into N2

DENITRIFYING BACTERIA

Responsible for denitrification

CARBON

Element found in all cells

• Makes life on Earth remarkable

• Also found in oceans, rocks, shells, and the atmosphere • Carbon dioxid

CARBON DIOXIDE

A gas in the atmosphere that is important in the carbon cycle

PHOTOSYNTHESIS

CO2 gas is taken by the plant through the STOMATA under the leaf

• photosynthetic microorganisms can make glucose for their own food while expelling Oxygen through the stomata

FOOD CHAIN

Plants, containing carbon in their cells and stored food, are eaten by animals, which are eaten by other animals

• Carbon moves through the ecosystem in different trophic levels

CELLULAR RESPIRATION

Process where living organisms break down food to produce energy (Adenosine Triphosphate or ATP) •

The Oxygen gas oxidates organic substances to produce CO2 gas back into the atmosphere

DECOMPOSITION

Organic substances are broken down into simpler organic matter

DEAD ORGANISMS

In decomposition, Carbon remains stagnant inside?

Anaerobic Decomposition

Carbon Cycle and Fossil Fuels are formed from the ________________ (decomposition without the use of oxygen) remains of dead plants and animals

CHEMICAL ENERGY

Contains stored __________________ which an be obtained by burning them, which returns CO2 back to the atmosphere

CARBON FOOTPRINT

The total amount of greenhouse gases produced as a result of an activity that should be kept as low as possible

MONOCULTURE

cultivation of one type of crop in large areas

Artificial Fertilizers

use of laboratory-made chemicals to fertilize the soil for the crop

POLYCULTURE

more than one species is grown simultaneously in the place in imitation of the diversity of a natural ecosystem

Biological Control of pests and weeds

method of controlling pests such as insects, mites, weeds, and plant diseases using other organisms • relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms but typically also involves an active human management role

Herbicides and Insecticides

• Chemicals that kill weeds and pests • Other beneficial plants and insects are killed • Resistance may lead to increased usage • Move up the food pyramid to other animals • Also affects water, nitrogen, and carbon cycle

NATURAL FERTILIZERS

Animal manure and compost • rearing of animals and the cultivation of plants in natural ways • Maintains soil fertility and ecological balance, thereby minimizing pollution and wastage.

HABITAT

a place where organisms live

NICHE

includes all interactions with biotic and abiotic parts of the environment and determines the habitat.

Native (indigenous) species

organisms that originated in their habitat naturally and without human involvement or intervention

Nonnative (exotic) species

move out from their natural environment because of human intervention or natural barrier (ex. Peregrine)

Invasive species

organisms that cause harm to ecosystem and may displace native species

KEYSTONE SPECIES

plays a unique role in maintaining the structure or stability of an ecological community based on its relative abundance

Robert Paine

introduced the concept, studied the carnivorous sea star, Pisaster ochracceus

Population viability

Probability of survival of a species population in the face of disturbance

Minimum viable population

a small isolated population that survives over time regardless of environmental and genetic events

Ecological resilience

the capacity of the ecosystem to cope with disturbance and return to its stable state

• a dynamic, complex, and adaptive system that exists in various states

FEEDING LEVEL

A trophic level means a

Fourth level - second level carnivores

Third level - first level carnivores

Second level - all herbivores

First level - all producers

Give the trophic levels

10%

Only ______% energy and nutrients are transferred into higher trophic level successfully"

INTERSPECIFIC COMPETITION

The competition for food and other resources between organisms of two or more species.

INTRASPECIFIC COMPETITION

The competition for food and other requirements between organisms of the same species.

ECOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS

Interspecific interactions between living organisms in an ecosystem

NON-SYMBIOTIC

organism is not solely dependent on the other organism for its survival

SYMBIOTIC

Interactions wherein different organisms depend on each other for basic needs like food, shelter, and survival.

MUTUALISM

both organisms benefit from each other

COMMENSALISM

One benefits while the other is unharmed but does not benefit

PARASITISM

A parasite gets its nutrition from the host that does not die

Ectoparasite

parasite that attaches itself outside the host

Endoparasite

parasite that lives inside the host

OBLIGATE SYMBIOSIS/MUTUALISM

when two organisms are in a symbiotic relationship because they can't survive without each other.

FACULTATIVE SYMBIOSIS/MUTUALISM

When the species live together by choice. It suggests that partners do not necessarily require one another to survive and/or reproduce.

PREDATION

the predator kills and consumes its prey

COMPETITION

Organisms fight and compete to obtain food, territory, breeding patterns, and nesting sites