APES Chapter 1

1st law of thermodynamics states that

energy is never created or destroyed

2nd law of thermodynamics states that

each time energy is transferred, some of it is lost as heat

10% rule

in trophic pyramids, only about 10% of energy from one level makes it to the next level

the other 90% is used by the organism and lost as heat

also applies to biomass

abiotic environment

all the nonliving factors in an ecosystem

abiotic processes of carbon cycle

sedimentation, burial, combustion, diffusion,

abiotic processes of phosphorous cycle

sedimentation

weathering

geological uplift

algae

a very simple plant without stems or leaves that grows in or near water; provides sugars for coral and lichen in a mutualistic relationship

take CO2 out of the ocean and atm. through photosynthesis

ammonia volatilization

excess fertilizer use can lead to NH3 gas entering atmosphere

ammonification

process by which fungi, microbes, and bacterial decomposers break down the organic nitrogen found in dead biomass and waste and convert back into NH3 and return it to the soil

apex predator

the top predator in an ecosystem/food chain

no natural predators

aphotic zone

abyssal

area of ocean too deep for sunlight

aquatic

water-based ecosystem heavily influenced by the concentration of dissolved oxygen and nutrients in the water

aquifer

groundwater reservoirs often tapped by wells

assimilation

plants and animal taking N in and incorporating it into their body

atmosphere

A thin layer of gases surrounding Earth

ATP

main energy source that cells use for most of their work

autotroph (producers)

organism that produces its own food using sunlight/chemical energy

bacterial fixation

certain bacteria that live in the soil, or in symbiotic relationship with plant root nodules. Convert N2 into ammonia (NH3)

benefits of wetlands

Stores excess water during storms, lessening floods

Recharges groundwater by absorbing rainfall into soil

Roots of plants filter pollutants from water draining through

Roots of plants filter pollutants from water draining through

benthic zone

murky bottom where inverts (bugs) and decomposers live

nutrient-rich sediments

biogeochemical cycle

self regulating, naturally occurring, movement of chemical molecules through various sources and sinks

biological carbon cycle

occurs through biological processes

relatively quick flow of carbon between the atmosphere and Earth's ecosystems

biomass

total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level

biome

a large region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain types of plant and animal communities

shares a combination of avg, yearly temp. & precipitation (climate)

biotic environment

the living organisms within an area, often referred to as a community

biotic processes nitrogen cycle

nitrogen fixation, ammonification, nitrification, denitrification, assimilation

biotic processes of carbon cycle

photosynthesis, cellular respiration, decomposition, consumption, assimilation

biotic processes of phosphorous cycle

plant uptake/assimilation

consumption

deomposition

bog

ponds covered in thick floating mats of vegetation

acidic soil

develop in depressions where water flow is low or nonexistant

boreal forest (taiga)

coniferous (needle-like leaved) forest

short, warm, moist summers

short, warm, moist summers

nutrient-poor acidic soil

low temp. & decomposition rate of dead org. matter

burial

Long term Carbon Reservoir

over long periods of time water pressure compresses C-containing sediments on the ocean floor into sedimentary stone (limestone, sandstone)

carbon

essential element that forms the base of all organic matter, including the bodies of living organisms, and is a key component of fossil fuels

carbon cycle

the complex flow of carbon between inorganic carbon reservoirs and organic sources within the environment

carbon cycle reservoirs

atmosphere, bodies of water (largest), fossil fuels, long living organisms

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

compound in the atmosphere that is taken by photosynthetic organisms to make organic molecules and is later released back into the atmosphere through processes like respiration and decomposition

carbon fixation

converting elements (carbon) into a usable form

Ex: CO2 to C6H12O6

carbon sink

reservoir that take in more carbon than it releases

Ocean (algae/sediments), plants, soil

carbon source

Reservoir that releases more carbon than it takes in

fossil fuel combustion and deforestation

carnivore

organism that obtains energy by eating animals

cellular respiration

uses O2 to break down glucose. releases energy and CO2 into atmosphere

CO2 source

chaparral

highly seasonal w/ mild/wet winters and warm/dry summers (influenced by ocean)

frequent fires

plants adapted to resist fire or depend on fire for germination of seeds

chemoautotrophs

prokaryotes that use inorganic chemicals to build organic compounds (chemosynthesis)

climate change due to human impacts on nitrogen cycle

N2O (nitrous oxide)

greenhouse gas which warms Earth's climate

combustion

burning fossil fuels as energy source, releasing CO2 into atm.

commensalism

relationship that benefits one organism and doesn't impact the other (+/O)

community

A group of interdependent organisms sharing a habitat and interacting with each other

competition

organisms fighting over a resource like food or shelter

limits/reduces population size

competitive exclusion

theory that states that no two species can occupy the same niche at the same time. one outcompetes and eliminates the other

condensation

The change of state from a gas to a liquid

conservation of energy

energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can be altered from one form to another.

conservation of matter

matter cannot be created or destroyed

coral

provide reef structure and CO2 for algae; algae provide sugars for them to use as energy

coral reef

Mutualistic relationship between coral (animals) & algae (plants)

diverse marine biome

found in warm shallow waters beyond the shoreline

Coral take CO2 out of ocean to create calcium carbonate exoskeleton (the reef) & also CO2 to algae

Algae lives in reef & provide sugar to the coral through photosynthesis

decomposers

Break down organic matter and wastes

denitrification

bacteria convert nitrites and nitrates back into nitrogen gas, returning nitrogen to the atmosphere

depth

Influences how much sunlight can penetrate and reach plants below the surface for photosynthesis

deserts

rainfall- low & highly variable

diff. types of plants depending on temperature (have ways to conserve water)

low humidity and little vegetation to insulate from temp extremes

saline, high mineral, low organic matter content soils

Detritivore

organism that feeds on plant and animal remains and other dead matter

direct exchange/diffusion

CO2 moves directly between atmosphere and the ocean by dissolving into and out of ocean water at the surface

happens very quickly in equal directions, balancing levels of CO2 between atm. and ocean

ecological efficiency

The portion of incoming solar energy that is captured by plants & converted into biomass (NPP or food available for consumers)

ecology

Scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environmentc

ecosystem

all living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) things in an area

entropy

a measure of the disorder of a system

estuary

areas where rivers empty into ocean

Mix of fresh & salt water (species adapt to this)

High productivity (plant growth) due to nutrients in sediments deposited by river

eutrophication (nitrogen)

excessive richness of nitrogen in a body of water, due to runoff from the land

causes algae blooms and a dense growth of plant life and death of animal life from lack of oxygen

eutrophication (phosphorous)

excessive richness of nutrients (N or P) in a body of water, due to runoff from the land (fertilizer runoff, human/animal waste contamination)

less O2 for aquatic animals, and they die off, more bacterial decomposition, less O2

increased growth of organisms such as algae or cyanobacteria

less O2 for aquatic animals, and they die off, more bacterial decomposition, less O2

evaporation

The change of a substance from a liquid to a gas

evapotranspiration

amount of H2O that enters atmosphere from transpiration and evaporation combined

driven by energy from the sun

extraction

digging up or mining of fossil fuels

factors of a high NPP

Water availability, higher temperature, and nutrient availability

fixation of phosphorous

none, because there is no atmospheric phase

floodplain zone

water spills out onto the land forming wetlands and temporary lakes

more sediment, less dissolved O2, warm, nutrient rich

support greatest variety of plants/animals

flow

Determines which plants & organisms can survive, how much O2 can dissolve into wate

flux

a state of continual change or movement

food chain

series of organisms in which energy is transferred to another

food web

network of feeding interactions, usually consisting of multiple food chains

fossil fuels

coal, oil, and natural gas are formed from fossilized remains of organic matter

freshwater biomes

water contains little or no salt

includes ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers

geological carbon cycle

occurs through geologic processes

slower flow of carbon between Earth's nonliving carbon reservoirs

geological uplift

tectonic plate collision forcing up rock layers that form mountains

P cycle start over with weathering and release of phosphate from rock

grasslands

experience seasonal drought, occasional fire, and grazing by herbivores

these stop trees/shrubs from overgrowing the grasses

gross primary productivity

the total amount of sun energy (light) plants capture + convert to energy (glucose) through photosynthesis

groundwater

found underground between soil particles and cracks of rocks

groundwater recharge

A process by which water percolates through the soil and works its way into an aquifer.

Haber Bosch process

production of fertilizers by combining nitrogen and hydrogen to synthesize ammonia

heat loss

energy lost as biomass moves up the pyramid

herbivore

organism that obtains energy by eating only plants

heterotroph

an organism that consumes another organism for food

high primary productivity

high plant growth = lots of food & shelter for animals

more biodiverse

fertilizers and eutrophication

human impact on phosphorus cycle

human impacts nitrogen cycle

fertilizers (direct), runoff and eutrophication (indirect)

human impacts on carbon cycle

burning of fossil fuels

hydrologic cycle

Water cycle, the circular pathway of water on earth from atmosphere, to the surface, below ground and back

driven by the Sun's energy

individual

one organism, a single living thing

infiltration

water on the ground surface tricks through soil down into groundwater aquifers

inorganic forms of carbon

CO2 and CaCO3

interspecific

competition between members of different species

intertidal zone

Narrow band of coastline between high & low tide

Organisms adapted to survive crashing waves & direct sunlight during low tide

Shells & tough outer skin prevent drying out during low tides

intraspecific

competition between members of the same species