Download Ecosystems and Biogeochemical Cycles: Terms and Definitions and more Quizzes Biology in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 Biosphere DEFINITION 1 Combination of all geological, physical and biological planetary processes which work together to sustain life TERM 2 Ecosystem DEFINITION 2 A collection of different communities living together with the abiotic (Physical) conditions of their environment. can be as large or small as their definition, e.g. African savanna to a water filled knot hole in a tree TERM 3 Ecology DEFINITION 3 The study of the interaction among organisms and their biological and physical environment TERM 4 Energy Sources of Ecosystems DEFINITION 4 Autotrophs produce energy from photosynthesis and Heterotrophs who derive energy from the autotrophs TERM 5 Energy Flow Structure DEFINITION 5 1. Abiotic- non living component, physical characteristics. 2. autotrophs (producers)3. Heterotrophs (consumers)4. decomposters (recyclers) TERM 6 Keystone Species DEFINITION 6 Species that "hold together" an ecosystem, creatures are crucial to the survival of that ecosystem TERM 7 Trophic Levels DEFINITION 7 Feeding levels of an ecosystem, a generally broad base of producers and perhaps several layers of consumers. more consumers means more complex structure of an ecosystem. most stored energy at lower levels TERM 8 Boundaries of an Ecosystem DEFINITION 8 could be distinct, eg. pond or diffuse, blending of two forest types, oak forest and hickory forest combine to form oak-hickory forest. they can also be nested, meaning smaller ecosystems can be found in larger ecosystems. eg. African Dry Desert trees which support ant colonies, trees that support termites, trees that are food for elephants, dung beetles which live on elephant dung TERM 9 Bio-Geochemical Cycles DEFINITION 9 the cycles that help efficiently recycle nutrients in an ecosystem. ex. carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, phosphorous cycle, water cycle TERM 10 Habitats DEFINITION 10 places where an organism lives in an ecosystem TERM 21 Phosphorous Cycle DEFINITION 21 describes the process by which phosphorous moves from its primary reservoir- phosphate rich rocks- to reservoirs of phosphate in soil and water, through producers and into consumers and detritus feeders, then back to reservoirs TERM 22 Acid Deposition DEFINITION 22 acid rain, caused by excessive amounts of sulfur and nitrogen dissolved in water TERM 23 Phosphate DEFINITION 23 Phosphorous takes this form throughout the phosphorous cycle because it is bound to oxygen TERM 24 Reservoirs of Phosphorous DEFINITION 24 directly available to ecological communities, formed when Phosphate rich rocks are exposed to the elements, phosphate is absorbed in the water and is carried to soil, lakes, and the ocean TERM 25 Dissolved Phosphate DEFINITION 25 readily absorbed by consumers from soil, lakes and the ocean (reservoirs of phosphorous), as it moves through food webs, excess phosphate is excreted at each trophic level TERM 26 Final Step of Phosphorous Cycle DEFINITION 26 decomposers return phosphate to the soil and water, where it may then be reabsorbed by producers or may become bound to ocean sediment and eventually reformed into rock TERM 27 AFter Nitrogen Fixation DEFINITION 27 other bacteria in the soil and water convert ammonia (NH3) to nitrate TERM 28 Electrical Storms DEFINITION 28 another way nitrates are produced during the nitrogen cycle TERM 29 Nitrogen returns to the water and atmosphere DEFINITION 29 Ammonia and nitrate are absorbed by producers and as they move their way up the trophic levels, bodies and wastes are broken down by decomposers, which is how...... TERM 30 How carbon enters the living community DEFINITION 30 Producers capture CO2 during photosynthesis, which is how.... TERM 31 what producers do with CO2 DEFINITION 31 return some to the atmosphere or water during cellular respiration, incorporate the rest into their bodyies TERM 32 Forest Fires DEFINITION 32 an alternative way to return CO2 from producers back to the atmosphere TERM 33 What consumers do with CO2 DEFINITION 33 primary consumers eat producers and acquire the carbon store in the producer's tissues. they go on to release CO2 during respiration, excrete carbon compounds in their feces, and store the rest in their bodies, which is returned to the atmosphere after they die
