Ecology: Terms and Definitions for Soil Organisms, Photosynthesis, and Ecosystems, Quizzes of Plant Taxonomy and Evolution

Download Ecology: Terms and Definitions for Soil Organisms, Photosynthesis, and Ecosystems and more Quizzes Plant Taxonomy and Evolution in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 Ecology DEFINITION 1 Ecology is the scientific analysis and study of interactions among organisms and their environment, such as the interactions organisms have with each other and with their abiotic environment. TERM 2 Ecosystem DEFINITION 2 An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment (things like air, water and mineral soil), interacting as a system. TERM 3 Healthy Ecosystem DEFINITION 3 Resilient and contain a diversity of organisms TERM 4 Energy and Carbon dynamics of soil plant continuum DEFINITION 4 Photosynthesis LightPhotosynthetic organismsDetritussoil faunasoil microflorasoil humus TERM 5 Photosynthesis light DEFINITION 5 6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2 TERM 6 Photosynthetic organisms DEFINITION 6 Primary producers TERM 7 Detritus DEFINITION 7 In biology, detritus is non-living particulate organic material (as opposed to dissolved organic material). TERM 8 Soil Fauna DEFINITION 8 animals (heterotrophs) TERM 9 Heterothoph DEFINITION 9 An organism deriving its nutritional requirements from complex organic substances TERM 10 Soil Microflora DEFINITION 10 Microbes, "microbial Biomass" TERM 21 Chemoautotrophs DEFINITION 21 Energy from chemical reactions, nitrifying bacteria convert NH4+-->NO3- TERM 22 Heterotrophs DEFINITION 22 Require performed organic food source, C from organic compound.A heterotroph is an organism that cannot fix carbon and uses organic carbon for growth. TERM 23 Soil organism population DEFINITION 23 Amount and quality of food available TERM 24 Total Soil Biomass DEFINITION 24 The living fraction of the soil is generally related to the amount of organic matter present TERM 25 Soil Biomass DEFINITION 25 Soil organism populationtotal soilbiomass TERM 26 (ALGAE) BLANK cellular organsim DEFINITION 26 Eukaryotic TERM 27 (ALGAE) Primarily photoautrophs DEFINITION 27 live on or near soil surface TERM 28 (ALGAE) Lichens DEFINITION 28 Symbiotic realtionship with fungi, N2 fixation physical support, also cynobacteria TERM 29 BLANK colonizers of exposed sufaces DEFINITION 29 Early TERM 30 Algea DEFINITION 30 Abundant in aquatic enviroments, soil surface TERM 31 Algea Mass DEFINITION 31 10 to 500kg/ha10,000 to 100,000 cells/g soils TERM 32 Fungi DEFINITION 32 Eukarotic, nuclear membrane and cell walls TERM 33 Fungi DEFINITION 33 Populations decrease with depth TERM 34 Fungi Heterotrophic DEFINITION 34 Mostly aerobic, some can tolerate low O2 TERM 35 Fungi DEFINITION 35 Decomposers of cellulose, starch, gums, water, and lignin TERM 46 Ectomycorrhiza DEFINITION 46 Form a fungal mantle around roots, infection between outer root cellsAn ectomycorrhiza is a form of symbiotic relationship that occurs between a fungal symbiont and the roots of various plant species. TERM 47 Endomycorrhiza DEFINITION 47 Infection within cortical cells with branching of hyphae throughout soilA mycorrhiza is a symbiotic (generally mutualistic, but occasionally weakly pathogenic) association between a fungus and the roots of a vascular plant. TERM 48 Bacteria DEFINITION 48 Simplest form of life, prokaryoticSingle-celled, rods or spherical Some are spore formers Aerobic and anaerobic Most are heterotrophs, some are autotrophs Important decomposers, favor sugars and protein N2-fixation, Rhizobium legume symbiotic association pH sensitive, populations decline w/increasing acidity 1 bill. or more/g-soil Mass=400 to 5000 kg/ha TERM 49 Actinomycetes (bacterium) DEFINITION 49 Form filaments, classified w/bacteria (prokaryotic), unicellular Aerobes Heterotrophic decomposers of organic residues Antibiotics-1940 Selman Waksman discovered actinomycin; Streptomycetes aureomycin discovered Univ. MO. 1958 Fresh soil smell, geosmins and other volatiles Optimum pH range 6.0-7.5 Pathogenic ex. Streptomycetes scabies potato scab, acid pH < 5.0 to inhibit 10 to 100 million/g-soil Mass=400 to 5000 kg/ha TERM 50 Factors Influencing Microbial Growth (FIMG) DEFINITION 50 Organic SubstratesOxygen RequirementsSoil moisturesoil pH TERM 51 Organic Substrates (FIMG) DEFINITION 51 - Bacteria favor simpler compounds, sugars, starches, and protein. Broad enzymatic capabilities-emediatation of pesticides, petroleum products,etc.-Fungi favor more complex compounds- cellulose TERM 52 Oxygen Requirements (FIMG) DEFINITION 52 Aerobes vs. anaerobes, less O2 with depth favor bacteria TERM 53 Soil Moisture and Temperature (FIMG) DEFINITION 53 Most active form feild capasity (-.1 bars) to (-.7 bars), temp 68 to 104 degrees F, (5 degree C) 41 degree F Biological Zero TERM 54 Soil pH (FIMG) DEFINITION 54 Near neutral all organisms active, acid soils favor fungi TERM 55 Soil Fauna Microfauna DEFINITION 55 NematodesProtozoa TERM 56 Soil Fauna Nematodes DEFINITION 56 Unsegmented microscopic worms, omnivores. Some feed on decaying plant tissue while others are parasitic, e.g. sting, cyst, and root knot. Economic importance especially on turf, vegetable crops, soybeans, and cotton. TERM 57 Soil Fauna Protozoa DEFINITION 57 Single celled animals, feed selectively on bacteria and fungi; main function appears to be in control of these organismsEx. Amoebae TERM 58 Macrofauna DEFINITION 58 EarthwormsArthropodsMollusksVertebrates TERM 59 Macrofauna Earthworms DEFINITION 59 Annelids, Segmented and cylindricalLambricus terrestris- Burrowing makes macropores channels (barrows), cast rich in nutrients, and forms stable aggregates. Important in decomposition of litter and incorporation of it into the soil TERM 60 Macrofauna Arthropods DEFINITION 60 Exoskeleton, jointed legs. Mites, millipedes, centipedes, spring tails, ants, spiders, and termites.