Ecology And Evolution

Front 1

Ammonification

Back 1

As organisms die certain microbes decompose organic nitrogen into ammonia to be used in the process of nitrification

Front 2

Denitrification

Back 2

Reduction of nitrates commonly by bacteria in the soil that usually results in the escape of nitrogen into the air

Hint 2

De-nitrifi no longer useful

Front 3

Mineralization

Back 3

Decomposition or oxidation of the chemical compounds in organic matter if into plant accessible forms.

Hint 3

Opposite of immobilization

Front 4

Biogeochemical cycles

Back 4

◾Exchange of chemicals within an ecosystem (closed)

◾Time scale< geochemical

◾Nutrients stay in system

Front 5

Gross primary productivity

Back 5

amount of chemical energy as biomass that primary producers create in a given length of time. (GPP is sometimes confused with Gross Primary productivity, which is the rate at which photosynthesis or chemosynthesis occurs.)

Front 6

Immobilization

Back 6

conversion of inorganic compounds to organic compounds by micro-organisms or plants, by which it is prevented from being accessible to plants.

Hint 6

Immobilization is the opposite of mineralization

Front 7

Net ecosystem productivity

Back 7

the difference between gross primary production and total ecosystem respiration, represents the total amount of organic carbon in an ecosystem available for storage, export as organic carbon, or nonbio- logical oxidation to carbon dioxide through fire or ultraviolet oxidation.

Front 8

Geochemical Cycle

Back 8

◾Exchange between ecosystems

◾Open cycle

◾Time scale is long

Front 9

Coriolis effect

Back 9

an effect whereby a mass moving in a rotating system experiences a force (the Coriolis force ) acting perpendicular to the direction of motion and to the axis of rotation. On the earth, the effect tends to deflect moving objects to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern and is important in the formation of cyclonic weather systems.

Front 10

Nitrogen Cycle

Back 10

Front 11

Soil horizons

Back 11

◾Different regions have different soil characteristics

◾Soil is dynamic

Front 12

Biome

Back 12

A large community of plants and animals that occupies a distinct region. Terrestrial biomes, typically defined by their climate and dominant vegetation, include grassland, tundra, desert, tropical rainforest, and deciduous and coniferous forests

Front 13

3 pathways for nutrient cycling

Back 13

◾BioChemical

◾BioGeoChemical

◾GeoChemical

Front 14

BioChemical cycle

Back 14

Internal redistribution of nutrients within an organism

◾Plant moving nutrients around to where they are most needed

◾Animals regulate chemical composition,excretion of waste materials

Front 15

Forms of Nitrogen and plant uptake: N2

Back 15

Nitrogen gas (biological fixation)

Front 16

Forms of Nitrogen and plant uptake:NH3

Back 16

Ammonia gas, foliar absorbtion

Front 17

Forms of Nitrogen and plant uptake: NH4+

Back 17

Ammonium ion, uptake by plants (leaves or roots) bound to soil, or converted to NO3-

Front 18

Forms of Nitrogen and plant uptake: NO3-

Back 18

Nitrate, uptake by plants, bound to soil or leached from the system

Front 19

Nitrification

Back 19

Ammonium is oxidized to nitrites and then to nitrates

Front 20

What influences climate?

Back 20

Sun+Tilt of the earth=Predictable seasonality

Front 21

Transpiration

Back 21

Plants transferring large amounts of water from soil to the atmosphere

Front 22

EvapoTransperation

Back 22

Combined evaporation of water from soil and leaf surfaces

Front 23

Essential steps to producing offsprings

Back 23

Front 24

______ variation in a population is necessary for evolution by natural selection

Back 24

Genetic

Front 25

Decomposition rates higher in_______than temperate forest

Back 25

Tropical (both increasing moisture correlated with increased decomposition rate)

Front 26

Tundra- Climate, Soil and Biology

Back 26

Front 27

Boreal forest aka taiga-Climate, Soil and Biology

Back 27

Front 28

4 major biomes in canada

Back 28

Tundra

Boreal forest

Temperate forest

Grassland

Front 29

Temperate forest-Climate, Soil and Biology

Back 29

Front 30

Temperate grasslands-Climate, Soil and Biology

Back 30

Front 31

The sun and tilt of the earth drive:

Back 31

◾Seasonality

◾Patterns of precipitation and air circulation

◾Result in predictable climate variation with latitude