Environmental Science

Front 1

ecology

Back 1

the study of any and all aspects of how organisms interact with each other and their environment

Front 2

archaebacteria

Back 2

prokaryotic, unicellular, extreme conditions, no light or oxygen

Front 3

eubacteria

Back 3

prokaryotic, unicellular, biochemical reactions

Front 4

succession

Back 4

gradual change in plant and animal communities over time

Front 5

primary succession

Back 5

first growth that occurs in an area that has no true soil

Front 6

secondary succession

Back 6

occurs on landscapes where the natural vegetation has been removed or destroyed

Front 7

predation

Back 7

predator attacks prey

Front 8

stratosphere

Back 8

temperature increases with altitude due to ozone, up to 40 miles above earth, oxygen absorbs high energy radiation from the sun, no precipitation, little mixing of air, substances remain here a long time

Front 9

competition

Back 9

both species compete for same resources

Front 10

parasitism

Back 10

one species lives off another causing harm

Front 11

mutualism

Back 11

two species live off each other, both benefit

Front 12

commensalism

Back 12

one species lives off another species without causing it harm or giving it any benefit

Front 13

pioneer species

Back 13

first to grow on the barren site

Front 14

keystone species

Back 14

play an intregal part in designing an ecosystem

Front 15

troposphere

Back 15

extends up to 10 miles, gases here moderate the flow of energy to earth, involved in biogeochemical cycling of O,N,C,S, H2O etc. Temperature cools with altitude.

Front 16

tropopause

Back 16

caps the troposphere

Front 17

two forces that drive the water cycle

Back 17

gravity and sun which generates wind

Front 18

solstices

Back 18

June 21 and December 21

Front 19

equinox's

Back 19

spring and fall, equal light/day

Front 20

perihelion

Back 20

closest to the sun

Front 21

aphelion

Back 21

farthest away from the sun

Front 22

angiosperm

Back 22

flowering plants

Front 23

gymnosperm

Back 23

primitive plants, do not protect seeds

Front 24

annual

Back 24

completes life cycle in one growing season

Front 25

perennial

Back 25

plant that lives for more then two years, produces flowers, fruits, and seeds

Front 26

sand

Back 26

well aerated, prone to drought, largest particle size

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silt

Back 27

medium particle size

Front 28

clay

Back 28

microscopic particle size, retains water well, poor aeration

Front 29

5 carbon sinks

Back 29

atmosphere, oceans, fossil fuels, soils, dead organic matter

Front 30

monocot

Back 30

multiple of three, parallel, scatted vascular bundles

Front 31

dicot

Back 31

multiple of four or five, netted, vascular bundles in a ring

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lotic

Back 32

moving, running water, rivers and streams

Front 33

lentic

Back 33

standing water, lakes and ponds

Front 34

ecotone

Back 34

transition area

Front 35

niche

Back 35

functional role of a species in a community, including activities and relationships

Front 36

ecosystem

Back 36

biotic community and its abiotic environment functioning as a system

Front 37

fungi

Back 37

recycle plant life, decomposers

Front 38

green plants

Back 38

oxygen output, carbon dioxide input

Front 39

U.S. population

Back 39

305 million

Front 40

world population

Back 40

608 billion

Front 41

sustainability

Back 41

healthy population resources are replenished, not depleted

Front 42

how do humans affects nitrogen cycle?

Back 42

increased fertilizer consumption

Front 43

how do humans affect carbon cycle?

Back 43

burning fossil fuels

Front 44

littorial

Back 44

rooted plants, photosynthesis occurs

Front 45

limnetic zone

Back 45

phytoplankton, zooplankton, algae

Front 46

benthic zone

Back 46

anareobic bottom

Front 47

eutrophic

Back 47

nutrient rich