Ecology

Front 1

nutrient cycles

Back 1

- move and transfer chemical elements (C, N, H,O) through abiotic and biotic components of an ecosystem.

- Nutrient cycle is reversible.

- The supply of nutrients in an ecosystem is finite and limited.

Front 2

photosynthesis

Back 2

-CO2 is voncerted by autotrophs into carbohydrates

- Very inefficient (Only 1% of the energyfrom the sun is used)●Chlorophyll –absorbs light to drivephotosynthesis

- Plants use glucose to:●Construct other molecules●Build their cell wall●Store energy●Source of energy

Front 3

respiration

Back 3

carbon returned to the atmosphere via respiration

Front 4

combustion

Back 4

carbon is returned to the atmosphere as CO2

Front 5

methanogenesis

Back 5

- anaerobic microorganisms produce methane (CH4) to the atmosphere

- converted into CO2 + H2O via oxidation

Front 6

anaerobic

Back 6

no oxygen

Front 7

methane

Back 7

CH4

Front 8

Nutrient sink/store/pool

Back 8

atmosphere-CO2

ocean-bicarbonate

rock-coal and limestone

Front 9

Nutrient flex/flow

Back 9

food chain

ex. grass-->grasshopper-->frog-->snake-->kookaburra

Front 10

Fossil Fuel

Back 10

- contain carbon-->combustion-->CO2

- coal is formed by death terrestrial plants

- oil and nature gas if formed by dead algae and zooplankton

Front 11

Peat

Back 11

- partially decayed vegetation or organic material

- formed when plant is not fully decomposed in acidic/anaerobic condition

- a carbon sink

Front 12

Limestone

Back 12

- contain calcium carbonate

- formed by the fossilization of sea animal shells and marine animal skeletons

Front 13

Carbonic acid

Back 13

- CO2 in the atmosphere dissolved in water: CO2+H2O-->H2CO3 (carbon acid)

Front 14

Calcium carbonate

Back 14

exchange matter and energy withsurroundings

- in limestone

- in shells

- skeletons

Front 15

Primary succession

Back 15

- new ecosystem where there were no livingthings before

●Cooled lava, receded glacier, mud slide●Pioneer species come in first → create soil

Front 16

Secondary succession

Back 16

- ecosystem used to be there

●Fire, humans clear an area → soil intact

Front 17

Pioneer species

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In primary succession, Pioneer species come in first → create soil

Front 18

Climax community

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- A climax community is one that has reached the stable stage. When extensive and well defined, the climax community is called a biome.

○usually only changes if majorinterference׶RA2M3

Front 19

Sustainability

Back 19

Requirements for sustainability inecosystem:

●Energy availability

●Nutrient availability

●Detoxification of waste productsil.h

Front 20

Closed system

Back 20

exchange energy but not matter with thesurroundings

Front 21

Open system

Back 21

exchange matter and energy withsurroundings/html>

Front 22

Mesocosm

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closed-system

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Greenhouse effect

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keeps earth warm enough to sustain life

Front 24

Greenhouse gases

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- water vapor (more concentrated)-->often not included in green house gases

- CO2 (more concentrated)

- methane (more potent)

- nitrous oxide (N2O)

Front 25

Troposphere

Back 25

the lowest layer of earth's atmosphere, where all the living activities happen

Front 26

Nitrogen oxides

Back 26

greenhouse gass

Front 27

Ocean acidification

Back 27

- CO2+H2O-->H2CO3

- pH of the ocean reduces

- lead to thinner and deformed shells

Front 28

Long-wave radiation

Back 28

After clouds and the surface absorb the solar energy, the ground heats up and re-emits energy as long-wave radiation in the form of infrared rays

Front 29

Short-wave radiation

Back 29

Short-wave radiation (SW) is radiant energy with wavelengths in the visible (VIS). sunlight is short-wave radiation.