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14 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
System
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a network of relationships among parts, elements, or components
–Theyinteract with and influence one another –They exchange(input and output) energy, matter, or information Itis hard to fully understand _____; they connect to other systems and do nothave sharp boundaries |
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Positive feedback loop
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insteadof stabilizing a system, it drives it further toward one extreme or another. For example….exponential growth in human population,erosion, melting sea ice
Rarein nature….butiscommon in natural systems altered by humans. |
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Negative feedback loop
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•output from a system moving in onedirection acts as input thatmovesthe system in the other direction
•Input and output neutralize oneanother –Stabilizesthe system Example:predator – prey interactions |
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Dynamicequilibrium
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system processes move in opposing directions
–…balancing their effects |
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Homeostasis |
a system maintains constant(stable) internal conditions ult |
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Emergent properties |
•system characteristics are notevident in the components alone –…the wholeis more than the sum of the parts |
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Ecosystem
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•allbioticand abiotic entities that occur and interact ina particular area at the same time
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Gross primary production (GPP) |
assimilationof energy by autotrophs |
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Net primary production (NPP) |
•energyremaining after respiration which isused to generate biomass –Availablefor consumption by heterotrophs |
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Primary Production |
•conversionofsolarenergy to chemical energy in sugars by autotrophs |
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Eutrofication |
the process of nutrient enrichment, increased production of organic matter, and subsequent ecosystem degradation in a water body.
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source |
a pool that releases more nutrients than it accepts
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sinks |
a pool that accepts more nutrients than it releases |
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