Upgrade to remove ads
Only $2.99/month

APES Friedland Ch 3

Terms in this set (41)

ecosystem
a particular location on Earth distinguished by its mix of biotic and abiotic components
producers
autotrophs, they are responsible for producing usable forms of energy
photosynthesis
a process in which producers use solar energy to convert CO2 and H2O into gluclose (C6H12O6)
glucose
C6H12O6, a form of potential energy that can be used by a wide range of organisms
consumers
heterotrophs, they are incapable of photosynthesis and must obtain energy by consuming other organisms
primary consumers
heterotrophs that consume producers
secondary consumers
carnivores that eat primary consumers
tertiary consumers
carnivores that eat secondary consumers
trophic levels
the successive levels of organisms consuming one another
food chain
the sequence of consumption from producers through tertiary consumers
food web
a more realistic way of showing the food chain
scavengers
carnivores that eat dead animals
detritivores
organisms that specialize in breaking down dead tissues and waste products into smaller particles
decomposer
fungi or bacteria that recycle nutrients from dead tissues and wastes back into ecosystem
gross primary productivity (GPP)
the total amount of solar energy captured via photosynthesis over a given amount of time
net primary productivity (NPP)
the GPP (total energy captured) - the energy from the respiration of producers
biomass
the total mass of living matter in a specific area
standing crop
the amount of biomass present in an ecosystem at a particular time
ecological efficiency
the proportion of consumed energy that can be passed from one trophic level to another
trophic pyramid
a representation of the distribution of biomass among trophic levels
biogeochemical cycles
the movements of matter within and between ecosystems that involve biological, geological, and chemical processes
hydrologic cycle
the movement of water through the biosphere
transpiration
when plants release water from their leaves into the atmosphere
evapotranspiration
a measure of the amount of evaporation and transpiration taking place
macronutrients
six key elements that organisms need in relatively large amounts: nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur
limiting nutrient
single essential nutrient that limits productivity in an ecosystem
nitrogen fixation
process of converting nitrogen gas (N2) into ammonia (NH3)
leaching
removal of dissolved materials from soil by water moving downwards
disturbance
an event caused by physical, chemical, or biological agents that results in changes in population size or community composition
watershed
An ecosystem where all water runoff drains into a single body of water
resistence
a measure of how much a disturbance can affect the flows of energy and matter within an ecosystem
resilience
the rate at which an ecosystem returns to its original state after a disturbance
restoration ecology
a scientific discipline in which scientists study or try to reverse the effects of disturbances on an ecosystem
intermediate disturbance hypothesis
ecosystems experiencing intermediate levels of disturbance are more diverse than those with high or low disturbance levels
instrumental value
the benefits that humans maintain
intrinsic value
moral value of an animal's life
provisions
supplies, food, or other necessities
cellular respiration
the process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide and water
ecological efficiency
the proportion of consumed energy that can be passed from one trophic level to another
biosphere
region of our planet where life resides
runoff
water that moves across land surface and into streams and rivers
THIS SET IS OFTEN IN FOLDERS WITH...