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Details Title: Ecosystems I Test II Description: Chapter 7 Total Flash Cards: 13 Created: 11/09/2007 03:53:08	To study from this set of flash cards, or to create your own your own study flash cards, register HERE. If you are already a registered user, CLICK HERE.
Cards Term assimilatory processes Definition transformations that incorporate inorganic forms of elements into the molecules of plants, animals, and microbes Term dissimilatory process Definition involves the transformation of organic elements back to an inorganic form, accompanied by release of energy Term gives up, accepts Definition an atom is oxidized when it _____ electroms, and reduced when it _____ them Term 14 billion cubic km, or 14 x 10^18g Definition amount of water in the biosphere Term 97% Definition more than ___ % of water in the biosphere resides in the oceans Term nitrogen fixation Definition nitrogen enters the biological pathways of the nitrogen cycle by assimilation by certain microorganisms Term ammonification Definition involves the breaking down of proteins into their component amino acids by hydrolysis and the oxidation of the carbon in those amino acids Term nitrification Definition involves the oxidation of nitrogen, first from ammonia to nitrite (NO2), then from nitrite to nitrate (NO3), diring which nitrogen atoms are stripped of six, and then two more, of their electrons. Term denitrification Definition nitrogen is reduced to nitric oxide (NO). important for breaking down OM in oxygen-depleted soils and sedients but also results in loss of nitrogen from soils because some nitric oxide escapes as a gas Term sulfuric Definition acid that leads to acid rain and acid mine drainage Term photoautotrophs Definition use sunlight as source of energy Term chemoautotrophs Definition obtain energy for CO2 reduction by the aerobic oxidation of inorganic substrates like methane, hydrogen, ammonia, nitrite, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur, sulfite, or ferrous iron salts Term nitrate Definition under anaerobic conditions in soils and sediments, certain bacteria can use _____ in place of oxygen as an oxidizing agent