Term
|
Definition
| Is the transformation of organic nutrients into mineral form and back into organisms |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Or reabsorption of some nutrients occurs in plants |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
The breakdown of chemical bonds of organic molecules
-release of energy, CO2 and water |
|
|
Term
| Examples of Decomposition |
|
Definition
Leaching
Fragmentation
Changes in physical, chemical structure
Ingestion
Excretion of waste products |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Organisms that feed on dead organic matter or detritus |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Microflora: bacteria and fungi
Invertebrate detrivitores
-Microfauna (microflora)
-Mesofauna
-Macrofauna
-Megafauna |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Dominant decomposers of dead animal matter
Aerobic, Anaerobic |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Major decomposers of plant matter |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Protozoans, nematodes, inhabiting the water in soil pores |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Mites, potworms, and springtails that live in soil air spaces |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Terrestrial: snails, millipedes, and earthworms
Aquatic: annelid worms, crustaceans (e.g. amphipods and isopods), mollusks, and crabs
Earthworms and snails dominate the megafauna |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Are used to examine the decomposition of plant litter |
|
|
Term
| Factors which influence the rate of decomposition |
|
Definition
Organic matter decomposes at different rates
Rate of organic decay is related to plant litter quality |
|
|
Term
| Carbon form available affects consumption rates |
|
Definition
Glucose and other Simple Sugars
Cellulose and hemicellulose
Lignin (and others)
-Basidomycetes only group of decomposers to decompose these molecules |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-Proteins, simple sugars, soluble compounds (15% carbon content)
-Cellulose and hemicellulose (60%)
Lignins (20%) |
|
|
Term
| Decomposition rates in aquatic enviornments |
|
Definition
| Slower because there is less oxygen |
|
|
Term
| Other factors affecting the rate of organic decay |
|
Definition
-Plant litter quality
-Soil properties (texture and pH)
-Climate (temperature and precipitation) |
|
|
Term
| Direct influence of temperature on decomposers |
|
Definition
| Daily temperature pattern is closely paralleled by the release of CO2 |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-Model of NPP is one increasing production with increasing precipitation
-He found a differnet pattern in the montane forests of Maui
--Pattern of decreasing NPP with increasing annual precipitation |
|
|
Term
| What mechanisms result in decreasing NPP with increase precipitation |
|
Definition
-Measured the chemical composition of leaves
-Two characteristics varied systematically as rainfall increased
-leaf nitrogen concentration decreased
-Concentration of lignin increased
Litterbag experiments were used to examine carbon and nitrogen cycling during decomposition |
|
|
Term
| Differences in the rate of nitrogen release affected the availability of soil nitrogen -> NPP |
|
Definition
| Oxygen availability decreased with increasing annual precipitation |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Difference between rates of mineralization and immobilization |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Is the transformation of nutrients contained in organic compounds into inorganic (mineral) forms |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Is the uptake and assimilation of minerals by microbial decomposers |
|
|
Term
| If the nitrogen content of the litter material is high |
|
Definition
| High immobilization rates due to low Nitrogen |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| As the decomposition process continues, the litter degrades into a dark brown/black homogeneous matter |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| As humus becomes embedded in the soil matrix |
|
|
Term
| Soil Organic matter has a residence time of |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Significant portion of carbon and nutrients released from soils |
|
Definition
| Humus decomposes very slowly, but is abundant |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Dipolar Bonds
Hydrogen bond |
|
|
Term
| Maximum density if water at |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Structure/Properties of Water |
|
Definition
Cohesion
Adhesion
High Specific Heat
High heat of Fusion
High heat of Evaporation |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Cohesion and Adhesion cause capillary action |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Holding together of like substances |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Holding together of unlike substances |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Attraction of molecules causes surface to act as a membrane |
|
|
Term
| Water cycle influenced by |
|
Definition
Solar energy
Air and Ocean currents
Heat budgets
Water balances of land and sea |
|
|
Term
| Water occurs in 6 general forms |
|
Definition
Vapor
Fresh surface water, groundwater
Snow and ice
Salt water
Water inside living organisms |
|
|
Term
| Freshwater percent of of planet's water |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Driving force of water cycle |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Precipitation that reaches the soil and moves into the ground |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Water entering soil seeps down to layers of clay,rock to collect as groundwater; returns to surface via springs, streams, and rivers |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-Inland depressions containing standing water (lakes, ponds, reservoirs)
-Size from <1 acre to thousands of Km2
-Depth from 1 meter to over 2000 meters |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
-Glacial abrasion in high mountain valleys
-Retreating valley glaciers
-Shift in Earth's crust (uplifting of mountains, landslides)
-Earthquakes, volcanic activity
-Human Activity |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Upper Lake
-Water is warm and less dense |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Thermally stratified region |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Lower Lake
-Water is cold and dense |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Causes mixing of nutrients, oxygen |
|
|
