Term
|
Definition
| the amount of organic material in an ecosystem |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a biotic (living) community and the abiotic environment with which it interacts. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| passage of energy through the components of the ecosystem (specifically light and chemical energy) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| circular movement of materials within the ecosystem |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| rate at which producers perform photosynthesis. limits the amount of life that it can support. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| because of pollution, algae growth skyrockets and water level goes down. Lake is taken over by plants. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| only about 1% of solar energy is converted to chemical energy. With each tier of the tropic structure, only about 10% of the energy is available to the next level (lots of energy is lost as heat). This is why there are so few high-level consumers. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| About 80% of atmosphere is nitrogen, but in unusable form of N2. Plants must use NH4 (ammonium) or nitrates (NO3). Nitrogen fixing bateria convert N2 to NH3, then NH4. (Legumes do this, too.) Nitrifying bacteria convert NH4 to NO3, the form most plants use. Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrates to N2. Nitrogen imp. for proteins, DNA, etc. Decomp puts Nitrogen back. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| depends on photosynthesis and respiration. Atmospheric CO2 is taken in by producers during photosynthesis. Consumers get their carbon from eating producers, and detrivores from carbon in detritus. Respiration breaks down organic compounds to CO2, which returns to atmosphere. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| P is very limited and found mainly in rocks. Weathering of rocks adds phosphorous (PO4-3) to soil. It is then absorbed by plants and eaten by consumers. Detrivores return it to the soil; some of it bbecomes rock again. |
|
|
