Term
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Definition
| allowing the use of resources in a responsible manner |
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Definition
| setting aside areas and protecting them from human activities |
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Definition
| species whose role in an ecosystem are more important than others (sea otters, sea stars, grizzly bears, prairie dogs) |
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Term
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Definition
| species that serve as early warnings that an ecosystem is being damaged ex. trout |
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Term
| Characteristics of endangered species |
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Definition
| small range, large territory, or live on an island |
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Term
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Definition
| a group of organisms in danger of becoming extinct if the situation is not improved; population #s have dropped below the critical number of organisms; North spotted Owl (loss of old growth forest), Bald Eagle (thinning of eggs caused by DDT), Piping Plover (nesting areas threatened by development |
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Term
| Invasive/Alien/Exotic species |
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Definition
| non-native species to an area; often thrive and disrupt the ecosystem balance; examples: kudzu vine, purple loosestrife, African honeybee “killer bee”, water hyacinth, fire ant, zebra mussel, gypsy moth,Asian Long Horned Beetle |
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Term
| Parts of the hydrologic cycle |
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Definition
| evaporation, transpiration, runoff, condensation, precipitation, infiltration |
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Term
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Definition
| because atmospheric N2 cannot be used directly by plants it must first be converted into ammonia (NH3) by bacteria (rhizobium or cyanobacteria) |
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Term
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Definition
| nitrogen is converted into ammonia by ammonifying bacteria; may occur when nitrogen in organic wastes in the soil are converted to ammonia or when atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is converted to NH3 |
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Term
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Definition
| ammonia (NH3) is converted to nitrate ions (NO3)- |
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Term
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Definition
| inorganic N2 is converted into organic molecules such as DNA/amino acids & proteins - plants assimilate nitrogen as NH4+ or NO3 through their roots; animals (herbivores) assimilate organic nitrogen compounds by eating plants |
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Term
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Definition
| bacteria convert nitrate (NO3)- and nitrite (NO2)- back into N2 gas; bacteria convert ammonia (NH3) back into N2 or N2O – typically accomplished by anaerobic bacteria |
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Term
| Phosphorus does not circulate as easily as nitrogen because |
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Definition
| it does not exist as a gas, but is released by weathering of phosphate (PO4)3- rocks; this is a SEDIMENTARY cycle – it is never found as a gas |
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Term
| How excess phosphorus is added to aquatic ecosystems |
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Definition
| runoff of animal wastes, fertilizer, discharge of sewage; limiting factor in freshwater ecosystems; excess P leads to eutrophication |
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Term
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Definition
| plants convert atmospheric carbon (CO2) into complex carbohydrates (glucose C6H12O6); energy is consumed and oxygen is released as a waste product |
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Term
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Definition
| O2-consuming producers, consumers & decomposers break down complex organic compounds & convert C back into CO2; energy is released and oxygen is consumed in the process |
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Term
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Definition
| break down of carbohydrates without oxygen – products are methane (CH4), alcohols and other organics |
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Term
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Definition
| process where water is absorbed by plant roots, moves up through plants, passes through pores (stomata) in leaves or other parts, evaporates into atm. as water vapor |
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Term
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Definition
| carbonate (CO3)2- rocks first, oceans second |
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Term
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Definition
| the ability to meet the current needs of humanity without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs |
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Term
| The Tragedy of the Commons |
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Definition
| (1968 paper by ecologist Garret Hardin) “Freedom to breed” is bringing ruin to all. Global commons such as atmosphere & oceans are used by all and owned by none. When no individual has ownership, no one takes responsibility. Examples: overfishing in the oceans, over pumping of the Ogallala Aquifer |
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Term
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Definition
| organisms that possess favorable adaptations survive and pass them onto the next generation |
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Term
| Energy flow in food webs or chains, through trophic systems |
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Definition
| only 10% of the usable energy is transferred because usable energy lost as heat (second law); not all biomass is digested and absorbed; predators expend energy to catch prey; the 10% value is an average value |
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Term
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Definition
| living and nonliving components of an ecosystem |
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Term
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Definition
| a type of population interaction, usually over a limited resource – may be intraspecific or interspecific |
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Term
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Definition
| photosynthetic or chemosynthetic life; Chemotroph - organism undergoing chemosynthesis – usually carried out by sulfur bacteria in aphotic zones in the ocean (deep ocean vents, etc.) |
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Term
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Definition
development of communities in a lifeless area not previously inhabited by life or those in which the
soil profile is totally destroyed (lava flows); no soil substrate present; begins with lichen action |
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Term
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Definition
| life progresses where soil remains (clear-cut forest, fire, disturbed areas) |
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Term
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Definition
| symbiotic relationship where both partners benefit and both participate |
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Term
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Definition
| symbiotic relationship where one partner benefits & the other is unaffected or may benefit |
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Term
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Definition
| relationship in which one partner obtains nutrients at the expense of the host |
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Term
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Definition
| large distinct terrestrial region having similar climate, soil, plants & animals; terrestrial biomes determining factors are temperature and precipitation |
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Term
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Definition
| the number of individuals (size of the population) that can be sustained in an area (supported by available resources in the environment) |
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Term
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Definition
| reproduce early in life; many small unprotected offspring; tend to be generalists, short lifespan |
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Term
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Definition
| reproduce late in life; few offspring; care for offspring; tend to be specialists, longer lifespan |
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Term
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Definition
| when a change in some condition triggers a response that intensifies the changing condition (warmer Earth - snow melts - less sunlight is reflected & more is absorbed, therefore warmer Earth) |
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Term
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Definition
| when a changing in some condition triggers a response that counteracts the changed condition (warmer Earth - more ocean evaporation - more stratus clouds - less sunlight reaches the ground - therefore cooler Earth) |
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Term
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Definition
| said human population increases exponentially, while food supplies increase arithmetically; factors that keep the population in check include war, famine & disease |
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Term
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Definition
| rule of 70; 70 divided by the percent growth rate |
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Term
| Replacement level fertility |
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Definition
| the number of children a couple must have to replace themselves (2.1 developed, 2.7 developing); biotic potential; total fertility rate (TFR) |
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Term
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Definition
| (demographic transition) birth & death rates high, population grows slowly, infant mortality high |
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Term
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Definition
| (D.T) death rate lower, better health care, population grows fast |
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Term
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Definition
| (D.T) decline in birth rate, population growth slows |
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Term
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Definition
| (D.T) low birth & death rates |
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Term
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Definition
| broad base = rapid growth; narrow base = negative growth; uniform shape = zero growth; Major Age Cohorts = pre-reproductives, reproductives, post-reproductives |
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Term
| Most important thing affecting population growth |
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Definition
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Term
| Ways to decrease birth rate |
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Definition
| family planning, contraception, economic rewards and penalties |
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Term
| True cost / External costs |
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Definition
| harmful environmental side effects that are not reflected in a product’s price |
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Term
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Definition
| using waste heat to make electricity |
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Term
| Electricity generated by fossil fuels, biomass or nuclear power |
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Definition
| heat is produced which creates steam - steam turns a turbine - the mechanical energy from the turbine is converted to electrical energy in a generator and that energy is transmitted to homes through power lines |
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Term
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Definition
| potential energy of stored water is used to turn a turbine - the mechanical energy from the turbine is converted to electrical energy in a generator and that energy is transmitted to homes through power lines |
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Term
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Definition
| spontaneous flow of heat from warmer to cooler bodies |
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Term
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Definition
| enough energy to dislodge electrons from atoms, forming ions; capable of causing cancer (gamma, Xrays, UV) |
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Term
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Definition
| organized & concentrated; can perform useful work (fossil fuel & nuclear) |
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Term
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Definition
| disorganized, dispersed (heat in ocean or air wind, solar) |
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Term
| First Law of Thermodynamics |
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Definition
| energy is neither created nor destroyed, but may be converted from one form to another (Law of Conservation of Energy) |
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Term
| Second Law of Thermodynamics |
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Definition
| when energy is changed from one form to another, some useful energy is always degraded into lower quality energy, usually heat |
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Term
| Best solutions to energy shortage |
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Definition
| conservation, increase efficiency, explore alternative energy options |
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Term
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Definition
| wind, solar, waves, biomass, geothermal, fuel cells |
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Term
| Natural radioactive decay |
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Definition
| unstable radioisotopes decay releasing gamma rays, alpha particles, and beta particles |
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Term
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Definition
| the time it takes for ½ the mass of a radioisotope to decay |
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Term
| Estimate of how long a radioactive isotope must be stored until it decays to a safe level |
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Definition
| approximately 10 half-lives |
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Term
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Definition
| nuclei of isotopes split apart when struck by neutrons |
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Term
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Definition
| two isotopes of light elements (H) forced together at high temperatures till they fuse to form a heavier nucleus (He). Process is expensive; break-even point not reached yet; D + D _ He or D + T _ He |
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Term
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Definition
| not all matter is converted into matter in a fusion reaction – some (the mass deficit) is converted into energy. E = mc2. Explains the energy released in a fusion reaction. |
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Term
| Major parts of a nuclear reactor |
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Definition
| core, control rods, steam generator, turbine, containment building |
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Term
| Two most serious nuclear accidents |
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Definition
| Chernobyl, Ukraine (1986) and Three Mile Island, PA (1979) |
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Term
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Definition
| microscopic aquatic organisms in sediments converted by heat and pressure into a mixture of hydrocarbons (animal remains) |
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Term
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Definition
| relatively cheap, easily transported, high-quality energy |
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Term
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Definition
| reserves will be depleted soon; pollution during drilling, transport and refining; burning makes CO2 |
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Term
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Definition
| peat, lignite, bituminous, anthracite |
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Term
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Definition
| chlorinated hydrocarbons (DDT); organophosphates (malathion); carbamates (aldicarb) |
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Term
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Definition
| saves lives from insect-transmitted disease, increases food supply, increases profits for farmers |
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Term
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Definition
| genetic resistance, ecosystem imbalance, pesticide treadmill, persistence, bioaccumulation, biological magnification |
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Term
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Definition
| better agricultural practices, genetically resistant plants, natural enemies, biopesticides, sex attractants |
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Term
| In natural ecosystems, methods which control 50-90% of pests |
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Definition
| predators, diseases, parasites |
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