Lab 7: Harvesting the Eutrophication Experiment Flashcards
Eutrophication
Excess nutrient inputs causing water pollution
Fertilizer
Substance added to soil to promote plant growth
Terrestrial microcosm
Artificial ecosystem representing a small-scale terrestrial environment
Aquatic microcosm
Artificial ecosystem representing a small-scale aquatic environment
Water chemistry
Study of the chemical properties of water
Aquatic microorganisms
Microscopic organisms living in water
Nutrient cycling
Movement and exchange of nutrients in an ecosystem
Primary productivity
Rate at which plants and other photosynthetic organisms produce organic compounds
Hypotheses
Proposed explanations for a phenomenon
Water quality
Measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species
Phytoplankton
Microscopic photosynthetic organisms that float in water
Biomass
Total mass of living organisms in a given area or volume
Autoclave
Device used to sterilize equipment and supplies by subjecting them to high pressure and temperature
Chlorophyll concentration
Amount of chlorophyll present in a given sample
Phytoplankton biomass
Total mass of phytoplankton in a given area or volume