Ecology Flashcards
What is the Biosphere
part of the earth where life exists
What are the three zones of the Biosphere
Atmosphere- layer of gases surrounding earth
Hydrosphere-all the water on earth
Lithosphere-all the earths landmass
what is an organism, population, and Community
Organism-a single living thing
Population- organisms of the same species living in a particular area at a given time
Community- all the living organisms in a particular area at a given time
what are the 6 gases that makeup earths atmosphere
- nitrogen
- oxygen
- carbon dioxide
- argon
- trace gases
- water vapor
parts of the atmosphere in order
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Ionosphere (thermosphere)
Troposphere
- Layer closest to earth (8-15km)
- Where weather changes take place
- Temperature decreases with height
Stratosphere
- Height is 50km
- Contains the Ozone Layer
- Temperature increases by hight due to sunlight absorption by the ozone
Mesosphere
- 50-80km
- meteors burn up in this area
- temperature decreases with height (drops to about -115 degrees)
Ionosphere (Thermosphere)
- 90-500km and constant temperature of -120 degrees
- absorbs deadly x-rays and gamma rays produced from solar radiation
- reflects radio waves
- northern lights are in this zone
What are Biogeochemical Cycles
- Carbon, Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus make up the basic organic compounds necessary for life
- biogeochemical cycles involve the cycling of nutrients between the abiotic and biotic parts of the biosphere
what does the water cycle rely on
The cycle relies on the suns energy to move water through the biosphere and purify it.
Transpiration
Water movement through a plant that releases water back into the atmosphere
Percolation
When water travels downwards through the tiny spaces between rocks and soil
Water Table
The level below the surface of the ground where water can be found
Leaching
loss of water-soluble nutrients from the soil due to percolation
