Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Semester 1 > APES Unit 1: Soil and Biodiversity > Flashcards

APES Unit 1: Soil and Biodiversity Flashcards

(69 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

Ecosystem

A

the number of different habitats available in a given area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Species

A

the number of different species in an ecosystem and the balance or evenness of the population sizes of all species in the ecosystem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Resilience

A

the ability of an ecosystem to return to its original conditions after a major disturbance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Richness

A

the total number of different species found in an ecosystem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Evenness

A

a measure of how all the individuals organisms in an ecosystem are balanced between

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)

A

a measure of the soil’s ability to hold positively charged ions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Abiotic

A

non-living organisms (sand, silt, clay)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Biotic

A

living organisms (humus, microorganisms)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Porosity

A

amount of pore space a soil has

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What soil has the highest porosity?

A

clay

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What soil has the lowest porosity?

A

sand

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Permeability

A

how easily water drains through a soil

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What soil has the highest permeability?

A

Sand

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What soil has the lowest permeability?

A

sand

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

H2O holding capacity

A

how well water is retained or held by a soil

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Provisioning

A

Goods/products directly provided to humans for sale/use by ecosystems or products that are made from natural resources that ecosystems provide

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Provisioning example

A

fish, lumber, seeds, paper

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Regulating

A

a benefit provided by the ecosystem processes that moderate natural conditions like climate and air quality

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Regulating example

A

trees in a forest sequester CO2 through photosynthesis which reduces rate of Climate change

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Supporting

A

Natural ecosystems support processes we do ourselves, making them less costly and easier for us

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Supporting example

A

bees/insects pollinate crops, leading to more crop production and higher profits

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Cultural

A

Revenue from recreational activities (hunting) and profits from scientific discoveries made in ecosystems (health)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Cultural example

A

beautiful landscapes draw tourists who pay to enter parks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Carbon Cycle

A

Includes photosynthesis, respiration exchange, sedimentation and burial, extraction, and combustion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What is the largest carbon sink?
sedimentary rock
26
Photosynthesis
the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water. Photosynthesis in plants generally involves the green pigment chlorophyll and generates oxygen as a byproduct.
27
Cellular Respiration
Cellular respiration is a metabolic pathway that uses glucose to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), organisms take up the oxygen released from plants and produce carbon dioxide
28
Nitrogen Cycle
a biogeochemical process through which nitrogen is converted into many forms, consecutively passing from the atmosphere to the soil to organism and back into the atmosphere.
29
Nitrogen Cycle Step 1
Nitrogen Fixation
30
Nitrogen Fixation Conversion
N2 to NO3
31
Nitrogen Fixation
the circulation or cyclic movement of Nitrogen from the atmosphere (physical or abiotic component) to soil (biotic) and back into the atmosphere
32
Nitrogen Fixation (lightning)
High temps of lightning bolt can break the bonds of nitrogen gas (N2) Nitrogen bonds with oxygen to create nitrogen oxides, they dissolve in moisture to form
33
Nitrogen Fixation (Bacteria)
Changes nitrogen gas into ammonia (NH3) which then dissolves in water to form ammonium (NH4+), some form a relationship with legumes
34
Nitrification Conversion
NH3 to NO2 to NO3
35
Nitrification
Ammonia is converted to Nitrites (NO2) and then to Nitrates (NO3)
36
Nitrogen Cycle Step 2
Nitrification
37
Nitrites
NO2
38
Nitrates
NO3
39
Nitrogen Cycle Step 3
Assimilation
40
Assimilation
The process of absorbing Nitrates (N03) and Ammonia (NH3) into organic nitrogen to make amino acids, proteins, and DNA
41
Assimilation Conversion
NH3 +NO3
42
Nitrogen Cycle Step 4
Ammonification
43
Ammonification
the process of converting organic nitrogen into ammonia (NH3) when animals die
44
Ammonification conversion
N2 to NH3
45
Ammonia
NH3
46
Nitrogen Cycle Step 5
Dentifrication
47
Dentrification
Nitrates are converted into molecular nitrogen through nitric oxide in order to maintain equilibrium of nitrogen (convert back to nitrogen gas and returns to the atmosphere)
48
Dentrification Conversion
NO3 to NO to N2
49
NO
Nitrogen Oxide
50
What is ammonification also known as?
Mineralization
51
Phosphorus Cycle
Not found in the atmosphere, the biogeochemical cycle that describes the transformation and translocation of phosphorus in soil, water, and living and dead organic material.
52
Step 2 Phosphorus: Mineralization
Changes organic phosphorus back to inorganic phosphorus (plant absorbs phosphorus, animal eats plant, decomposer absorbs phosphorus)
53
Step 1 Phosphorus: Weathering
Weathering moves Phosphorus to soil which absorbs it and moves to water
54
Sulfur Cycle
The sulfur cycle describes the movement of sulfur through the geosphere and biosphere. Sulfur is released from rocks through weathering, and then assimilated by microbes and plants. It is then passed up the food chain and assimilated by plants and animals, and released when they decompose.
55
Sulfur Cycle weathering
releases stored sulfur and comes into contact with air and turns to sulfate (SO4), then it is taken up by plants/microorganisms to organic forms
56
Sulfur Assimilation
organisms die and decompose and releases sulfur as a sulfate and enters bacteria, fungus
57
What are natural sources that emit sulfur into the atmosphere?
volcanic eruptions, breakdown of organic matter, and evaporation of H2O.
58
Sulfur Cycle Rainfall
Eventually it settles back to earth/comes down as rainfall
59
Acid Rain
higher amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids
60
Sulfure dioxide
man-made source, comes from industrial smelters, and coal burning plants
61
Water Cycle
shows the continuous movement of water within the Earth and atmosphere. It is a complex system that includes many different processes. Liquid water evaporates into water vapor, condenses to form clouds, and precipitates back to earth in the form of rain and snow.
62
Transpiration
process plants use to draw groundwater from roots up to their leaves
63
Evapotranspiration
amount of H2O that enters atmosphere from transpiration and evaporation combined
64
What is Precipitation
flows over earth's surface into a body of water (runoff) or trickles through soil down into groundwater acquiers (infiltration)
65
What is groundwater
Acquifers and surface water (lakes/rivers) are important freshwater reservoirs to humans and animals
66
Evaporation
change from a liquid to a gas
67
Condensation
changes from a gas to a liquid
68
Melting
changes from a solid to a liquid
69
Freezing
changes from a liquid to a solid

Semester 1 (13 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions