Flashcards in Chapter 3: Ecosystems Deck (46)
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1
Open System
Receives inputs AND produces outputs of BOTH energy and matter
2
Closed System
Receives inputs and produces outputs of energy but NOT matter
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Biomagnification
the concentration of toxins in an organism as a result of ingesting other plants or animals(animals higher up in the food chain will have higher concentrations of toxins)
4
Bioaccumulation
the accumulation of a toxic chemical in the tissue of a particular organism
combine easily with fats and build up over time
(DIFFERENT FROM BIOMAGNIFICATION, has nothing to do with consuming other species)
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Hypoxia
Lack of dissolved oxygen (affects the st lawrence belugas)
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Eutrophication
Nutrient over-enrichment in a body of water(can result from both natural and man-made influences)
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Feedback Loop
When a systems output also serves as input to that system (input-output loop)
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What is the difference between a NEGATIVE feedback loop and a POSITIVE feedback loop?
a NEGATIVE feedback loop moves a system towards another direction to stabilize the system (eg. when the body is hot, it sweats to keep cool)
a POSITIVE feedback loop drives a system towards a further extreme(does not stabilize).
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Dynamic Equilibrium
When system processes move in opposing directions at equivalent rates, eventually achieving equilibrium(NOT STATIC)
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Homeostasis
The tendency of a system to maintain constant/stable internal conditions
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Resistance
the strength of a systems tendency to remain constant
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Resilience
How quickly a system will return to its original state after being disturbed
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Emergent properties
Characteristics of a system that are not easily apparent by looking at its individual components alone
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Autotrophs
Organisms that produce their own food energy(green plants, algae)
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Gross Primary Production
conversion of solar energy to the energy of chemical bonds in sugar by autotrophs. Autotrophs use a portion
of this production to power their own metabolism by respiration(intake of oxygen/release of CO2)
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Net primary production
The energy remaining after respiration by autotrophs(NPP=GPP-respiration)
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Biomass
Total mass of organic material of which living organisms are formed
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Secondary Production
The biomass generated by heterotrophs due to the consumption of autotrophs
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Nutrients
Elements & compounds needed for survival
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MACRONutrients
required in relatively LARGE amounts(eg. nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon)
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MICRONutrients
required in SMALL amounts (eg. zinc)
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High net primary productivity
ecosystems whose plants rapidly convert solar energy to biomass
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Ecotones
transitional zones between 2 systems in which elements of different ecosystems mix
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Rate from largest to smallest: biome, landscape, ecosystem
Landscape, Ecosystem, Biome
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Define Remote Sensing & GIS
Remote sensing: satellites, technologies that collect info about an object from a distance
GIS: Geographic information system, computer software used in landscape ecology research
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Nutrient cycles
the movement of nutrients through ecosystems
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Pools(reservoirs)
Where nutrients reside for varying amounts of time(residence time)
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Flux
The movement of nutrients among pools
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What is the difference between a POOL and a SINK?
a pool releases more nutrients than they accept, while a sink accepts more nutrients than they release
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