Unit 1 Flashcards
(14 cards)
What are GPP and NPP. What is the relationship between them?
Gross Primary Productivity and Net Primary Productivity. They measure the rate of photosynthesis that occurs in an ecosystem, measured through the amount of CO2 lost. NPP = GPP - Respiration.
Define the following terms:
Reservoir
Exchange pool
Residency Time
Reservoir is where a molecule stays for a long time
Exchange pool is where it stays for a short time
Residency Time is the average time that a molecule stays in a reservoir or exchange pool
What are the major processes of the water cycle?
Evaporation
Condensation: Water vapor into floating liquid water in the form of clouds
Precipitation
Runoff: When rain water flows on the ground into a reservoir
Infiltration: when rain water becomes ground water
Photosynthesis: Plants take in water and produce carbs, which movie through the food chain
Transpiration: Plants breathing out water vapor
What are the 4 largest reservoirs of water?
Ocean
Glaciers
Groundwater
Rivers, Lakes, etc..
What are the major processes of the Nitrogen cycle?
Nitrogen Fixation: Atmospheric N2 is fixed into organic nitrate (NH3 or NH4+) by bacteria
Nitrification: nitrogen passing through food chain, making NH4+ become nitrate
Decay: nitrogen in dead organisms is converted to NH4 by bacteria
Denitrification: organic nitrogen becomes atmospheric nitrogen
What are the major processes of the Carbon cycle?
Photosynthesis
Respiration
Diffusion
Decomposition
Turbidity
The cloudiness of a liduid caused by suspended particulates
Why does the breakdown of organic waste decrease DO?
Microorganisms (mainly bacteria) break down organic matter using aerobic respiration, which consumes dissolved oxygen (DO) in the water. When large amounts of organic matter enter a water body (e.g., from sewage, agricultural runoff, or decaying plant material), the oxygen demand increases. This can result in low oxygen levels (hypoxia) or no oxygen (anoxia), especially in deeper or stagnant waters.
Water Hardness
The simple definition of water hardness is the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium in the water. Minerals
The largest area of old-growth forest in the United States is located in
Tongass National Forest in Alaska
What is in marine sediments?
Carbon
Acid Mine Drainage
Acid mine drainage is the formation and movement of highly acidic water rich in heavy metals.
Which element contributes to acid mine drainage?
Sulfer
Ex of Supporting Services
Pollination, conservation of natural habitats for different species, water cycle, or soil erosion control
