BIOL 1720 Ecology and the Biosphere

nonliving components of the environment

total mass of aboveground living plants per area

deepest part of the ocean at depths of 4000 m or greater

rapid increase of algae in an aquatic system

part of the ocean where no light penetrates

(also, benthic zone) part of the ocean that extends along the ocean bottom from the shoreline to the deepest parts of the ocean floor

study of the geographic distribution of living things and the abiotic factors that affect their distribution

ecological community of plants, animals, and other organisms that is adapted to a characteristic set of environmental conditions

living components of the environment

branches and foliage of trees that form a layer of overhead coverage in a forest

width of a river or stream from one bank to the other bank

frozen chunks of ice and methane found at the bottom of the ocean

long-term, predictable atmospheric conditions present in a specific area

individuals that are members of the same species

ocean ridges formed by marine invertebrates living in warm, shallow waters within the photic zone

invertebrates found within the calcium carbonate substrate of coral reefs

study of interaction between living things and their environment

human benefits and services provided by natural ecosystems

wetland plants that are rooted in the soil but have portions of leaves, stems, and flowers extending above the water’s surface

species found only in a specific geographic area that is usually restricted in size

biomes where a source of fresh water, such as a river, meets the ocean

seasonal process that recycles nutrients and oxygen from the bottom of a freshwater ecosystem to the top

altered global weather patterns, including a worldwide increase in temperature, due largely to rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide

warming of Earth due to carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

atmospheric gases such as carbon dioxide and methane that absorb and emit radiation, thus trapping heat in Earth’s atmosphere

effect of the gases and solids from a volcanic eruption on global climate

individuals that are members of different species

part of the ocean that is closest to land; parts extend above the water at low tide

cyclic changes in the Earth's orbit that may affect climate

part of the ocean that extends from low tide to the edge of the continental shelf

measurement of the energy accumulation within an ecosystem, calculated as the total amount of carbon fixed per year minus the amount that is oxidized during cellular respiration

rising of deep ocean waters that occurs when prevailing winds blow along surface waters near a coastline

part of the ocean that begins offshore where the water measures 200 m deep or deeper

(also, pelagic zone) open ocean waters that are not close to the bottom or near the shore

perennially frozen portion of the Arctic tundra soil

portion of the ocean that light can penetrate

animal species that eats plankton

organism that kills and consumes another organism

type of free-floating marine seaweed

amount of solar power energy the sun emits in a given amount of time

point of origin of a river or stream

layer of water with a temperature that is significantly different from that of the surrounding layers

conditions of the atmosphere during a short period of time