APES U1

a resource that a population cannot live without and which occurs in quantities lower than the population would require to increase in size

where two species divide a resource based on differences in the species' behavior or morphology

refers to the use of one species as a resource by another species

typically kill their prey and consume most of what they kill

consumes plants as prey

live on or in the organisms they consume

organisms that lay eggs inside other organims

benefits two interacting species by increasing both species' chances of survival or reproduction

a type of relationship in which one species benefits but the other is neither harmed nor helped

the relationship of two species that live in close association with each other

a species that plays a role in its community

competition in which a predator is instrumental in reducing the abundance of a superior competitor, allowing inferior competitors to persist

species that create or maintain habitat for other species

Permeable layers of rock and sediment that contain groundwater in many small spaces.

Water can flow easily in and out of the aquifer. Porous rock covered by soil

Aquifers covered by an impermeable and confining layer impeding water flow in or out.

Uppermost aquifer layer where water fully saturates the rock or soil.

Water from precipitation percolates through soil and into aquifer. If confined, can't recharge.

Water from some aquifers naturally comes up, natural source of freshwater

Drilled hole in a confined aquifer releases pressure and pushes water up.

Area where there's no longer any groundwater, caused by well overuse, eventually will go dry.

Land adjacent to river where excess water spreads onto.

Lakes with low productivity because of little nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen.

Pavement, buildings, etc. Doesn't allow water penetration, water then runs into sewers and streams. Excess water causes floods. Dry ground, especially when plants are not present, behaves this way.

Enlarged bank on each side of river to prevent flooding

Similar to levees but to prevent ocean waters from flooding coasts that are under sea level.

Barrier that runs across a river/stream to control water flow

Large body of water stored behind a dam. Held for consumption, generating electricity, flood control, or recreation.

Canals or ditches used to carry water between locations. Transports water to dry areas.

The circulation of matter through the biosphere.

The continual movement of water between Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and land surface through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

The series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment. This involves the incorporation of carbon dioxide into living tissue by photosynthesis and its return to the atmosphere through respiration, the decay of dead organisms, and the burning of fossil fuels.

The transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil, to living organisms, and back to the atmosphere. Lightning, and nitrogen fixing bacteria transform inorganic nitrogen to organic forms of nitrogen.

the cyclic movement of phosphorus in different chemical forms from the environment to organisms and then back to the environment. This cycle does not have an atmospheric component.

found on legume roots, turn nitrogen into a usable form, nitrate.

Bacteria that convert the nitrates in soil or water to gaseous nitrogen and release it back into the atmosphere.

The change of a substance from a liquid to a gas. When liquid water is heated to become a vapor.

The change of state from a gas to a liquid. Water in the vapor form is cooled, and condenses, so the molecules of gas get closer, and form liquid.

Any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth's surface.

Evaporation of water from the leaves of a plant.

Part of the water cycle where an excess of water runs down and does not sink into the soil and eventually makes it to the rivers, lakes, and oceans.

the average weather that occurs in a given region over a long period - typically several decades

the layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth's surface

layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere

process in which bacteria deep in the ocean use the bonds of methane and hydrogen sulfide to generate energy

a particular location on Earth distinguished by its particular mix of interacting biotic and abiotic components

organisms that use the suns's energy to produce usable forms of energy

the process in which producers use solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose, a form of potential energy that can be used by a wide range of organisms

are incapable of photosynthesis and must obtain their energy by consuming other organisms

heterotrophs that consume producers

carnivores that eat primary consumers

carnivores that eat secondary consumers; are pretty rare

successive levels of organisms consuming one another is called this

the sequence of consumption from producers through tertiary consumers

take into account the complexity of nature, and they illustrate one of the most important concepts of ecology

are carnivores, such as vultures, that consume dead animals

organisms, such as dung beetles, that specialize in breaking down dead tissues and waste products (referred to as detritus) into smaller particles

the fungi and bacteria that complete the breakdown process by recycling the nutrients from dead tissues and wastes back into the ecosystem

the process in which scientists look at the total amount of solar energy that the producers in an ecosystem capture via photosynthesis over a given amount of time

the energy captured minus the energy respired by producers

the total mass of all living matter in a specific area

the proportion of consumed energy that can be passed from one trophic level to another

represents the distribution of biomass along trophic levels

the region of our planet where life resides

the movement of matter within and between ecosystems

the movement of water through the bioshpere

a process in which plants release water from their leaves into the atmosphere

the combined amount of evaporation and traspiration

water can move as this across the surface of the land and into streams/rivers eventually reaching the ocean

six key elements that organisms need in relatively large amounts

a nutrient an organism needs because a lack of it results in constrained growth

a process in which Nitrogen gas in the atmosphere (N2) is converted directly into ammonia (NH3)

a process in which nitrates are readily transported through the soil with water

an event caused by a physical, chemical, or biological agents that result in changes in population size or community composition

all of the land in a given landscape that drains into a particular stream, river, lake, or wetland

a measure of how much a disturbance can affect the flows of energy and matter

the rate at which an ecosystem returns to its original state after a disturbance

six major groups of species

A reaction that occurs when lighter nuclei are forced together to produce heavier nuclei - energy is released

Diffuse areas that pollute. Farming region, suburban community with many lawns and septic systems, or storm runoff from parking lots.

Contamination of streams, lakes, oceans, or groundwater with substances produced by humans.

Distinct locations of pollution like a factory, or a sewage treatment plant.

Run off carries fertilizers and decomposition of waste water provides an overabundance of fertility (too much nitrogen and phosphorus) to a water body.

each of several hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, comprising organisms that share the same function in the food chain and the same nutritional relationship to the primary sources of energy.

comes from changes to the atom's nucleus: when the nucleus of an atom divides - energy is released. We use this to produce Nuclear Energy.

the biological oxidation of ammonia or ammonium to nitrite followed by the oxidation of the nitrite to nitrate. The transformation of ammonia to nitrite is usually the rate limiting step of nitrification. Nitrification is an important step in the nitrogen cycle in soil

process by which bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas

Source: auto exhaust and using inorganic fertilizers Effects: acidification of lakes, respiratory irritation, leads to smog & ozone Equation for acid formation: NO + O2 = NO2 + H2O = HNO3 Reduction: catalytic converter

90% of energy lost with each transfer Less chemical energy for higher trophic levels

Respiration that requires oxygen glucose + oxygen -> carbon dioxide + water + energy

Respiration that does not require oxygen. Also known as fermentation.