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68 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
negative feedback loop |
feedback loop where one output of one type acts as in put that moves the system in the opposite direction. The input and output essentially neutralize each other and stabilize the system. Ex.: thermostat,body temp regulation |
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positive feedback loop |
rather than stabilizing the system, they push it towards an extreme.
ex: melting glaciers from GW |
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lithosphere |
Earth's uppermost layers. contains rock and sediment beneath out feet. |
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atmosphere |
air surrounding out planet |
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hydrosphere |
all forms of water-- salt, fresh, liquid, ice, vapor, surface bodies, underground, in the atmosphere |
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biosphere |
consists of all the planet's living organisms abiotic (nonliving) portions of the environment with which they interact |
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eutrophication |
the process of nutrient enrichment, increased production of organic matter, and subsequent ecosystem degradation in a water body. |
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matter |
any material that takes up space |
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law of conservation of matter |
Matter exists in the universe as a solid, liquid, or gas. Matter may be transformed from one type of substance to others but it cannot be created or destroyed. |
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element |
a fundamental type of matter, a chemical substance with a given set of properties that cannot be broken down into other substances |
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atoms |
the smallest components that maintain the chemical properties of the element. |
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protons |
inside an atom. positively charged particles. |
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neutrons |
inside an atom. neutral particles. |
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electrons |
negatively charged particles. surround the atom's nucleus. |
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isotopes |
atoms with differing numbers of neutrons |
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ions |
electrically charged atoms of combinations of atoms. |
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molecules |
combinations of two or more atoms |
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chemical formula |
shorthand for molecules |
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compound |
a molecule composed of atoms of two or more different elements |
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carbon dioxide |
consists of one carbon atom bonded to two oxygen atoms |
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ionic bonds |
ions of differing charge bind with one another to form compounds |
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covalent bonds |
atoms that lack an electrical charge combine by "sharing" electrons |
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solutions |
when elements, molecules, and compounds come together without chemically bonding ex: human blood, ocean water, carbon dioxide, plant sap, metal alloys |
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neutral |
property of a solution in which the concentration of hydrodoxide ions (OH-) is equal to the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) |
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basic |
the property of a solution in which the concentration of hydroxide (OH-) ions is greater than the concentration of hydrogen (H+) ions |
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acidic |
the property of a solution in which the concentration of hydrogen (H+) ions is greater than the concentration of hydroxide (OH-) ions |
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hydrocarbons |
consists of solely atoms of carbon and hydrogen. they make up the fossil fuel |
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macromolecule |
a very large molecule, such as a protein, nucleic acid, carbohydrate, or lipid. |
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protein |
a macromolecule made up of long chains of amino acids |
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nucleic acids |
a macromolecule that directs the production of proteins |
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genes |
regions of DNA coding for particular proteins that perform particular functions |
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carbohydrate |
an organic compound consisting of atoms of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen |
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lipids |
A chemically diverse group of compounds, classified together because they don't dissolve in water.
Ex: fats, oils, phospholipids, waxes, and steroids |
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cells |
most basic unit of organismal organization |
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energy |
an intangible phenomenon that can change the position,physical composition or temperature of matter. |
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potential energy |
energy of position |
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kinetic energy |
energy of motion |
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chemical energy |
potential energy held in the bonds between atoms |
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first law of thermodynamics |
Energy can change from one form to another but cannot be created or lost. The total energy in the universe remains constant and is said to be conserved. |
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second law of thermodynamics |
The nature of energy tends to change from a more-ordered state to a less-ordered state. Entropy increases. |
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autotrophs (producers) |
Organisms that use the sun's radiation directly to produce their own food. Ex: green plants, algae, cyanobacteria |
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photosynthesis |
when an autotroph turns light energy from the sun into a chemical energy |
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cellular respiration |
When a cell uses oxygen to to split glucose into water and carbon dioxide, and releases a chemical energy that can be used to form chemical bonds or to perform other tasks with in cell. HOW IT EATS, BASICALLY |
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heterotrophs (consumers) |
organisms that gain their energy by feeding on the biomass of other organisms. |
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ecosystem |
consists of all organisms and nonliving entities that occur and interact in a particular area |
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estuary |
a water body where rivers flow into the ocean, mixing fresh water with salt water |
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net primary production |
The energy or biomass that remains in a ecosystem after autotrophs have metabolized enough for themselves. It is the energy or biomass that is available for heterotrophs. |
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net primary productivity |
The rate at which net primary production is produced. |
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landscape ecology |
The study of how |
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conservation biologist |
scientists who study the loss, protection, and restoration of biodiversity. |
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model |
simplified version of a complicated natural process. |
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ecological modeling |
The practice of constructing and testing models that aim to explain and predict how ecological systems function. |
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ecosystem services |
an essential service an ecosystem provides that supports life and makes economic activity possible. |
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nutrient cycles (biogeochemical cycles) |
the comprehensive set of cyclical pathways by which a given nutrient moves through the environment. |
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hydrologic cycle |
water cycle |
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evaporation |
when water moves into the autmosphere |
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transpiration |
the release of water vapor by plants through their leaves. |
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precipitation |
when water returns from the atmosphere |
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infiltration |
when some water soaks down through the soil and rock |
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aquifers |
underground reservoirs. sponge like regions of rock and soil that hold groundwater |
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groundwater |
water found underground beneath soil. |
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carbon cycle |
the process in which carbontravels from the atmosphere into organisms and the Earth and then back into the atmosphere. Plants take carbon dioxide from the air and use it to make food. Animals then eat the food and carbon is stored in their bodies or released as CO2 through respiration.
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nitrogen cycle |
After nitrogen has been fixed, other bacteria convert it into nitrate, in a process known as nitrification. In the first step of this process, Nitrosomonas convert ammonia into nitrite, and in the second step, nitrite is converted into nitrate, by Nitrobacter. This nitrate is then consumed by plants.
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nitrogen fixation |
when nitrogen gas combines with hydrogen to form ammonium ions (NH4+). They are chemically and biologically active and can be taken up by plants |
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nitrogen-fixing bacteria |
bacteria that live in a mutualistic relationship with many types of plants and provide nutrients to the plants by converting nitrogen to a usable form. |
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nitrification |
The conversion by bacteria of ammonium ions (NH4+) first into nitrite ions (NO2-) and then into nitrate ions (NO3-) |
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denitrifying bacteria |
Bacteria that convert the nitrates in soil or water to gaseous nitrogen and release it back into the atmosphere. |
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industrial fixation |
nitrogen fixation performed by people to produce fertilizers and industrial chemicals. |