Effects of El Ni�o
Upwelling decreases disrupting food chains, North United States has mild winters, South West US Has increased rainfall, Less Atlantic Hurricanes.
Most Important Thing Affecting Population Growth
Low Status of Women
Ways to Decrease Birth Rate
Family Planning, Contraception, Economic Rewards, Penalties
Solutions to Soil Problems
Conservation tillage, crop rotation, contour lowing, Organic Fertilizers.
Primary Succession
Development of communities in a lifeless area not previously inhabited by life (Lava)
Secondary Succession
Life Progresses where soil remains (clear cute forest)
Mutualism
Symbiuotic relationship where both partners benefit.
Illuviation
Deposit of leached material in lower soil layers.
Commensalism
Symbiotic relationship where one partner benefits and the other is unaffected.
Ionizing Radiation
Enough energy to knock electrons from atoms forming Ions, capable of causing cancer (ex. gamma, xrays, UV)
First Law of Thermodynamics
Energy is neither created nor destroyed, but may be converted from one to another.
Ways To Conserve Water
Agriculture (Drip/Trick irrigation), Industry (Recycling), Home (Use Gray Water, Repair Leaks, Low Flow Fixtures)
Replacement Level Fertility
The number of children a couple must have to replace themselves (2.1 - Developed, 2.7 Developing)
World Population
6 Billion
Phosphorus does not Circulate as N because...
It doesn't exist as gas (but is released by weathering of phosphate rocks)
Because soils contain very little phosphorus
It is a major limiting factor for plant growth
Major insecticide Groups
Chlorinated Hydrocarbons (ex. DDT), Organophosphates (ex, malathion), Carbonates (ex. Aldiccarb)
Natural Pest Control
better Agricultural Practices, Genetically resistant Plants, natural Enemies, Biopesticides, Sex Atractants
Second Law of Thermodynamics
Energy is changed from one form to another, some useful energy is always degraded into lower quality energy (usually heat)
Pesticide (Cons)
Genetic resistance, ecosystem imbalance, pesticide treadmill, persistance, bioccumulation, biological magnification.
Pesticide (Pros)
Saves lives from insect transmitted disease, increases food supply increases profits for farmers.
Keystone Species
Species whose role in an ecosystem are more important than others
Indicator Species
Species that serve as early warnings that an ecosytem is being damaged.
In natural ecosystems
50% - 90% of pest species are kept under control: predators, diseases, parasites
Humus
Organic, dark material remaining after decomposition by microorganisms
Leaching
Removal of dissolved materials from soil by water moving downwards
Nitrogen Fixing
Because atmospheric nitrogen cannot be used directly by plants it must first be converted into ammonia by bacteria.
PreIndustrial Stage
Birth & Death rates high population grows slowly infant mortality high.
Transitional Stage
Lower Death Rate, better Health Care, Population Grows Fast
Excess Phosphorus is added to aquatic ecosystem by:
Runoff of aniumal wastes, fertilizer discharge of sewage
Photosynthesis
Plants convert atmospheric C (CO?) into comples carbohydrates (glucose C6H12O6)
Aerobic Respiration
Oxygen Consuming producers, consumers and decomposers break down complex organic compounds and convert C back into CO?
Industrial Stage
Decline in birthrate, Population growth slows.
PostIndustrial Stage
low birth and death rates
Carrying Capacity
The number of individuals that can be sustained in an area.
R Strategist
Reproduce early many small unrpotected offspring
Biotic/Abiotic
Living and nonliving components of an ecosystem.
K Strategist
Reproduce late, few, cared for offspring
Ammonification
Decomposer Convert organic waste into ammonia
Largest Of Storage Carbon
1) carbonate rocks 2) Oceans
Producer/Autotrophic
Photosynthetic life
Paratism
Relationship in which one partner obtains nutrients at the expense of the host.
Biome
Large distinct terrestial region having similar climate, soil, plants and animals.
Percent Water on Earth by Type:
?97.5% seawater ?2.5% freshwater
Major Trophic Levels
(Producers ? Primary) (Consumer ? Secondary) (Consumer ? Tertiary)
Energy Flow in Food Webs
Only in 10% of the usuable enery is transferred.
Why is only 10% of Energy Flow Transferred?
usable energy lost as heat (2nd Law), not all biomass is digested and absorbed, predators expend energy to catch prey.
Salinization of Soil
Arid Regions, Water evaporates leaving salts behind.
Loam
Perfect agricult soil equial portions of sand, silt, clay
El Ni�o Year
Trade Winds weaken and warm water sloshed back to South America
Natural Selection
Organisms that possess favorable adaptations pass them onto the next generation
Parto f the Hydrolic Cycle
Evaporation, Transpiration, Runoff, Condensation, precipitation, Infiltration
Aquifer
Any Water bearing layer in the ground.
Salt Water Intrusion
Neart The Coast, overpumping of groundwater Causes saltwater to move into the aquifer.
Maltus
Said Human Population Cannot Continue o increase; Consequences will be war, famine and disease
Denitrification
Bacteria convert ammonia back into the North
Doubling Time
Rule of 70 (70/& Growth Rate)
Nitrification
Ammonia is Converted to Nitrate Ions (NO-3)
Non El Ni�o Year
Easterly trade winds and ocean currents pool warm water in the western pacific allowing upwelling of nutrient rich water off the west coast of South America.