ecosystem
location on Earth distinguished by its particular mix of interacting biotic and abiotic components (such as organisms, soil, water, temperature, salinity, sunlight)
producers/autotrophs
organisms able to use the Sun's energy to create usable forms of energy through the process of photosynthesis
photosynthesis
the process by which producers/autotrophs use solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and glucose (potential energy usable by other organisms)
cellular respiration
process which unlocks the chemical energy stored in the cells of organisms by converting glucose and oxygen into water, carbon dioxide, and ENERGY
consumers/heterotrophs
organisms incapable of photosynthesis and must obtain energy by consuming other organisms
primary consumers
organisms that eat producers; herbivores
secondary consumers
organisms that eat primary consumers; carnivores
tertiary consumers
organisms that eat secondary consumers; carnivores
trophic levels
successive levels of organisms consuming one another
food chain
sequence of trophic levels from producers to tertiary consumers
food web
model of trophic relationships which accounts for organisms which consume on multiple trophic levels and includes scavengers, detrivores, and decomposers
scavengers
carnivores who consume dead organisms
detrivores
organisms who break down dead biomass and waste productes into smaller particles
decomposers
organisms who complete the breakdown process of dead biomass and recycle the nutrients back into the ecosystem
gross primary productivity
the total amount of photosythesis/solar energy input in an ecosystem in a given amount of time
net primary productivity
the amount of solar energy input in an ecosystem in a given amount of time minus the energy lost when producers respire
biomass
total mass of all living matter in a specific area
standing crop
the amount of biomass present in an ecosystem at a given time
ecological efficiency
the proportion of consumed energy that can pass through trophic levels in an ecosystem
trophic pyramid
represents the distribution of energy and biomass among trophic levels in an ecosystem
biosphere
region of our planet that can sustain life; energy flows through and matter cycles within
biogeochemical processes
movements of matter within/between ecosystems which involve biological, geological, and chemical processes
hydrologic cycle
movement of water through the biosphere
transpiration
the process by which leaves release water into the atmosphere, a byproduct of photosynthesis
evapotranspiration
the combined amount of evaporation and transpiration in an ecosystem; a scientific measure of the water flowing through an ecosystem
runoff
water which moves across land surface until it reaches streams, rivers, and eventually the ocean
carbon cycle
photosynthesis, respiration, exchange, burial/sedimentation, extraction, combustion
macronutrients
six key elements that organisms need in relatively large amounts: nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcuium, magnesium, and sulfur
limiting nutrient
nutrient which when lacking constrains the growth of organisms and when abundant alters distribution/population size of species
nitrogen fixation
process by which N2 is converted into usable nitrogen in the forms of ammonium (biotic) or nitrate (abiotic)
leaching
process by which elements/nutrients are transported through water in the soil
disturbance
event caused by biological, physical, or chemical changes which leads to change in an ecosystem's population size or community composition
watershed
the land in a given location that drains into a particular body of water
resistance
measure of how much a disturbance effects the flow of energy and matter in an ecosystem
resilience
rate at which an ecosystem can recover and return to its original state after a disturbance
restoration ecology
scientific discipline which works to restore damaged ecosystems
intermediate disturbance hypothesis
states that ecosystems with intermediate levels of disturbance are more diverse than those with high or low levels of disturbance
instrumental value
worth of a species in their ability to be used to accomplish a goal/benefit humans
intrinsic value
worth of a species independent of any human benefits
provisions
goods/environmental services that humans can use directly
regulating services
ability of natural ecosystems to maintain environmental conditions such as global climate and nutrient/hydrologic cycles
support systems
services ecosystems provide that enable other systems to continue but would be costly for humans to generate
resilience
factors such as species diversity ensure that an ecosystem will continue to exist in its current state, which means it can continue to provide services that benefit humans
cultural services
instrumental value of intellectual gain and aesthetic satisfaction that ecosystems provide