EESC 101 Chapter 3: Earth Systems & Ecosystems

Anthroposphere (Technosphere)

The parts of Earth that are modified by humans. Interaction of the ______________ with other subsystems of earth encompases environmental science.

Eutrophication

The process of nutrient over-enrichment, blooms of algae, increased production of organic matter, and ecosystem degradation.

Positive

A _____________ feedback loop drives a system further towards an extreme.

Negative

A _______________ feedback loop occurs when the output from a system moving in one direction acts as an input that moves the sustem in the other direction. This neutralizes one another's effects.

System

A network of relationships amoung parts, elements, or components that interact with and influence of one another.

Metapopulation

A network of subpopulations. Most members stay within patches but may move among patches or mate with those of other patches. Note: Individuals in small patches risk extinction.

Model

A simplified representation of a complex natural process, designed to help us understand how the process occurs and to make predictions.

Feedback Loop

A system's output serves as an imput to that same system.

Ecosystem

All organisms and nonliving entities that occur and interact in a particular area at the same time. This includes abiotic (nonliving) and biotic (living) components.

Biosphere

All the planet's living organisms as well as recently deceased and decaying organic matter. Note: This is a unique feature of our planet.

Hydrosphere

All the water (salt, fresh, liquid, ice, vapour).

Gross Primary Production (GPP)

Assimilation of energy by autotrophs.

Nitrification

Bacteria that convert ammonium ions first into nitrite ions then into nitrate ions. Plants can take up these ions. Animals obtain nitrogen by eating plants or other animals.

Secondary Production

Biomass generated by heterotrophs from consuming autotrophs.

Geographic Information System (GIS)

Computer software used in landscape ecology research. It can analyse how elements within the landscape are arranged. Helps make planning and land-use decisions.

Primary Production

Conversion of solar energy to chemical energy by autotrophs.

Denitrifying Bacteria

Convert nitrated in soil or water to gaseous nitrogen, releasing it back into the atmosphere.

Nutrients

Elements and compounds required for survival that are consumed by organisms.

Net Primary Production (NPP)

Energy remaining after respiration, and is used to generate biomass. Available for heterotrophs. Note: Freshwater wetlands, tropical forests, coral reefs, and algal beds have highest _____________________________ .

Aquatic

In ___________ ecosystems, net primary productivity was limited by light and nutrients.

Terrestrial

In ___________ ecosystems, net primary productivity was limited by temperature and precipitation.

Landscape

Larger than an ecosustem but smaller than a biome.

Flux

Movement of nutrients among pools, which change over time and are influenced by human activities.

Nitrogen Fixation

Nitrogen gas is fixed (made into ammonia) by nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Micronutrients

Nutrients needed in smaller amounts.

Macronutriends

Nutrients required in relatively large amounts (nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus).

Biomass

Organic material of which living organisms are formed.

Sinks

Pooks that accept more nutrients than they release.

Sources

Pools that release more nutrients than they accept.

Harber-Bosch Process

Synthetic production of fertilizers by combining nitrogen and hydroen to synthesize ammonia.

Emergent Properties

System characteristics not evident in the components alone. "The whole is more than the sum of the parts"

Atmosphere

The air which consists mainly of nitrogen and oxygen. It also consists of CO2 which is essential for life. Responsible for transfering heat and light.

Precipitation

The condensation of water vapor as rain or snow.

Nutrient (biogeochemical) Cycle

The movement of nutrients through ecosystems (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere).

Productivity

The rate at which ecosystems generate biomass.

Transpiration

The realease of water vapor by plants.

Geosphere

The solid part of earth consisting of rock (and broken rock) and sediment. This provides the physical and chemical foundations for life. (Sometimes incorrectly called the lithosphere.)

Ecosystem Ecology

The study of energy and material flow among biotic and abiotic components of systems. Structure and functional processes studied.

Landscape Ecology

The study of how landscape structure affects organisms (abundance, distribution, and interaction).

Ecology

The study of interactions of organisms with their abiotic (nonliving) environment.

Conservation Biology

The study of the loss, protection, and restoration of biodiversity.

Lithosphere

The topmost portion of the mantle and the crust, together.

Water Table

The upper limit of groundwater held in an aquifer.

Ecotones

Transitional zones between two ecosystems in which elements of different ecosystems mix.

Aquifers

Underground reservoirs of sponge-like regions of rock and soil that hold groundwater.

Groundwater

Water found underground beneath layers of soil.

Evaporation

Water moves from aquatic and land systems to air.

Homeostasis

When a system maintains constant or stable internal consitions.

Dynamic Equilibrium

When system processes move in opposing directions at equivalent rates, balancing their effects.

Pools (Reservoirs)

Where nutrients reside for varying amounts of time.

Patches

______________ form the landscape, and are distributed spatially in complex patterns (a mosaic).

Resilience

______________ is a measure of how readily the system will return to its original state once it has been disturbed.

Resistance

_________________ refers to the strength of the sysrem's tendency to remain constant. Note: The opposite is sensitivity.