Biomes & Primary Productivity
This biome exhibits stable, warm temperatures and consistent rainfall year-round, resulting in the highest diversity of tree species.
tropical rainforest
Water transitions from a liquid phase on the Earth's surface into a gas in the atmosphere through this process.
evaporation
These photosynthetic microscopic organisms serve as the primary producers in open-ocean ecosystems.
phytoplankton
An invasive fly whose larvae inhabit finch nests and reduce the birds' breeding success exhibits this type of symbiotic relationship.
parasitism
The majority of freshwater on Earth is found where
Ice caps and glaciers
Although open oceans have a low Net Primary Productivity (NPP) per unit area, they produce the largest share of Earth's total biomass because of this factor.
their vast global surface area/expanse
Unlike the other cycles, this major biogeochemical cycle lacks a significant atmospheric gas phase.
the phosphorus cycle
Phytoplankton are primarily concentrated in the upper, photic layer of ocean water due to the requirement of this abiotic factor for photosynthesis.
sunlight
This economic and environmental concept occurs when individuals overuse and deplete a shared, unregulated open-access resource.
Tragedy of the Commons
All living things need phosphorus to build these two crucial molecules that carry their genetic code and instructions for life.
DNA and RNA
This term describes the total amount of light energy converted into chemical energy via photosynthesis per unit area per unit time, calculated as GPP = NPP + R.
Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)
This component of the Earth system serves as the primary reservoir for nitrogen.
the atmosphere
Under the 10% Rule, if primary producers in an ecosystem capture $15,000 kcal of net energy, this amount is available to secondary consumers.
150 kcal
Other than burning fossil fuels, this human activity directly increases carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.
deforestation / burning biomass
This process returns nitrogen gas N_2 to Earth's largest reservoir—the atmosphere—through the metabolic action of specialized soil bacteria.
denitrification
A pine forest has an NPP of 75,000 kcal/m^2/yr and plant respiration of 115,000 kcal/m^2/yr. What is the forest's total Gross Primary Productivity.
190,000 kcal/m^2/yr
This process uses specialized bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen gas (N_2) into usable forms like ammonia in the soil.
nitrogen fixation
Replacement of natural vegetation with asphalt and concrete directly impacts the hydrologic cycle by increasing this type of water movement.
surface runoff
Different species of warblers hunting for insects in distinct sections of the exact same tree species demonstrate this ecological interaction.
resource partitioning
Replacing an open pasture with dense forest cover leads to increased plant root systems and soil structure, directly boosting this step of the water cycle as water percolates down into the soil.
infiltration
A biome located at 45 ° latitude exhibits high seasonal temperature variation with hot summers and cold winters, but experiences low to moderate year-round precipitation. This biome features rich soils and is dominated by grasses rather than trees.
temperate grassland
Besides fossil fuels, this is ONE terrestrial sink that stores carbon for thousands to millions of years
sedimentary rocks (limestone) / old-growth forests / freshwater wetlands
Trophic pyramids rarely extend beyond tertiary consumers due to this physical energy constraint.
the loss of energy as metabolic heat at each transfer level
Cities located at high northern latitudes often show larger per-capita ecological footprints in the housing category primarily because of this climatic need.
high energy usage for heating and lighting during long, cold winters?
Describe how Nitrogen moves between living things and the environment
Atmospheric nitrogen is fixed by bacteria in soil to produce ammonia. Nitrification transforms ammonia into nitrite by nitrifying bacteria. Assimilation is when animals take in nitrites from plants to use as building blocks for DNA. Ammonifiation breaks down organic nitrogen into ammonia by decomposers. Denitrification turns nitrate back into atmospheric nitrogen.