ESS SL ALL

set of interrelated parts that function as a whole to make a complex whole

A system in which matter and energy can enter from or escape to the surroundings.

A system in which no matter is allowed to enter or leave but energy can

A system that can exchange neither energy nor matter with its surroundings.

energy or matter change locaton through flow

energy or matter change location and state through flow

A worldview that shapes the way an individual perceives and evaluates environmental issues

Energy cannot be created or destroyed

Every energy transfer or transformation increases the entropy of the universe.

• Regulation of body temp

• succession

• cloud formation

• eutrophication

• albedo effect

• climate change

the ability of a surface to reflect away solar radiation

A process by which nutrients particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, become highly concentrated in a body of water, leading to increased growth of organisms such as algae.

ability of a system to maintain an acceptable level of service during an adverse event -sometimes refers to the ability of a system to return to a previous state after an adverse event

no positive feedback inputs (eg

the point at which a fundamental shift in the behavior of a system occurs

earth is one organism. self regulating. homeostatic

a term for a stable system that isn't changing

A group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.

A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area

All the different populations that live together in an area

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

The series of predictable changes that occur in a community over time

pioneer community: pioneer organisms are adapted to extreme conditions. usually r-selected species start breaking down rock (ex: lichens

establishment: as soil layer forms & improves, species diversity increases, invertebrates move in and increase organic matter (humus), water retention improves

competition: larger plants increase, providing shelter and allowing K-selected species to move in, extreme conditions improved. competition for resources result in some early organisms dying out

stabilization

Climax community: A stable, mature community that undergoes little or no change in species over time

occurs in environment with no previous life. bedrock

occurs in previously inhabited environments

need more soil to grow and can outcompete competition

short lived

long lived

Largest number of individuals of a population that a environment can support

"flat" period of adjustment, enlargement; little growth

rapid growth; when the size of a population increases excessively

Phase of population growth where the population continues to grow, but increasingly slowly as competition increases as carrying capacity is being reached

fluctuation on carrying capacity

population exceeds carrying capacity

Sharp reduction in the population of a species past carrying capacity due to the depletion of a limiting factor.

growth starts again once the depleted factor has recovered

Zonation refers to changes in community along an environmental gradient due to factors such as changes in altitude, latitude, tidal level or distance from shore (coverage by water).

Succession is the process of change over time in an ecosystem involving pioneer, intermediate and climax communities.

Abiotic factors are the non-living parts of an organism's habitat.

all the living biological parts and interactions in an ecosystem

interaction between 2 dissimilar organisms living in same area. (umbrella term for parasitism/mutualism)

The niche species could potentially occupy.

the actual conditions and resources in which a species exists due to biotic interactions.

measurement of energy in organism. (kcal/m^2/year)

the conversion of energy into biomass for a given period of time, measured as productivity

The total amount of solar energy that producers in an ecosystem capture via photosynthesis over a given amount of time.

The energy captured by producers in an ecosystem minus the energy producers respire.

The total gain by consumers in energy or biomass per unit area per unit time through absorption.

The gain by consumers in energy or biomass per unit area per unit time remaining after allowing for respiratory losses (R).

An increased concentration of a chemical within an organism over time

increase in concentration of toxins passed up in trophic levels

insulation, precipiration, temperature, sunlight, altitude and climate

an insecticide that is also toxic to animals and humans

main storages: air, animals, plants, fossil fuels, ocean

processes: photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, combustion, carbon fixation

The initial incorporation of carbon into organic compounds.

main storages: air, plants, animals, soil

transfers: absorption, consumption, decomposition

transformations: nitrogen fixation, denitrification, ammonification, nitrification, assimilation

ammonia (NH3) --> ammonium (NH4+)

because atmospheric nitrogen cannot be used directly by plants it must first be converted into ammonia (NH3) by bacteria (rhizobium)

Conversion of nitrates (created by ammonium) into nitrogen gas

ammonium (NH4+) --> nitrate (NO2) --> nitrate (NO3) --> ammonia (NH3)

Organic compounds that exist as gases in the atmosphere and act as pollutants, some of which are hazardous.

An atmospheric condition formed through a combination of weather conditions and pollution, especially from motor vehicle emissions/voc's

Everything is measured along a line transect

Points at regular intervals are measured

Points are determined randomly (eg. dice)

For a place with 2 or more distinct sampling areas, each area sampled using random method.

First sample point chosen randomly then the following points done with a set interval/distance

The number of organisms in a population relative to its environment

Species abundance

n1= n caught in first sample

n2= n caught in second sample

n3= n marked in second sample

Compares relative abundance of a species in a community

Species diversity

N= total n of organisms of all species found

n= number of individuals of a particular species

= pyramid of numbers

= pyramid of biomass

= pyramid of productivity

= Polar cell : Ferrel cell : Hadley cell | mirror

• precipitation

• Temperature

• Insulation

All lead to a move in biomes

Number of births per 1000 people, per year

=births/populationx1000

Average number of births per 1000 women of childbearing age

TFR =(number of births from women aged x to y / midyear population of women aged x to y) x 1000

Number of deaths per 1000 people per year

CDR = deaths/ population x 1000

Crude birth rate - crude death rate

Number of years for a population to double. Assuming natural increase remains constant throughout the years

= 70/NIR (%)

Demographic transition model

parents want children for:

• labour

• To care for them at old age

• Continue family line

• Replace dead children

Decline because:

• costly kids

• Government pensions

• Women’s careers

• Family planning more widespread

• Less need for kid replacement

People die from:

• lack of clean water

• Lack of food

• Poor hygiene

• Disease

• Overcrowding

• Poverty

Decline because:

• Access to clean water

• Reliable food

• Good hygiene

• Less crowded/dense

• Raised living standard (GDP)

= high and variable

• birth and death rate high

• Population growth fluctuates

Early and expanding

• birth high death low

• Rapid population growth

Late expanding

• birth rate drops and death rate stays low

• Population growth continues but slower

Low and variable

• birth and death rates low and variable

• Population growth fluctuates

Slow declining

• birth rate lower than death

• Population decline

• status of women

• Education level

• Wealth

• Urban vs rural

• Religion

• Health

“One child policy” ==>

• age structure

• Social class

• Disease and war

Natural resources that produce a sustainable income of good or services

Eg = tree, coal, oil, photosynthesis, animals and their services

Yield obtained from natural resources (benefit)

• marketable natural resource that can produce a sustainable natural income of good or services

• Replenishes itself over timescale of use (natural capital does not run out due to consumerism)

• irreplaceable or only replaceable over geologic timescales

The use and management of resources that allows full natural replacement and full recovery of ecosystems affected

Meets the needs of the present without comprising the ability for future generations to meet their own needs

• Addition of a substance/agent to an environment by human activity

• too much to be rendered harmless by the environment

• Affects the organisms in the environment