APES Review Flashcards

7240631808	conservation	allowing the use of resources in a responsible manner	0
7240632725	preservation	setting aside areas and protecting them from human activities	1
7240659535	keystone species	species whose role in an ecosystem are more important than others (sea otters, sea stars, grizzly bears, prairie dogs)	2
7240662666	indicator species	species that serve as early warnings that an ecosystem is being damaged EX: trout	3
7240665728	characteristics of endangered species	small range, large territory, or live on an island	4
7240668266	endangered species	a group of organisms in danger of becoming extinct if the situation is not improved; population numbers have dropped below the critical number of organisms EX: north spotted owl, bald eagle, piping plover	5
7240678828	invasive/alien/exotic species	non-native species to an area; often thrive and disrupt the ecosystem balance EX: kudzu vine, water hyacinth, fire ant	6
7241939461	parts of the hydrologic cycle	evaporation, transpiration, runoff, condensation, precipitation, infiltration	7
7241943011	nitrogen fixing	because atmospheric N2 can't be used directly by plants, it must first be converted into ammonia (NH3) by bacteria (rhizobium or cyanobacteria)	8
7241953074	ammonification	nitrogen is converted into ammonia by ammonifying bacteria; may occur when nitrogen in organic wastes in the soil are converted to ammonia or when atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is converted to NH3	9
7241961762	nitrification	ammonia (NH3) is converted to nitrate ions (NO3)-	10
7241964447	assimilation	inorganic N2 is converted into organic molecules such as DNA/amino acids & proteins- plants assimilate nitrogen as NH4+ or NO3- through their roots; animals (herbivores) assimilate organic nitrogen compounds by eating plants	11
7241974839	denitrification	bacteria convert nitrate (NO3)- and nitrite (NO2)- back into N2 gas; bacteria convert ammonia (NH3) back into N2 or N2O- typically accomplished by anaerobic bacteria	12
7241989423	Phosphorus does not circulate as easily as nitrogen because:	it does not exist as a gas, but is released by weathering of phosphate (PO4)3- rocks; this is a sedimentary cycle- it is never found as a gas	13
7242001485	How excess phosphorus is added to aquatic ecosystems:	runoff of animal wastes, fertilizer, discharge of sewage; limiting factor in freshwater ecosystems; excess P leads to eutrophication	14
7242008750	photosynthesis	plants convert atmospheric carbon (CO2) into complex carbohydrates (glucose C6H12O6); energy is consumed and oxygen is released as a waste product	15
7242029824	aerobic respiration	O2-consuming producers, consumers, and decomposers break down complex organic compounds & convert C back into CO2; energy is released and oxygen is consumed in the process	16
7242041046	anaerobic respiration	break down of carbohydrates without oxygen- products are methane (CH4), alcohols, and other organics	17
7242048298	transpiration	process where water is absorbed by plant roots, moves up through plants, passes through pores (stomata) in leaves or other parts, evaporates into atmosphere as water vapor	18
7242056240	largest reservoirs of C:	carbonate (CO3)2- rocks first, oceans second	19