APES Summer Work Chapters 2 & 3 Review

APES Summer Work Chapters 2 Chemistry & Energy Basics

Atoms, etc. Atom – Smallest particle that can contain chemical properties of an element Molecule – particles that contain more than one atom Compound – molecules that contain more than one element Isotope – atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons

Isotopes and Radioactivity

Water is essential… Transfer of chemicals Examples Surface tension (cohesion) Capillary action (adhesion) Solvent

H+ concentration relative to pure water pH pH H+ concentration relative to pure water 10,000,000 1 1,000,000 2 100,000 3 10,000 4 1,000 5 100 6 10 7 8 0.1 9 0.01 0.001 11 0.0001 12 0.00001 13 0.000001 14 0.0000001 Measures H+ ion conc. p = Potenz (Greek for power) Acids = High H+ conc. Bases = Low H+ conc.

Law of Conservation of Matter No atoms are created or destroyed in a chemical reaction H2O Sun CO2

Energy Vs. Power Energy – ability to do work Power – the rate at which work is done

1st Law of Thermodynamics When energy is converted from one form to another in a physical or chemical change, no energy is created or destroyed

2nd Law of Thermodynamics Whenever energy is changed from one form to another, we end up with lower-quality or less usable energy than we started with

Energy Efficiency Ratio of the amount of energy expended to the total amount of energy introduced into the system

APES Summer Work Chapters 3 Ecosystem Basics

Ecosystem Boundaries Subjective Yellowstone Defined Caves Lakes

Energy Input

Primary Productivity The fabrication of carbon compounds through photo or chemo- synthesis Gross Primary Productivity Rate at which producers can convert solar energy into biomass Net Primary Productivity Rate at which producers make & store products while accounting for the producers own energy requirements GPP – Respiration = NPP (mg/L/day) or (Kcal/day) ~1% of Solar Input ~ 40% of GPP

Net Primary Productivity

Trophic Levels

Trophic Level Consumers Organisms are identified by the food they consume 2nd trophic level and above

Eat producers Primary consumers Example: Deer, rabbits, cows Herbivores Eat producers Primary consumers Example: Deer, rabbits, cows

Carnivores Eat meat (other animals) Secondary+ consumers Example: Lion, frog, ladybug

Eat plants & meat Secondary+ consumers Example: Raccoon, bear, human Omnivores Eat plants & meat Secondary+ consumers Example: Raccoon, bear, human

Other consumers… Scavengers Decomposers Detritivores Eat dead organisms Decomposers Break down & recycle dead organisms Detritivores Live off detitrus Detritus – dead parts & waste from organisms

Food Webs Arrows represent energy flow Food webs can be disrupted by many factors Keystone species Invasive species

Ecosystem Efficiency 10% Rule Approximately 10% of energy available at one trophic level is passed to the next

HYDROLOGIC CYCLE In what ways can surface runoff be affected by: Natural processes? Anthropogenic processes?

Carbon Cycle Key Points: Major Reservoir: Ocean & Underground Natural Vs. Anthropogenic Respiration & Photosynthesis

Nitrogen Cycle Key Points: Major Reservoir: Atmosphere (78%) Nitrogen Fixers Limiting Nutrient (causes algal blooms)

Phosphorus Key Points: Major Reservoir: Rock/Sediment Limiting Nutrient Only cycle without an atmospheric component

Ecosystems disturbance Disturbance An event, caused by physical, chemical, or biological agents, resulting in changes in population size or community composition. Resistance A measure of how much a disturbance can affect flows of energy and matter in an ecosystem. Resilience The rate at which an ecosystem returns to its original state after a disturbance. Restoration ecology The study and implementation of restoring damaged ecosystems.

Intermediate disturbance hypothesis The hypothesis that ecosystems experiencing intermediate levels of disturbance are more diverse than those with high or low disturbance levels.