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| the condition of extremely low dissolved oxygen concentrations in a body of water. |
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| a network of relationships among components that interact with and influence one another through the exchange of energy, matter, or information. |
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| a circular process in which a system's output serves as an input to same system. |
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| process in which output that results from a system working in one direction acts as input that moves the system in another direction (body regulating body heat). |
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| drive a system further to an extreme. (erosion). |
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| contains rock and sediment beneath our feet. |
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| composed of the air surrounding our planet. |
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| encompasses all water (salt, liquid, ice, vapor) in surface bodies. |
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| consists of all the planet's living organisms and the abiotic (nonliving)portions of the environment with which they interact. |
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| the process of nutrient enrichment, increased production of organic matter, and subsequent ecosystem degredation in a water body. |
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| an intangible phenomenon that can change the position, physical composition, or temperature of matter. |
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| potential energy held in the bonds between atoms. |
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| first law of thermodynamics |
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Definition
| physical law stating that energy can change from one form to another, but cannot be created or lost. The total amount of energy in the universe remains constant and is said to be conserved. |
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| second law of thermodynamics |
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Definition
| physical law stating that the nature of energy tends to change from a more-ordered state to a less-ordered state; that is, entropy increases. |
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| producers (green plants, algae, and backteria called cyanobacteria). |
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| process by which autotrophs turn light energy from sun into chemical energy. |
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| process by which a cell uses the chemical reactivity of oxygen to split glucose into its constituent parts, water and carbon dioxide, and thereby release chemical energy that can be used to form chemical bonds or to perform other tasks within the cell. |
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| consumers (organisms that gain energy by feeding on other organisms). |
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| consists of all the organisms and nonliving entities that occur and interact in a particular area. |
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| the energy that remains after respiration is used to create biomass. |
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| the rate at which autotrophs convert energy to biomass. |
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| elements and compounds that organisms consume and require for survival. |
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| the broad-scale study of how landscape structure affects the abundance, distribution, and interaction of organisms. |
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| scientists who study the loss, protection, and restoration of biodiversity. |
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| nutrient cycles/biogeochemical cycles |
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Definition
| the comprehensive set of cyclical pathways by which a given nutrient moves through the environment. |
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| the routes that carbon atoms take through the environment. |
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| a major nutrient cycle consisting of the routes that phosphorus atoms take through the nested networks of environmental systems (weathering). |
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| a major nutrient cycle consisting of the routes that nitrogen atoms take through the nested networks of environmental systems (lightning, specialized bacteria, human assistance). |
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| process by which inert nitrogen gas combines with hydrogen to form ammonium ions, which are chemically and biologically active and can be taken up by plants. |
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Definition
| live in mutualistic relationship with many types of plants, converting nitrogen to a useable form for the plants. |
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Definition
| conversion of ammonium ions first into nitrite ions, then in to nitrate ions. |
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Definition
| convert nitrates in the soil or water into gaseous nitrogen. |
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| cycle through which water (in liquid, gaseous, and solid forms) flows through our environment. |
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| conversion of liquid to a gaseous form. |
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| release of water vapor by plants through their leaves. |
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| water vapor condenses and falls as rain or snow. |
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| water from precipitation that flows into rivers, lakes and streams. |
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| spongelike regions of rock and soil that hold groundwater. |
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| water found underground beneath layers of soil. |
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| the upper limit of groundwater held in an aquifier. |
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