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Is the transformation of organic nutrients into mineral form and back into organisms |
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Or reabsorption of some nutrients occurs in plants |
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The breakdown of chemical bonds of organic molecules -release of energy, CO2 and water |
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Examples of Decomposition |
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Leaching Fragmentation Changes in physical, chemical structure Ingestion Excretion of waste products |
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Organisms that feed on dead organic matter or detritus |
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Microflora: bacteria and fungi Invertebrate detrivitores -Microfauna (microflora) -Mesofauna -Macrofauna -Megafauna |
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Dominant decomposers of dead animal matter Aerobic, Anaerobic |
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Major decomposers of plant matter |
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Protozoans, nematodes, inhabiting the water in soil pores |
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Mites, potworms, and springtails that live in soil air spaces |
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Terrestrial: snails, millipedes, and earthworms Aquatic: annelid worms, crustaceans (e.g. amphipods and isopods), mollusks, and crabs Earthworms and snails dominate the megafauna |
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Definition
Are used to examine the decomposition of plant litter |
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Factors which influence the rate of decomposition |
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Organic matter decomposes at different rates Rate of organic decay is related to plant litter quality |
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Carbon form available affects consumption rates |
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Glucose and other Simple Sugars Cellulose and hemicellulose Lignin (and others) -Basidomycetes only group of decomposers to decompose these molecules |
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-Proteins, simple sugars, soluble compounds (15% carbon content) -Cellulose and hemicellulose (60%) Lignins (20%) |
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Decomposition rates in aquatic enviornments |
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Slower because there is less oxygen |
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Other factors affecting the rate of organic decay |
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-Plant litter quality -Soil properties (texture and pH) -Climate (temperature and precipitation) |
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Direct influence of temperature on decomposers |
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Daily temperature pattern is closely paralleled by the release of CO2 |
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-Model of NPP is one increasing production with increasing precipitation -He found a differnet pattern in the montane forests of Maui --Pattern of decreasing NPP with increasing annual precipitation |
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What mechanisms result in decreasing NPP with increase precipitation |
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-Measured the chemical composition of leaves -Two characteristics varied systematically as rainfall increased -leaf nitrogen concentration decreased -Concentration of lignin increased Litterbag experiments were used to examine carbon and nitrogen cycling during decomposition |
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Differences in the rate of nitrogen release affected the availability of soil nitrogen -> NPP |
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Oxygen availability decreased with increasing annual precipitation |
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Difference between rates of mineralization and immobilization |
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Is the transformation of nutrients contained in organic compounds into inorganic (mineral) forms |
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Is the uptake and assimilation of minerals by microbial decomposers |
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If the nitrogen content of the litter material is high |
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High immobilization rates due to low Nitrogen |
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As the decomposition process continues, the litter degrades into a dark brown/black homogeneous matter |
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As humus becomes embedded in the soil matrix |
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Soil Organic matter has a residence time of |
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Significant portion of carbon and nutrients released from soils |
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Humus decomposes very slowly, but is abundant |
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Definition
Dipolar Bonds Hydrogen bond |
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Maximum density if water at |
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Definition
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Structure/Properties of Water |
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Cohesion Adhesion High Specific Heat High heat of Fusion High heat of Evaporation |
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Cohesion and Adhesion cause capillary action |
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Holding together of like substances |
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Holding together of unlike substances |
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Attraction of molecules causes surface to act as a membrane |
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Water cycle influenced by |
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Solar energy Air and Ocean currents Heat budgets Water balances of land and sea |
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Water occurs in 6 general forms |
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Definition
Vapor Fresh surface water, groundwater Snow and ice Salt water Water inside living organisms |
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Freshwater percent of of planet's water |
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Driving force of water cycle |
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Precipitation that reaches the soil and moves into the ground |
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Water entering soil seeps down to layers of clay,rock to collect as groundwater; returns to surface via springs, streams, and rivers |
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-Inland depressions containing standing water (lakes, ponds, reservoirs) -Size from <1 acre to thousands of Km2 -Depth from 1 meter to over 2000 meters |
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-Glacial abrasion in high mountain valleys -Retreating valley glaciers -Shift in Earth's crust (uplifting of mountains, landslides) -Earthquakes, volcanic activity -Human Activity |
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Upper Lake -Water is warm and less dense |
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Thermally stratified region |
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Lower Lake -Water is cold and dense |
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Causes mixing of nutrients, oxygen |
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