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Prokaryote Metabolism and Ecology definitions Flashcards

Prokaryote Metabolism and Ecology definitions
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  • Biosphere
    The global ecological system integrating all living beings and their relationships, including interactions with elements of the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.
  • Nitrogen Cycle
    The process by which atmospheric nitrogen is converted into forms usable by living organisms, primarily through the action of prokaryotes, enabling the synthesis of essential biomolecules.
  • Nitrogen Fixation
    The process by which prokaryotes convert atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into a form usable by living organisms, such as ammonium or nitrate.
  • Prokaryotes
    Single-celled organisms without a nucleus, crucial for nitrogen fixation, carbon cycling, and oxygen production, supporting ecosystems and human health.
  • Ammonium
    A positively charged ion formed when ammonia gains a proton, playing a crucial role in the nitrogen cycle by being a usable form of nitrogen for plants and other organisms.
  • Nitric
    A form of nitrogen that is converted by prokaryotes from atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into a usable form for other organisms, essential for the nitrogen cycle.
  • Nitrogen Dioxide
    A toxic gas produced by combustion processes, playing a role in the nitrogen cycle and contributing to air pollution and respiratory issues.
  • Carbon Cycle
    The process by which carbon atoms are cycled through the biosphere, involving photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and sedimentation, crucially facilitated by prokaryotes.
  • Decomposers
    Organisms that break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem, crucial for nutrient cycles like carbon and nitrogen.
  • Cyanobacteria
    Photosynthetic prokaryotes that produce oxygen and play a crucial role in nitrogen fixation, contributing significantly to Earth's atmospheric and ecological balance.
  • Metabolism
    The sum of all chemical reactions in an organism, enabling it to maintain life, grow, reproduce, and respond to its environment.
  • Heterotroph
    Organisms that obtain carbon by consuming organic compounds produced by other organisms, relying on them for energy and nutrients.
  • Autotroph
    Organisms that produce their own organic compounds from inorganic sources like CO2, using light or chemical energy, forming the base of the food chain.
  • Phototroph
    Organisms that use light energy to produce ATP through photophosphorylation, essential for photosynthesis and energy conversion in ecosystems.
  • Chemoorganotroph
    Organisms that obtain energy by oxidizing organic molecules, producing ATP primarily through oxidative phosphorylation.
  • Chemolithotroph
    Organisms that oxidize inorganic molecules to obtain energy, producing ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.