1.3 Energy & Equilibria Vocab Pt. 1

Front

Efficiency

Back

Avoids wasting matter and energy during ecosystem processes.

Front

Positive feedback

Back

Feedback that amplifies change; leads to exponential deviation from equilibrium.

Front

Negative feedback

Back

Feedback that dampens deviations from equilibrium, promoting stability.

Front

Resilience: tendency of a system to avoid tipping points and maintain stability

Back

tendency of a system to avoid tipping points and maintain stability

Front

Tipping point

Back

A shift in an ecosystem to a new state, causing significant changes to biodiversity and services.

Front

Equilibrium

Back

A state of balance among the components of a system.

Front

Open system

Back

A system where both matter and energy are exchanged with surroundings.

Front

Closed system

Back

A system where energy, but not matter, is exchanged with surroundings.

Front

Isolated system

Back

A system that exchanges neither matter nor energy with its surroundings.

Front

Stable equilibrium

Back

Condition of a system that tends to return to a previous equilibrium after disturbance.