Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
145 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
Ecology |
Study of organisms and their environment |
|
|
Biosphere |
Global ecosystem or sum of all planet's ecosystem |
|
|
Climates |
Long-term prevailing weather conditions in a given area |
|
|
Climate's four factors |
Temperature, Precipitation, Sunlight, Wind |
|
|
Climate's two scales |
Macroclimates and Microclimates |
|
|
Macroclimate |
Patterns on the global, regional, and landscape level |
|
|
Microclimate |
Very fine, localized patterns at the community level |
|
|
What is the degrees of the earth's tilt on its axis? |
23.5 degrees |
|
|
General circulation pattern |
Warm air rises up into the atmosphere and cools down and warms back up as it comes back down towards the Earth |
|
|
Coriolis Effect |
Curvature of wind paths due to the Earth's rotation |
|
|
Trade Winds |
Northeast & Southeast Trade Winds. In both hemispheres after the warm air rises up, it moves away from the equator and eventually circulates back about 30 deg. latitude. the air in the atmosphere is cold, but as it circulates down it warms up and dries out |
|
|
Westerlies |
Some of the air at 30 deg. latitude flows toward the poles, giving rise to the wind blowing easy from 30 deg. to 60 deg. latitude |
|
|
Global ocean currents are driven by |
Wind, which is driven by Solar Radiation |
|
|
Gyre |
A giant closed curve that is caused by the ocean currents moving from easy to west near the equator and west to east near the midlatitudes. |
|
|
Rain Shadows |
Precipitation dramatically decreases on the leeward side of a mountai
|
|
|
Monsoons |
Seasonal shifting of winds, which affects rainfall patterns. Caused by seasonal heating and cooling of large landmasses
|
|
|
Elevation |
At any Given latitude air temp falls about 6 degrees for every 1100m
|
|
|
Biomes |
Major life zones. |
|
|
Two biomes |
Terrestrial and Aquatic |
|
|
Terrestrial biome |
characterized by the average temperature, precipitation, and vegetative structures (but not by the specific species).
|
|
|
Aquatic biome |
characterized by physical and chemical environment
|
|
|
Tropical Rainforest |
warm temperatures with 200-400cm of rain per year; most productive and diverse ecosystem. (Produce the most energy through photosynthesis) |
|
|
Savannas |
tropical or subtropical grasslands with warm temperatures and highly seasonal rainfall (30 – 50cm a year); often transition ecosystem between rainforest and deserts |
|
|
Desert |
highly variable temperature and rainfall is sparse (less than 30cm a year) and unpredictable; vegetation is sparse and survival depends on water conservation.
|
|
|
Chaparral Biome |
Cool in fall, winter, and spring and warmer in summer with highly seasonal precipitation (30-50cm a year). Dominated by grasses, shrubs and, small trees.
|
|
|
Temperate Grasslands Biome |
similar to savannas, but lower mean temperature with highly seasonal precipitation (30 -100cm); prairies have rich soils and often need periodic fire to prosper |
|
|
Temperate broadleaf forest |
mild, but seasonal climates (warm summers and cool winters) with plenty of rain (70-200cm a year); vegetation characterized by an abundance of deciduous trees |
|
|
Temperate rain forest |
mild, seasonal climates with abundant precipitation (over 300cm a year); characterized by an abundance of evergreen trees.
|
|
|
Northern Coniferous Forest |
colder mean temperature with limited precipitation (30-70cm a year); characterized by conifers that have needle like leaves that are adapted to the lack of water.
|
|
|
Tundra |
very cold with very little precipitation (20-60cm a year); very few trees and has a layer of permafrost (soil ice that persist through all seasons).
|
|
|
Zonation in Lake Environments |
Aphotic, Potic, Benthic, Pelagic, Littoral, Limnetic zones |
|
|
Aphotic zone |
The layer in which little light penetrates |
|
|
Photic Zone |
Layer in which light penetrates and allows for photosynthesis |
|
|
Benthic Zone |
Bottom of all aquatic biomes |
|
|
Pelagic Zone |
The open water that includes both aphotic and photic zones |
|
|
Littoral Zone |
Photic zone near the shore |
|
|
Limnetic Zone |
Photic zone away from the shore |
|
|
Intertidal zone |
Area b etween high tide and low tide |
|
|
Neritic Zone |
Photic zone near the shore |
|
|
Oceanic zone |
Photic zone far from the shore |
|
|
Abyssal zone |
Deep in the aphotic zone (2,000-6,000 M below the surface) |
|
|
Seasonal Turnover in Lakes (winter) |
upper layer cools and forms ice, which is less dense than water, thus it rises to the top |
|
|
Seasonal Turnover in Lakes (summer) |
top layer warms up & is less dense. |
|
|
Seasonal Turnover in Lakes (Fall and Spring) |
layers are similar temperature and similar densities; thus, it causes the upper and lower layers to mix causing a flow of oxygen |
|
|
Types of Freshwater Biomes |
Lakes, Streams & Rivers, Wetlands |
|
|
Lakes |
Standing body of fresh water. |
|
|
Oligotrophic Lake |
high oxygen content due to aeration, but low nutrient content (thus, little or no algal and no plant life survives). Maroon lake |
|
|
Eutrophic Lake |
low oxygen due to so much decomposing organic matter, high nutrient levels which leads to a lot of algal and plant growth. (Too much fertilizer) |
|
|
Wetlands |
a habitat inundated by water to at least some of the time and thus has water saturated soil |
|
|
Types of marine biomes |
Estuaries, Intertidal Zone, Coral reef |
|
|
Estuaries |
Transition are between river and sea characterized by intermediate salinity. Second most biodiversity of all marine biomes |
|
|
Intertidal zone |
A periodically submerged and exposed by the tides on most marine shores.
|
|
|
Coral reef |
Subtropical or tropical areas that are characterized by calcium carbonate coral skeleton |
|
|
Oceanic pelagic zone |
A vast realm of open blue water, constantly mixed by wind-driven currents.
|
|
|
MArine benthic zone |
Consists of seafloor below the surface of the water |
|
|
Deep-Sea hydrothermal vents |
dark, hot environments on mid-ocean ridges that have chemo-autotrophs as the food producers.
|
|
|
Homeostasis |
maintaining a steady internal environment while encountering environmental variations
|
|
|
Endotherms |
can regulate their internal temperature
|
|
|
Allens Rule |
- Shorter ears and limbs. (colder it gets)
|
|
|
Bergmann’s Rule
|
- Body mass increases with latitude and/or altitude. |
|
|
Populations |
a group of individuals of the same species that inhabit a given area
|
|
|
Subpopulations |
a subdivision of a population that is associated with a restricted patch of habitat
|
|
|
Metapopulations |
networks of distinct populations that interact with one another by exchanging individuals
|
|
|
Population density |
the number of individuals per unit area or volume
|
|
|
Two ways to estimate density |
- Plot sampling method – estimates plants, sessile animals, or an indicator of population size |
|
|
Dispersion |
the spatial location or arrangement of organisms
|
|
|
Random dispersion |
unpredictable spacing which the position of each individual is independent of others and this rarely occurs in nature |
|
|
Uniform dispersion |
evenly spaced individuals and occurs where there is discrete competition for resources.
|
|
|
Clumped dispersion |
individuals aggregate in patches and occurs in response to uneven distribution of resources or environmental condition
|
|
|
Geographic Range |
the area that encompasses the entire population of the species
|
|
|
Dispersal |
movement of individuals away from their area of origin or from their centers of high population identity
|
|
|
Population Growth |
refers to how the number of individuals in a population increase or decrease with time
|
|
|
Four Aspects of Population Growth
|
Birth
|
|
|
Logistics population growth |
increase population until the carrying capacity is reached
|
|
|
Density-dependent effect |
occur when the birthrate or death-rates correlate to population size (competition for resources, spread of disease, increase in predators)
|
|
|
Density-independent effect |
Density-independent – effects occur regardless of population size (natural disasters, climate change, human interactions) |
|
|
Survivorship curve Type I |
heavy mortality at the end (humans)
|
|
|
Survivorship curve Type II |
survival rates do not vary w/ age (birds, rodent, & reptiles)
|
|
|
Survivorship curve Type III |
mortality extremely high early in life (fish & invertebrates |
|
|
Life History Patterns |
Semelparity Iteroparity |
|
|
Semelparity life history pattern |
one single reproductive event and then they die
|
|
|
Iteroparity |
produce offspring many times over many seasons
|
|
|
Two Factors Affecting Life History Patterns
|
Life span Fecundity |
|
|
Long-lived animals |
start later in life and/or reproduce multiple times |
|
|
Short-lived animals |
reproduce earlier in life and sometimes only once |
|
|
Fecundity |
number of young produced in each breading bout |
|
|
Community |
refers to the species that occur at any particular locality
|
|
|
Interspecific interactions |
any interaction with individuals of another species within the community |
|
|
Four Interspecific Interactions |
Competition
|
|
|
Interspecific Competition |
interaction between two species for the same limited resource. |
|
|
Interference interspecific competition |
physical interaction |
|
|
Exploitative interspecific competition |
both consume the resources |
|
|
Principle of Competitive Exclusion |
if two species are competing for a limited resource, the species that uses the resource more efficiently will eventually eliminate the other locally.
|
|
|
Resource Partitioning |
the niche is subdivided to avoid direct competition between species.
|
|
|
Niche |
the total area an organism occupies and all of the resources it uses within that environment
|
|
|
Fundamental Niche |
the entire niche that a species is capable of using based on its resource needs & physiological tolerance limits |
|
|
Realized Niche |
the actual niche being occupied by the organism, when all biotic and abiotic interactions are taken into account.
|
|
|
Character Displacement |
the differences in morphology and resource use evident between sympatric species that are thought to have been favored by natural selection through resource partitioning.
|
|
|
Predation |
consuming of one organism by another, can affect prey populations, but prey populations can also affect predator populations.
|
|
|
Coevolution |
the evolution of adaptations of two different species based on the reciprocal selective pressures from each one of the species.
|
|
|
Two Classes of Prey Defenses |
Constitutive Induced |
|
|
Constitutive prey defense |
fixed features of an organism |
|
|
Induced prey defense |
features that only occur in the presence or by an action of a predator |
|
|
Chemical defenses |
bitter, distasteful, or toxic chemicals used to deter predators. |
|
|
Cryptic Coloration |
coloration on organism that allows them to blend into their surroundings |
|
|
Aposematic Coloration |
bright colors that warn predators that the prey is toxic or unpalatable |
|
|
Object Resemblance |
an organism resembles an object in the environment to avoid detection from predators. |
|
|
Flash Coloration |
hidden markings that are quickly exposed to startle or divert the attention of a predator. |
|
|
Batesian Mimicry |
a palatable or non-toxic organism mimics an unpalatable or toxic organism |
|
|
Müllerian Mimicry |
two or more unpalatable or toxic organism resemble one another leading to group defense. |
|
|
Herbivory |
an animal eats part of plant or algae |
|
|
Symbiosis |
two or more kinds of organisms closely interact.
|
|
|
Ectoparasitism |
external parasites |
|
|
Endoparasitism |
Internal parasites |
|
|
Direct Transmission |
Parasite moves from one host to another |
|
|
Indireect Transmission |
parasite needs an intermediate vector to be transmitted to the host |
|
|
Commensalism |
one species benefits, while the other neither benefits nor is harmed |
|
|
Mutualism |
both species benefit |
|
|
Species diversity |
the variety of different kinds of organisms that make up the environment. |
|
|
Species richness |
number of species in the community |
|
|
Relative abundance |
the proportion each species represents of all the individuals in the community.
|
|
|
Trophic structure |
feeding relationships between organism in the community. |
|
|
Energetic hypothesis |
the length of a food chain is limited by the inefficiency of energy transfer along the chain.
|
|
|
Dominant species |
the species that are the most abundant or that collectively have the highest biomass.
|
|
|
Keystone Species |
organisms whose effect on the community is greater than one would expect based on its abundance. |
|
|
Bottom-up model |
the lower trophic levels (primary producers) control the population of the higher trophic levels (top-predator). |
|
|
Top-down control |
the higher trophic levels control the population of the lower trophic levels.
|
|
|
Biomanipulation |
uses the top-down model to alter polluted environments.
|
|
|
Ecological Succession |
slow, orderly change from simple to complex that occurs among communities over time |
|
|
Primary Ecological Succession |
occurs on bare, lifeless substrate |
|
|
Secondary Ecological Succession |
occurs where an existing community has been disturbed |
|
|
Three Dynamic Concepts in the Process of Succession |
Tolerance Facilitation Inhibition |
|
|
Tolerance |
early successional stages characterized by weedy, r-selected species that are tolerant of harsh abiotic conditions |
|
|
Facilitation |
– the weedy species introduce local changes (nitrogen conversion) that allow less weedy species to survive.
|
|
|
Inhibition |
changing environment (nutrient and pH changes) favor new species that outcompete the original species |
|
|
Intermediate disturbance hypothesis |
communities experiencing moderate amounts of disturbances will have higher levels of species richness than communities experiencing little or great amount of disturbance. |
|
|
Carbon Cycle Reservoirs |
Atmosphere Organisms |
|
|
Carbon Cycle Processes |
Photosynthesis Cellular Respiration |
|
|
Carbon Cycle Human Interaction |
Burning fossil fuels |
|
|
Nitrogen Cycle Reservoirs |
Atmosphere Organisms SEdiments of aquatic biomes Soil |
|
|
Nitrogen Cycle Processes |
Fixation Denitrification Decomposition |
|
|
Nitrogen Cycle Human Interaction |
Fertilizers |
|
|
Phosphorous Cycle Reservoirs |
Sedimentary Rock Soil Organisms |
|
|
Phosphorous Cycle Processes |
Weathering Decomposition Consumption |
|
|
Phosphorous Cycle Human Interaction |
Fertilizers |
