Ecology Test 1

Front 1

Fitness

Back 1

the contribution of progeny to the next generation. (Probability of having grandchildren).

Front 2

Charles Elton

Back 2

1920's. Studied Spitzbeugen (tundra). "food is nitrogen"

Front 3

Adaptation

Back 3

solutions to assimilation, reproduction, ability to respond to stimuli

Front 4

autotrophs

Back 4

primary producers/ energy from the sun

Front 5

heterotrops

Back 5

consume anima. + plant tissue and break down assimilated carbon compounds

Front 6

how do humans get carbon

Back 6

from eating other organizms. ultimate source of C02 is in the atmosphere

Front 7

chemoautrophs

Back 7

convert c02 into organic matter using oxidation of inorganic molecules especially hydrogen gas and hydrogen sulfide or methane as a source of energy.
-found in 02 deficient places like deep ocean floor and hydrothermic vents

Front 8

photoautrophs

Back 8

use sun's energy (photosynthesis)

Front 9

photsynthesis

Back 9

short wave radiation from the sun drive chemical reactions that result in the fixation of c02 into carbohydrates and 02 is byproduct.

Front 10

light reaction

Back 10

initial photochemical reactions. chlorophyll absorbs light energy which causes an unstable state. photon energy transfered.

Front 11

dark reactions

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c02 is biochemically incorporated into simple sugars

Front 12

light compensation point

Back 12

light level where carbon uptake equals the role of carbon loss in respiration

Front 13

photoinhibition

Back 13

negative effects of highlight of high light levels

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diffusion

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moment of substance from areas of higher to lower concentration until both are equal

Front 15

thermodynamics

Back 15

all forms of energy can be concerted to heat

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1ST Law of thermodynamics

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energy cannot be created or destroyed

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2nd law of thermodynamics

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no conversion of energy is %100 efficient

Front 18

entropy

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certain amt. of energy becomes unavailabe

Front 19

thermal energy

Back 19

rate of bivration of molecules. always flows from hot to cold.

Front 20

rule of "home range"

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the larger the animal the greatethe range it has to cover to get food

Front 21

Trauseau

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1926. Studied biomass of corn for 100 days.

Front 22

keystone species

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influence community structure disprportionately to their numbers. removal will mean loss of diversity. exp. african elephant, sea otters, coral oculina arbuscula.

Front 23

food chain

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represents flow of energy from prey to preditior

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basal species

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do not feed on other species but are prey

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intermediary species

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feed and are fed apon

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secondary producers

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herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores

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guilds

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species that explore a common resource

Front 28

functional type

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define a group of species based on their common response to the environment

Front 29

trophic level

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organisms that obtain energy in the same # of steps. some consumers and omnivores occupy more than 1 level.

Front 30

grazing food chain

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source of energy for first level consumers (herbivores). flow is unidirectional

Front 31

detrital food chain

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energy source is dead organic matter. snails, beetles, milipedes, earthworms. is dominant in most ecosystems. flow is not unidirectional. each consumer trophic level is recycled.

Front 32

NPP Net primary productivity

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the available energy for grazing herbivores. Includes ingested, consumed, assimilated, respirated and waste materials

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consumption efficiency

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ratio of ingestion to production. defines the amt. of available energy being consumed in a trophic level that is consumed by the next higher level. All energy entering the ecosystem as NPP is lost through respiration.

Front 34

trophic efficiency

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measure of energy between trophic levels. Its the rate of productivity in a given trophic level to the trophic level it feeds on. 10% rate of transfer

Front 35

Inverted triangle

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occurs because of short life cycles and rapid reproduction.

Front 36

home range

Back 36

the area an animal uses in a year. varies with fodd resources, body size and meatbolic need

Front 37

territory

Back 37

a defended area

Front 38

photons

Back 38

particles of energy from the sun. turn to heat when they reach the atomosphere then plants turn them into photochemical energy.

Front 39

exothermic

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chemical reaction results in loss of energy in a system

Front 40

endothermic

Back 40

reactions must absorb energy to proceed

Front 41

entrophy

Back 41

the reduction of potential energy

Front 42

GPP gross primary productivity

Back 42

the total rate of photosynthesis or energy assimilated by the autotrophs

Front 43

Net Primary Productivity

Back 43

the rate of energy storage as organic matter after respiration. NPP=GPP-R

Front 44

optimall foraging theory

Back 44

natural selection should favor efficient foragers. measured in energy/nutrient gain and correlates with fitness.

Front 45

Marginal value theorum

Back 45

predicts the amt. of time an individual should stay in a resource patch. prey density, travel time and time required to extract.

Front 46

rubisco

Back 46

an enzyme whcih causes carboxylation

Front 47

cellular respiration

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involves the oxidation of carbohydrates to generate energy in the form of ATP (takes place in mitochondria). happens in all living cells.

Front 48

mesophyll

Back 48

cells in plants where photosynthesis takes place.

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stomata

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openings int the surface of the leaves of terrestrial plants where c02 enters via diffusiton

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diffusion

Back 50

the movement of a substance from areas of higher to lower concentration into even. C02 diffuses into the atmosphere until it equals atmosphereic amt. C02 is measured in ppm= amt. of molecules.

Front 51

turgor pressure

Back 51

force exerted outward on a cell wall by the water contained in the cell. cells are most efficient when fully hydrated. the movement of water through a plant is passive transport. may be + or -

Front 52

Gibbs free energy (G)

Back 52

energy available to do work

Front 53

water potential

Back 53

free energy of water along soil/plant continuum. when relative humidity of atmosphere is 100% water potential =0 when humidity drops water potential of the atmosphere becomes negative. water potential drives diffusion from high to low free energy.. turgor pressure and humidity effects plant water potential. it is typically -

Front 54

osmotic potential

Back 54

lowerinf of plant water potnetial due to concetration of solutes in cells. always negative

Front 55

matric potential

Back 55

the tendency of water to adhere to surfaces, reducing free energy and water potential. always negative

Front 56

aquatic plants

Back 56

lack stomata. c02 is mixed into water to form bicarbonate the reaction is reversible. c02 diffuses directly from the water to the cell membrane. bicarbonate can be a source of carbon but aquatic plants must convert it first.

Front 57

photosynthesis and respiration increase when

Back 57

the temperature rises. phtoosynthesis reaches a maximum but respiration continues to rise until it reaches critical temps then decreases. this is controlled by temp of leaf not air.

Front 58

terrestrial plants exchange heat by

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convection and evaporation

Front 59

aquatic plants exchange heat by

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convection.

Front 60

boundry layer

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still air or water surrounding a leaf

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homeostasis

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Maintenence of relatively constant internal environment

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homeostatic plateaus

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limited range of tolerances using negative feedback. for animals its physiological and behavioral. exp sweating, shivering. animals produce heat through metabolism and mobility .

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conductivity

Back 63

the ability to conduct/transmit heat through solids. body core exchanges heat with surface area by conduction. fat and movement of blood affect it.
H conduction = -k x change in temp/distance or length heat travels. density and specific heat influence object conductivity.

Front 64

convection

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transfer of heat energy between a solid and a moving fluid.

H convection = -h A(heat transfer of a surface area) (Temp of Surface - Temp of surrounding medium)

Front 65

heat transfer coefficient

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represents how easily heat can move through the fluid . depends on fluid type (gas or liquid) and flow (velocity and viscosity.

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the greater the surface area per volume

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the faster the heat transfer

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endothermy

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internal heat production (homeothermy)

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homeothermy

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fairly constant temp independent of external temp. maintain body temp by oxidizing glucose and other energy rich molecules in process of respiration.. rate of respiration is proportional to their body mass.

Front 69

ectothermy

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gaining heat from environment (poikilothermy)

Front 70

poikilothermy

Back 70

variable body temp. rising temp increase enzymatic activity which controls metabolism and respiration with low temps. when temp is low they are inactive

Front 71

heterotherms

Back 71

use both endo and ectothermy. exp bats, bees, hummingbirds

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operative temp range

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range of body temp poikilotherms can carry out daily activities

Front 73

rete

Back 73

blood circulation system in sharks and tuna. aquatic poiks change physologically to adjust to upper/lower limits of temp tolerance.

Front 74

thermonuetral zone

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range of environmental temps within which metabolic rates are minimal

Front 75

critical temps

Back 75

upper/lower temp where metabolic rate increases

Front 76

homeotherms

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have high energy production through aerobic respiration.
-high levels of physical activity for longer.
-exploit wider range of thermal envrionments.
-use insulation fur/feathers/ body fat

Front 77

.scaling

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as size of organism increases surface area relative to interior, body volume decreases. more surface area is needed for 02 diffusion. lungs, circulatory systems etc. increase surface area.

Front 78

food

Back 78

ultimate resource that leads to fitness

Front 79

climate

Back 79

heat flow at any defined portion of the earth's surface

Front 80

energy flo

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abiotic and biotic

Front 81

biotic energy budget

Back 81

food energy leads to new biomass/ fitness. includes defecation and excretion and respiration

Front 82

abiotic energy budget

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solar, ground and cloud radiation. convection evaporation, conduction. black body radiation loss.

Front 83

black body radiation

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regulates based on skin temp. insulate by fat or fur. 37 deg C= 4-50 micron per minute (wavelength). higher blackbody temp = more energy radiated

Front 84

Eart av temp

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16deg C

Front 85

Convection

Back 85

Temp of surface- temp of surrounding area

Front 86

how are plants cooled

Back 86

by water. sometimes air (boreal forests)

Front 87

plants in cool regions

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needle leaves with few stomates. air cooled. needles are close so enegy better shared.

Front 88

plants in polar regions

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live in boundry layer (close to ground). plants radiate heat back and forth. cold winds pass over.

Front 89

ectotherms

Back 89

most abundant type. most succesful adaptation. 43% production efficency. usually small- large animals must live in warm places. metabolic activity declines during food and water shortages. can be serpentine. temp maintained by heat (solar) or by env.

Front 90

endotherms

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require a lot of energy. smaller homeotherms need more calories. low net production effeciency.

Front 91

heterotherms

Back 91

can undergo rapid drastic metabolic chnages. some go into hibernation. temp is crucial for flying.

Front 92

hibernation.

Back 92

mostly done by pikilotherms

Front 93

hibernation in homeotherms

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become heterotherms and invoke controlled hypothermia (redux of body temp) body temp approaches ambient temp (below 10 deg C) high c02 state calle acidosis.

Front 94

supercooling

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body temp falls below freezing without freezing. increases solutes in some fish, reptiles.

Front 95

insects

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ectotherms that can maintain activity comparable to endortherms. supply oxygen directly to tissues. doable b/c small

Front 96

weather

Back 96

combination of temp, humidity, wind

Front 97

shortwave radiation

Back 97

shorter wavelengths, energetic phtons

Front 98

longwave radiation.

Back 98

cooler objects. earth.

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photosyntheticly active radiation

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PAR wavelength from solar radation used for photosynthesisq

Front 100

earth tilt

Back 100

responsible for seasonal variations in temp and day length

Front 101

atmosphereic pressure

Back 101

amt. of force from airs weight exterd over a given surface area. with altitude, density and air pressure decline

Front 102

environmental lapse rate

Back 102

the rate at which temp decreases with altitiude. decreased pressure results in reduce rate of motion for molecules and decline in temp.

Front 103

adiabatic colling

Back 103

decrease in air temp through expansion rather than heat loss to the surrounding atmosphere

Front 104

coriolis effect

Back 104

earth rotation is slower at the equater than the poles so the air masses are deflected. Northern hemisphere- to the right. southern- to the left.

Front 105

currents

Back 105

systematic patterns of water movemtn

Front 106

gyres

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2 great circular water motions moving clockwise in N hemisphere and counter clockwise in southn.

Front 107

latent heat

Back 107

amt. of energy released or absorbed during a change of state

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vapor pressure

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amt. of pressure water vapor exerts independent of pressure of dry air

Front 109

saturation vapor pressure

Back 109

water vaport content of air at saturation.

Front 110

relative humidity

Back 110

amt. of water vapor in the air expressed as a precentage of the saturation vapor pressure.

Front 111

ectotherms

Back 111

resting metabolic rate low
-production effeciency high
-adverse periods easily passed in torpor
-max advantage taken of epsodic gluts of food

Front 112

heterotherms

Back 112

usually insects. most successful group on earth

Front 113

logistic model of poulation growth

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dN/dt =rN (1-N/K)

Front 114

density dependency

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influence population in proportion to its size = decline in per capita resources eventually reaching crucial level

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density independent

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env. factors affect population regardless of # of individuals

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intraspecific competitiion

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same species. but as long as availbity of resource does not impede survival growth or reproduction no competition exists.

Front 117

scramble competitiion

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growth and reproduction are depressed equally across individuals in a population as the intensity of competition increases. can lead to local extinction.

Front 118

contest competition

Back 118

some individuals claim enough resourses while denying others a share. only affects a portion of the population. usually species practice scramble or contest but not both.

Front 119

exploitation

Back 119

no direct interaction but species effects other by depleting resource.

Front 120

interference

Back 120

direction interaction (bird defending nest)

Front 121

density dependent growth

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inverse relationship between population density and individual growth. slowed growth and development because of insufficent resources. exp. white clover. as density increases plants are smaller. tadpoles are slower and fewer turn to frogs.

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consumption comptn

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exp. acorns- squirrels deer etc.

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preemption

Back 123

space is taken. barnacles.

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overgrowth

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trees and plants

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encounter

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non territorial. exp. scavenger.

Front 126

ecological niche classes

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class I- communiy function. (elton) who is eating whom
class II- species definition
class III quality of environment

Front 127

Climate Change

Back 127

long term climate change- ice ages
milankovitch- published paper- earths orbital changes. orbit slightly shorter on one side. southern hemisphere absorbs and holds heat more than south.

Front 128

greenhouse effect

Back 128

air is heated from blow. co2 h20 ch4 absorb longwave (earths) radiation ch4 (methane) is 30x more active. humidity radiates back to earth.

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fundamental niche

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total space available. full range of resources w/o competition factors.

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realized niche

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inhabited space. "real world"

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competition

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success is measure a generation later

Front 132

niche overlap

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when 2 organisms use a portion of the same resource simulateously

Front 133

competition release

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a species expands its niche in response to the removal of a competitor.

Front 134

natural selection

Back 134

the differential success (survival and reproduction) of individuals within the population that results from their interaction with their environment.
-cariations occur among individuals within a population in some heritable characteristics
-this variation results in differences among individuals in their survival and reproduction.

Front 135

adaptation

Back 135

any heritable behabioral morphological or physical triat of aan organism that has evolved over a period of time by the process of natural selection such that it maintains or increases the fitness of an organism under a given set of environmental conditions.

Front 136

sympatric species

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2 species living together/ similar niches

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allopatric species

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seperated population become different enough that they cannot interbreed

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species cline

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population interbreeding

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david lock

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closely related pairs of birds shag and cormorant. eat diff food. hunt in diff areas

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robert macauthur's warblers

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developed behavioral ecolog. 5 spc of warblers all eat eat spruce budworms. nest in different parts of the tree

Front 141

character displacement

Back 141

shift in niche involving a species morphology behavior or physiology. divergence of phenotypic traits relating to exploitation of a shared and limited resource.

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specific leaf area

Back 142

surface area cm2 to weight

Front 143

shade plants

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produce broader thinner leaves, have lower comp. point, light saturation point and lower max rate of photosynthesis. longer roots and slower growth.

Front 144

c4 photosynthetic pathway

Back 144

has 2 types of photosynthetic cells. uses PEP carboxylase enzyme.
increases efficiency of C02 and RuBP
reaults in higher rate of photosynthesis
chloropasts in mesophyll and bundle sheath
have greater water efficiency but need more energy to produce PEP. usually in tropical grasses and arid shrubs

Front 145

CAM pathway

Back 145

c02 transformed into 4 carbon compounds( like c4 pathway) but happens in mesophyll
inefficient in fixation of c02 (like c3 and c4)
reduces water loss by openining stomata at night. has smaller thicker leaves. found where water is restricted.

Front 146

fertilzation effect

Back 146

higher rates of diffusion and photosynthesis under elevated atmospheric c02 concentrations
c3 most effected

Front 147

guild

Back 147

several species may or many not be related
have similar niche
utilize similar resources
in tropics especially

Front 148

darwin's finches

Back 148

2 species brought by hurricane to galapagos. beak sizes changed to avoid competition.

Front 149

aerenchyma

Back 149

chambers in aquatic plants allow exchanges of gases

Front 150

pneumatophores

Back 150

knees. specialized growths of root systems. mangroves. cypress.

Front 151

halophytes.

Back 151

plants taking in high levels of h20 w salinity

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rubisco

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shade plants produce less increasing chlorophylll and lowering respiration

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Elton

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found animal ecology in 1920s. food chain and eltonian pyramid

Front 154

lindemann and hutchinson

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energy is dissapated up the ecological pyramid. follows laws of thermodynamics

Front 155

Transeau

Back 155

typical ecol efficiency of producers. 2%

Front 156

plant efficiency

Back 156

bright light 8%. dim light 20%. dim light seperate chloropasts- 36%

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c4 photosynthesis

Back 157

best in dry hot osmotically stressed habitats

Front 158

c3 photosynthesis

Back 158

most common. in all trees and algae

Front 159

Lindemann (trophic effeciency)

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composed of consumption, assimilation, and net production efficiencies from 10% (herbivores) to 1% (top predators)

Front 160

ecosystem is driven by 2 energy flows

Back 160

food chain and climate. both interconneted by heat production of food chain in respiration.

Front 161

mass heat transfer

Back 161

determins major zones or climate belts of various combinations of warm, cold, wet dry. moutains can alter.

Front 162

milankovitch orbital cycle

Back 162

describes heating and melting of ice. ice age possible in 1000 years

Front 163

competitive exclusion

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strong competition of 2 species leads to the extinction of one

Front 164

speciation

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allocation of resources in ways that minimize compteition

Front 165

character displacement

Back 165

reinforces differences