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67 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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the study of interactions between organisms at varying levels
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ecology
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individual
population community ecosystem |
the levels in which ecology is studied
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concern for resources, pollution, impacts
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environmentalism
-modern trends 1970's -Rachael Carson (Silent Spring) |
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group of individuals of same species living in the same area at the same time
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population
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reasons for change in population
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1. growth (death/birth, immigration/emigration)
2. density 3. dispersal patterns |
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number of individuals/ square unit
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density
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population growth
J shaped curve only ideal conditions never lasts long in nature |
Exponential Growth
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population growth
S shaped curve realistic Carrying Capacity (K) population growth that is gradually reduced as the pop. nears the carrying capacity |
Logistic Growth
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reduction in food supply
diminished accessibility increase in parasites and diseases increase in predator risk |
density DEPENDENT factors
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weather related
geologic processes habitat destruction #1 in animal pop. decline and loss |
density INDEPENDENT factors
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when is a population growing at it's fastest rate?
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when it's halfway to it's carrying capacity
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reproduction vs. longevity
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-salmon have a reproduction bang then die shortly after
-trees grow faster when they produce less seeds -lizards can make large number of small sized eggs (small survival rate) or a smaller number of bigger eggs (with better survival rates) |
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clumped
uniform random |
patterns of dispersal
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how many people are added to the world population each year
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80 million
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the estimated world carrying capacity
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7-11 billion
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all LIVING organisms in one location
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community
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what makes for a healthy community?
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diversity
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what usually reduces species diversity?
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human impacts
introduced species |
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not native
usually no or few predators or control global travel has increased movement of species costly to rectify |
introduced species
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competition
predation symbiosis |
interactions BETWEEN speices
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the position of a species in the ecosystem
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ecological niche
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-space organism requires
-type and amount of food needed - timing of reproduction -necessary living conditions |
niche
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one species within the niche utilizes resources more efficiently, driving the other species to extinction
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competitive exclusion principle
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promotes a healthy prey population
helps to maintain species diversity keystone species (starfish) |
predation
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important part of conservation biology, can promote species diversity
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keystone species
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speed and agility
camouflage tools/weapons intelligence |
predator adaptions
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physical defense
hiding camouflage warning coloration chemical/mechanical defenses fighting back |
prey adaptions
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spines and thorns
chemical warfare -toxic -distasteful -causes abnormal development |
plant adaptions against herbivores
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plant and animal associations for protection and survival
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symbiosis
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everyone wins
flowers and pollinators |
mutualism
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one wins, one unaffected
cattle egret on cattle |
commensalism
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winner and loser
tick on a dog |
parasitism
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based on climax vegetation
based on salinity/depth predictable landscapes ultimately it's the climate |
biomes
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along the equator
high precipitation por soil warm temperatures throughout a year |
tropical rain forest
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dry and hot
sparse plant life adaptations for retaining water |
desert
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temperate grassland
excellent soils extreme seasonal temperatures fires and winds |
temperate grasslands
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dominant trees (oak/hickory)
lose leaves during winter most plants-broad leaves |
temperate deciduous forest
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northern latitudes
needled trees cold, dry climates |
coniferous forest
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permafrost
bitterly cold temperatures wind fragile |
tundra
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aquatic communities are dependent on (2)
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depth
distance from shore |
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where sunlight penetrates
most organisms must live here |
photic zone of aquatic communities
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bottom dwellers
eat detritus (dead organic material) |
benthic zone of aquatic communities
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wetlands
-shallow -filters -nutrients |
freshwater
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still water in basins
trapped pollution natural and artificial |
lakes and ponds
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moving water
cleanses pollution plants and animals have to adapt to motion |
streams and rivers
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estuaries=salt marsh
coastal areas |
brackish waters
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many invertebrate animals
algae, but no plants zones |
saltwater
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3 regions of oceans
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coastal-home to most ocean organisms
open oceans-low productivity coral reefs- most fragile, most biodiverse |
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distribution of solar energy
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sun shines more directly on earth's equator leading to warmer temperatures at lower altitudes
-uneven solar energy distribution -creates seasons |
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energy flow within an ecosystem
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Primary Producers
Primary Consumers Secondary Consumers Tertiary Consumers |
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plants convert light energy from the sun into food through photosynthesis
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primary producers
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herbivores are animals that eat plants
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primary consumers
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carnivores are animals that eat herbivores
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secondary consumers
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top carnivores are animals that eat other carnivores
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tertiary consumers
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break down organic waste, releasing chemical components that can be reused by plants and other primary producers
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detrivores and decomposers
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added toxic chemicals to food chains (DDT, mercury)
bioaccumulation biomagnification better monitoring of added chemicals |
human impact on energy flow
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increased burning
-increased carbon dioxide in atmosphere disapperance of large tracts of forest change in water cycle |
human impacts
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increase in nutrients in an ecosystem
-causes bloom of algae -reduces oxygen in water -massive die off of animal life |
eutrophication
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what makes for a healthy ecosystem
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biodiversity
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how many species are described in the book
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1.75 million
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how many species are at risk
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10,000
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where is the most biodiversity
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equator
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nearly 7000 species possible
50% of global food demands in Grass family wheat corn rice |
species: sources for agriculture
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25% of US Pharmaceuticals have plant origins
non habit forming pain relievers from a frog blood thinner from pit viper |
species: sources of medicine
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logging (make a tree plant a tree)
pet trade ecotourism (preserving forest will bring in more tourism) |
species: commercial
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sport fishing, hunting, hiking, bird watching
National Symbol, National Parks |
species: recreational aesthetic, symbolic
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awe and fascination
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species: naturalistic
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