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115 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
What is ecology?
Study how organisms interact with the natural world
What does ecology focus on?
Distribution and abundance or organisms, the prediction where organisms occur and their population size.
What does the biosphere level involve?
Global processes. Encompasses all the organisms and environments on Earth.
What does the ecosystem level involve?
Energy flux and cycling of nutrients
What does the community level involve?
Interaction among populations
What does the population level involve?
Population dynamics: Units of evolution
What does the organismal level involve?
Reproduction and survival: Unit of natural selection
What is the fundamental unit of ecology?
The organism.
What is the organismal approach?
How do form, physiology and behavior lead to survival? Focusing on adaptations.
What are the 3 factors for traits to be naturally selected?
Must be: Inheritable, variable, and increase fitness
What defines a population?
Many organisms of the same kind living together.
What are the properties in a population that are not used to define an organism?
Geographic boundaries, density (# of individuals per area,) and variation in size of # of individuals per population.
What is the population approach?
What determines the number of individuals and their variations in time and space. Birth, Death, Immigration and Emigration.
What defines a community?
Many populations of different kinds of organisms living together. They have no rigid boundaries and are interconnected across the globe.
What is the community approach?
How can we account for the activities of populations in the common “currencies” of energy and materials. How these are influenced by organisms, climate and other physical factors.
What is phylogeny?
Phylogeny: Tree of ancestral origin
What is the most primitive life on earth?
Archaebacteria
What role do bacteria play in the environment?
Biochemical specialists, unique transformations helpful to other organisms
-Nitrogen fixation
-Chemoautotrophs (archaebacteria)
– obtain nutrients from inorganic compounds
-Metabolism under anaerobic conditions
What are bacteria made of?
Simple, single-celled, no nucleus, linear DNA.
What are protists made of?
Eukaryotes, true nucleus, highly diverse, single celled, colonial, multicellular
What roles do protists play int he environment?
-Photosynthesis: Algae
-Grazers and predators: Protozoa
-Decomposers: Slime molds
What roles do fungi play in the environment?
Penetrate dead material effectively. Make nutrients available for other organisms. Digest externally, excrete acid and enzymes onto surface
What roles do plants play in the environment?
Capture energy of sunlight and transform it into chemical form. Source of nutrients for other organisms. Produce oxygen
-Use external surfaces for absorbing light, exchanging gases, water, and nutrients. Stay closely attached to their source of water
What defines a habitat?
Place or physical setting in which on organism lives. Characterized by conspicuous physical features
What is a niche?
Functional role in the ecosystem/habitat
What is the Competitive exclusion principle?
No 2 species has the same niche. Each has a distinctive form and function and none can live under all conditions.
Life is bound by the physical world by what 3 essential needs?
1. Water: Medium for life processes

2. Chemical Nutrients: Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon, etc.

3. Energy: Drive life processes (sunlight)
What are the thermal properties of water?
-Liquid over a broad range of temperatures
-Resists temperature change
-Resists changes in state
-Conducts heat rapidly, heat is dispersed
**Most substances become denser as they cool
-Water becomes denser until 4 degrees C and then it expands/becomes less dense.
-Ice is 80% as dense as liquid water
-Bottoms of lakes and oceans prevented from freezing, only the top layer will
-Ice insulates/protects water below and creatures in it
What is more dense, water or air?
Density of water is 800x that of air
What modifications have aquatic animals acquired to live in water?
Reduction or elimination of hard skeletal components, swim bladders and heavier bones. Stream line bodies for better movement.
What is the basic chemistry of water?
Has positive and negative charge, so attracted to almost everything. Can dissolve all substances to some extent in water
What are the major nutrients required by organisms?
Nitrogen, Sulfur, Phosphorous, Calcium, Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Iron
What is the purpose of nitrogen?
Structural component of proteins and nucleic acids
What is the purpose of sulfur?
Structural component of many proteins
What is the purpose of phosphorous?
Structural component of nucleic acid and bone
What is the purpose of potassium?
Major solute in animal cells
What is the purpose of calcium?
Structural component in bones and woody plants
What is the purpose of magnesium?
Structural component in chlorophyll
What is the purpose of Iron?
Structural component in hemoglobin
What is the purpose of Sodium?
Major solute in extra cellular fluid in animals
What components make up salt water?
Rich in Na+, Cl-, Mg 2+, SO42- , Ca2++
Describe hydrogen atoms.
-Extremely reactant, bind to most other things
-Affect activity of enzymes
-Makes solutions acidic (H+), negative effects on life processes
-Plays a big role in dissolving minerals from rock and soil
-Measured using pH
What is pH?
Concentration of H+
Where do heterotrophs get energy from?
Consumes organic material (biological material)
Where do autotrophs get energy from?
Energy from inorganic sources and can store it for later
Where do photoautotrophs get their energy from?
Sunlight/photosynthesis - Ex: Plants
Where do Chemoautotrophs get their energy from?
Inorganic compounds like Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) and Ammonia (NH4+)
What is the range for visible light and photosynthesis?
400-700 nm
Where do UV light fall on the spectrum?
Shorter wavelength than visible light. More energy, can damage cells and cause cancer
Where do Infrared light fall on the spectrum?
Longer wavelengths than visible light and use less energy.
Explain the green house effect.
.All objects, including earth’s surface emit IR radiation. The atmosphere is transparent to visible light which warms surface of earth. IR light emitted by Earth is absorbed in part of the atmosphere. Substances like CO2 and CH4 (methane) increase the absorption capacity of the atmosphere so that less is vented into space
What is a heat budget?
The way heat is lost and gained by organisms
What are the 4 types of heat transfer in a thermal environment?
Radiation, conduction, convection and evaporation.
What is radiation?
Absorption or emission of electromagnetic energy (waves)
What is conduction?
Transfer of energy to and from objects in direct contact with one another
What is convection?
Transfer of heat by movement of liquids and gases
What is evaporation?
Heat loss as water is evaporated from an organisms surface
What is the heat tolerance for eukaryotes?
45 degree C.
What damage can higher temperatures do to eukaryotes?
-Denature proteins
-Accelerate chemical processes
-Affect properties of lipids (can become liquid when hot or solid when cold!)
How do organisms adapt to living in freezing temperatures?
-Maintain internal temperature and metabolic processes (like people). Resist freezing by using glycerol and glycol proteins (anti-freeze proteins). Lower freezing point of tissues, some reptiles can go -8C and some insects -18C
What is water potential?
How hard is it to extract water from the soil
How does surface area affect water potential?
Soils with greater surface area can hold more water.
What is the wilting point?
At -15 ATM it's the lowest value at which most plants can extract water from soil
How is water potential measured?
In units of pressure, always negative in the soil. Soil attracts water from pure solution. 0.1 ATM (amount of water that soil can hold against gravity)
How does water get into plant roots?
Water potential in cells of root hairs is more negative than in soil, wants to reach equilibrium.
What is osmotic potential?
Attraction of water to an aqueous solution owing to its concentration of ions (solutes) and other small particles (molecules).
Why can't Solutes exit root cells as readily as water?
1. Internal/External concentrations would equilibrate/osmotic gradient would disappear
2. Cell membranes are selectively leaky (semi permeable)
What is the Tension Cohesion Theory?
Phenomenon driving the flow of water in the xylem tissues of large plants
What kind of plants use the Calvin Bensin cycle?
C3 Photosynthesis plants, flowering plants.
What must a C3 plant do to survive?
- Have to leave stomates open longer to get enough CO2, but looses water.
-Have to live in moist/cool habitat: Flowering plants.
-Uses little energy.
What kind of plants use C4 photo synthesis?
plants in an arid environment: Corn, sorghum, sugar cane
How does C4 Photosynthesis differ from C3 photo synthesis?
C3: -6 CO2 + 6H2O + photons -> C6H12O6 + 6O2 (Calvin-Bensen cycle)

C4: CO2 (1 carbon) + PEP (3 carbon) -> OAA (4 carbons)
Use different enzyme: PEP carboxylase. High affinity for CO2, binds very well.
1. Allows COS to reach high concentrations within cells
2. PEP carboxylase allows stomates to remain closed longer.
3. Uses more energy.
How does CAM work?
-It's a modification of C4
-CO2 is acquired at night and stored
-Calvin-Bensen cycle during the day
-Cacti, succulents, pineapples
-Less of the leaves are used, less efficient
What are some plant adaptations for arid environments?
1. Increase surface area (heat dissipation)
2. Increase reflectivity/boundary layer effect with spines (reduce transpiration)
3. Protect surfaces with waxy cuticle
4. Recess stomates in pits
What is Hyperosmotic?
More salt in the fish than in the water surrounding the fish (fish in freshwater)
What is Hypoosmitic?
More salt in the water than in the fish (fish in salt water).
How do Hyperosmotic fish regulate their water content?
(There is more salt in the fish than the water)
-Gained water by osmosis
-Eliminate excess water in their urine
-Kidneys selectively retain dissolved ions
-Active uptake of ions through the gills
How do Hypoosmitic fish regular their water content?
-Saltwater fish must retain water and excrete excess ions
-Drink water to replace amount they lose through osmosis
-Excrete salts from gills and kidneys
-Some fish (sharks and rays) can raise osmotic potential of blood by retaining waste nitrogen in the form of urea (not ammonia like other fish)
-High osmotic potential matches the ocean
-Organisms maintain a constant internal environment
What is Homeostasis?
Organisms ability to maintain constant internal environment in the face of changing external environment.
All homeostatic systems employ negative feedback
What is a homeotherm?
Maintains a relatively constant internal temperature by generating heat metabolically (mammals)
-Can be highly active across a wide range of temperatures
What is a Poikilotherm?
Conform to external temperatures (reptiles)
-Can only be active near a narrow temperature range
Explain BAG/SAC?
-Bergmann’s Rule: Size- Increases with increase distance from equator
-Allen’s Rule: Appendage - warmer environments, things have longer appendages
-Gloyer’s Rule: Coloration – Humid environments have darker coloration
What is the most important element in environmental variation?
Climate! Shapes the distribution of organisms and adaptations these organisms have
What is predicable climate?
-Global patters primarily related to latitudinal distribution of solar energy
-Regional patterns: Shapes and positions of ocean basins, continents and mountain ranges
What is unpredictable climate?
Extent or location of stochastic (random) pertubances
-Hurricanes and Tornadoes
Why does temperature and precipitation decrease at high latitudes?
-Solar beams are spread over a greater area
-Solar beams travel a longer path through the atmosphere (more will be reflected off atmosphere)
What does the earth's rotational tilt result in?
-Seasonal variation (solar heating)
-Increase in seasonal variation from equator poleward
-Most pronounced in Northern Hemisphere
Where is the Tropic of Cancer?
23.5 N
Where is the Tropic of Capricorn?
23.5 S
What do Hadley Cells do?
Constitute principle patterns of atmospheric circulation
Explain how Hadley Cells work.
Warm moist air rising in the tropics spread north and south
-As air rises, it cools, then sinks at about 30 N and S of equator, doesn’t hold much water. Returns to surface.
-Cool descending air/warm near 30 N and S. Its capacity to hold water will increase
-Creates arid/dry environment at 30 N and S
What is Intertropical Convergence?
Surface currents of air in tropical Hadley cells converge near the equator.
What are the 3 types of Hadley Cells?
Tropical (30 N&S), Ferrel (Temperate, 30-60 N&S), Polar (60-90 N&S)
What are the normal conditions of ocean temperatures and upwelling?
Cold upwelling in the East and warm pooled water in the West. High pressure in the East.
How does El Nino work?
Pool of warm water starts to push East towards South America. Now we have low pressure in the East. No more cold upwelling. Weaker trade winds and upwelling. Increased precipitation over the equator, western coast of S. America, SE United States.
How does La Nina work?
Cold pool of water pushes West. Exaggerated form of “normal” conditions. Opposite of El Nino. Stronger trade winds blowing to the west and push cold water to the west. Stronger upwelling. Dry in S. America and SE United States
What are areas intercontinental typically drier?
Distant from sources of moisture (ocean), masses reaching these areas are likely to have previously lost moisture.
What are the 3 types of Hadley Cells?
Tropical (30 N&S), Ferrel (Temperate, 30-60 N&S), Polar (60-90 N&S)
What is rain shadow?
Dry area on the mountainside facing away from the direction of the wind
What are the normal conditions of ocean temperatures and upwelling?
Cold upwelling in the East and warm pooled water in the West. High pressure in the East.
What is the climate like on the westward side of a mountain?
Very moist and much cooler, lots of vegetation and pools of water.
How does El Nino work?
Pool of warm water starts to push East towards South America. Now we have low pressure in the East. No more cold upwelling. Weaker trade winds and upwelling. Increased precipitation over the equator, western coast of S. America, SE United States.
How does La Nina work?
Cold pool of water pushes West. Exaggerated form of “normal” conditions. Opposite of El Nino. Stronger trade winds blowing to the west and push cold water to the west. Stronger upwelling. Dry in S. America and SE United States
What is the climate like on the leeward side of a mountain?
Much warmer and drier. Almost desert-like.
What roles do ocean currents play?
Redistribute heat and moisture
Why are areas intercontinental typically drier?
Distant from sources of moisture (ocean), masses reaching these areas are likely to have previously lost moisture.
What direction do currents rotate in the N hemisphere?
Clockwise
What is rain shadow?
The dry area on the mountainside facing away from the direction of the wind
What is the climate like on the westward side of a mountain?
Very moist and much cooler, lots of vegetation and pools of water.
What is the climate like on the leeward side of a mountain?
Much warmer and drier. Almost desert-like.
What roles do ocean currents play?
Redistribute heat and moisture
What direction do currents rotate in the N hemisphere?
Clockwise
What direction do the currents flow in the S hemisphere?
Counter clock wise
Explain the currents in the N hemisphere.
Warm water is pulled to western sides and cool water is pushed to eastern sides. Flows clockwise.
Explain the currents in the S hemisphere.
Warm water is pulled to Eastern sides and cool water is pushed to Western sides. Flows counter clockwise.