Intro To Ecology

Front 1

scope of ecology

Back 1

1. interaction between organisms and their environments determine the distribution and abundance of organisms
2. ecology and evolutionary biology are closely related sciences
3. ecological research ranges from the adaptations of individual organisms to the dynamics of the biosphere
4. ecology provides a scientific context for evaluating environmental issues

Front 2

ecology

Back 2

the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and their environment

Front 3

population

Back 3

a group of individuals of the same species living in a articular geographic area

Front 4

community

Back 4

all of the organisms of all the species tha inhabit a particular area

Front 5

ecosystem

Back 5

all the abiotic factors in addition to the entire community of species that exist in a certain area

Front 6

1. organismal ecology

Back 6

is concerned with the behavioral, physiological, and morphological ways individuals interact with he environment

Front 7

2. population ecology

Back 7

examines factors that affect population size and composition

Front 8

3. community ecology

Back 8

examines interactions between populations, and how factors such as predations, competition, and disease affect community structure and organization

Front 9

4. ecosystem ecology

Back 9

examines the energy flow and cycling of chemicals among the various abiotic and biotic components

Front 10

landscape ecology

Back 10

examines the array of ecosystems and their arrangement in a geographic region

Front 11

landscape or seascape

Back 11

several dif ecosystems linked by exchanges of energy, materials, and organisms
Ex of landscape: North America

Front 12

factors affecting the distribution of organisms

Back 12

1. species dispersal
2. behavior and habitat
3. biotic factors
4.abiotic factors (temp & water)

Front 13

biogeography

Back 13

study of past and present distributions of individual species

Front 14

successful transplant

Back 14

potential range is larger than actual range

Front 15

climate

Back 15

prevailing weather conditions in an area
made up by temp water, light, wind
determines make up of biome

Front 16

seasonal variations

Back 16

caused by the angle of the earth axis (23.5)

Front 17

tropics

Back 17

between 23.5 N & 23.5 S
greatest input and least seasonal variation in solar radiation-initiates global circulation of air

Front 18

marine biomes

Back 18

salt conc of 3% and cover 75% of earths surface

Front 19

photic zone

Back 19

zone through which light penetrates and photosynthesis can occur (fresh and salt)

Front 20

aphotic zone

Back 20

where very little light can penetrate (fresh & salt)

Front 21

thermocline

Back 21

a narrow stratum of rapid temp change (fresh & salt)

Front 22

benthic zone

Back 22

bottom of any aquatic biome and contains detritus, dead organic matter (fresh & salt)

Front 23

littoral zone

Back 23

shallow and close to shore (freshwater)

Front 24

limnetic zone

Back 24

open surface water (freshwater)

Front 25

profundal zone

Back 25

deep, aphotic regions (freshwater)

Front 26

oligotrophic lakes

Back 26

deep, nutrient-poor and do not contain much life

Front 27

eutrophic lakes

Back 27

shallow and have increased nutrients

Front 28

mesotrophic lake

Back 28

moderate amount of nutrients and phytoplankton productivity

Front 29

wetlands

Back 29

areas covered with water that support many types of plants
marshes, bogs, swamps
home to many organisms

Front 30

estuaries

Back 30

areas where freshwater and salt water meet

Front 31

intertidal zone

Back 31

where land meets water (marine)

Front 32

neritic zone

Back 32

shallow regions over the continental shelves (marine)

Front 33

oceanic zone

Back 33

extends past the continental shelves, can be very deep (marine)

Front 34

pelagic zone

Back 34

the open water (marine)

Front 35

benthic zone

Back 35

the seafloor (marine)

Front 36

intertidal zones

Back 36

alternately submerged and exposed by the twice-daily cycle of tides (marine)
can be rocky or sandy
many organisms

Front 37

coral reefs

Back 37

exist in the neritic zone (marine)
many organisms

Front 38

oceanic pelagic biome

Back 38

most of the oceans water
great variety of fish
plankton are producers

Front 39

benthos

Back 39

ocean bottom below the neritic and pelagic zones
lots of nutrients
bacteria, fungi, algae, invertebrates, and fish

Front 40

abyssal zone

Back 40

very deep
dark, cold, and lots of pressure

Front 41

tropical forests

Back 41

close to the equator
lots of rain
variety of plants and animals

Front 42

savannas

Back 42

grasslands with scattered tress, that show distinct seasons, particularly wet and dry
many plants & animals
fire is important abiotic factor

Front 43

desserts

Back 43

low rainfall, hot, sparse vegetation, nocturnal animals

Front 44

chaparrals

Back 44

have mild wet winters and dry hot summers
dense spiny evergreen shrubs

Front 45

temperate grasslands

Back 45

exhibit seasonal drought, occasional fires, used for grazing and agriculture

Front 46

temperate deciduous forests

Back 46

dense strands of trees
very cold winters and hot summers
large variety of plants and animals

Front 47

coniferous forests

Back 47

largest terrestrial biome on earth
long cold winters and short wet summers

Front 48

tundra

Back 48

low growing plants
windy and cold (short growing season)
permanent layer of permafrost below 1meter
arctic-in Alaska & arctic circle
alpine-very high mountaintops