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ESS Notes > 2 > Flashcards

2 Flashcards

1
Q

Species

A

A group of organisms that share similar characteristics and are capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring.

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2
Q

Population

A

A group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time.

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3
Q

Habitat

A

The environment which a species normally lives in.

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4
Q

Abiotic Factors

A

The non-living physical factors which influence the organisms and ecosystems. Temperature, salinity, mineral content, dissolved oxygen, availability of freshwater.

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5
Q

Biotic Factors

A

The different species in an ecosystem and the interactions between them.

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6
Q

Niche

A

The particular set of abiotic factors and biotic conditions and resources to which an organism or population responds.

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7
Q

Fundamental VS Realised Niche

A

Fundamental - where and how an organism COULD live (due to Abiotic factors).
Realised - Where and organism DOES live (due to biotic factors).

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8
Q

Competition

A

Organisms competing for resources.

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9
Q

Intraspecific Competition

A

Competition between members of the same species.

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10
Q

Interspecific Competition

A

Competition between members of different species.

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11
Q

Parasitism

A

An organism, the parasite, benefits off a host who suffers. A Tick.

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12
Q

Mutualism

A

Two species interact and both benefit.

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13
Q

Disease

A

Causes sickness. Caused by pathogens, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and single celled animals (protozoa).

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14
Q

Predation

A

When animal, or plant, eats another.

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15
Q

Commensalism

A

One species benefits and the other neither benefits nor suffers.

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16
Q

Herbivory

A

Organism feeds on plant matter.

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17
Q

Carrying Capacity

A

The maximum number of a species that can be sustainably supported by the environment.

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18
Q

Limiting Factors

A

Restrict the growth of a population or prevent it from increasing. Factors which slow down growth of a population as it reaches its carrying capacity.

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19
Q

Community

A

A group of populations living an interacting with each other in a common habitat.

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20
Q

Ecosystem

A

A community and the physical environment it interacts with.

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21
Q

Respiration

A

The process of breaking down food to get energy in order to complete living processes.

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22
Q

Photosynthesis

A

The process by which green plants make their own food from water and CO2 using energy from the sun.

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23
Q

Compensation Point

A

The point at which a plant is neither using energy to increase in biomass or using it to stay alive.

24
Q

Food Chain

A

The flow of energy from one organism to the next, showing the feeding relationships between species in an ecosystem.

25
Q

Trophic Level

A

The position that an organism or community of organisms occupy in food chains.

26
Q

Producers

A

Autotrophs and Chemosynthetic Organisms - make their own enegry.

27
Q

Consumers

A

Heterotrophs - get energy from feeding on autotrophs.

28
Q

Decomposers

A

Obtain energy from dead organisms

29
Q

Detritivores

A

Obtain energy from detritus or decomposing organic material

30
Q

Omnivores

A

Eats both plants and animals.

31
Q

Food Web

A

Shows the complex nature of the feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem.

32
Q

Productivity

A

The conversion of energy into biomass over a given time period. Mass per unit volume per unit time. Kg V^-1 Years^-1

33
Q

GP

A

The total gain in energy or biomass per unit time.

34
Q

NP

A

The gain in energy or biomass per unit time after deductions.

35
Q

NPP

A

NPP=GGP-R

36
Q

GSP

A

GSP=Food Eaten-Fecal Losses

37
Q

NSP

A

NSP=GSP-R

38
Q

Biome

A

A collection of ecosystems that share similar climatic conditions.

39
Q

Climate Change Effects on Biomes

A

Biomes move more north/south. Fauna on mountainous are stuck.

40
Q

Tricellular Model

A

Hadley then Ferrel then Polar Cells. LP at equator, 0 degrees, between Hadley cells. High P. HP at 30 degrees, between Hadley and Ferrel cells, P is low. Low pressure at 60 degrees, between Ferrel and Polar cells, P is high.

41
Q

Zonation

A

The change in a community along an environmental gradient due to factors such as changes in altitude, latitude, tidal level or distance from shore/coverage by water.

42
Q

Primary Succession

A

No ecological resources available to trigger the process of succession. No organic matter and no soil.

43
Q

Secondary Succession

A

Any form of ecological resources are present to start the process of succession. Bacteria, seeds, moss, lichen.

44
Q

Stages of Succession

A

Bare surface. Colonisation (organic matter bought to area of land). Establishment (Species diversity and soils develop). Competition (K-strategists begin to outcompete R-strategists). Stabilisation (Environment establishes itself, complex food webs, narrow niched, few new species). Climax community (Stable and self-perpetuating. Species diversity decreases). CECSC.

45
Q

R-Strategists

A

Species which:
-Spread reproductive investments over large numbers of offspring
-Short life-spans
-Early maturity
-Little parental care
-Pioneers, colonisers
-Lower trophic level

46
Q

K-Strategists

A

Species which:
-Concentrate reproductive investments over few offspring
-Long life-spans
-Late maturity
-High parental care
-Later stages of succession
-Higher trophic level

47
Q

Disturbance

A

A change in environmental conditions cause change in an ecosystem, leaving space for new species to develop.

48
Q

Arrested Succession

A

Succession stopped/paused in a stage due to a change in an abiotic or biotic factor, soil conditions or overgrazing. Succession will continue once the limiting factor is removed.

49
Q

Deflected Succession

A

A disturbance may cause a community to be moved to a different stage of succession. This leads to a plagioclimax community, pasture, farmland. Once the disturbance stops, succession can continue.

50
Q

P to E Ratio

A

> 1, leaching in soil. =1, soils are rich and fertile. <1, salinisation of soil.

51
Q

Population Dynamics

A

The study of the factors that cause changes to population sizes.

52
Q

What is the trophic efficiency (how much energy is passed on between trophic levels)?

A

10%

53
Q

Assimilation Efficiency

A

GP*100/Food Eaten

54
Q

Efficiency of Biomass of Productivity

A

NP*100/GP

55
Q

Factors Which Affect Biome Distribution

A

Latitude and Altitude (I and T). Ocean currents and Winds. P/E Ratio. Productivity.

ESS Notes (11 decks)

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