2.1- Part 1-3 ECOLOGY Flashcards
Abiotic is ……..
The nonliving part of the environment including water, rocks, light, nutrients, soil, and temperature.
What is climate?
The AVERAGE weather conditions for an environment (usually measured on a yearly or monthly basis).
What is weather?
The DAILY environmental conditions. These can change from day to day or even from hour to hour.
What is biotic?
Living factors of an environment, such as bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals.
What is organic?
Relating to a living organism, a living entity.
What is organism?
A living thing ; anything that can carry out life processes independently.
What is population?
A group of organisms of the same species that live in a specific geographical areas.
Define species.
A group of organisms that are closely related and can mate to produce fertile offspring.
What is a community?
All of the populations of species that live in the same habitat and interact with each other.
What’s an ecosystem?
A community of organisms and their abiotic environment.
What’s a biosphere?
The part of earth where life exists.
What’s biogeography?
Study of the geographic distribution on plants and animals.
What are native (Indigenous) species?
Species that evolved in the defined area.
What are invasive (transplant) species?
Species from another area living in a foreign environment.
Give an example of an accidental transplant.
Zebra Mussels and Fire Ants.
Give an example of a purposeful transplant.
Kudzu
What are biomes?
A large region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain types of plant and animal communities.
Give examples of climate patterns.
Sun, wind, and rain ( patterns).
What are some local effects?
Oceans, mountains, ponds, and lakes.
How do oceans act as local effects?
They act as heat banks. (coastal/island areas generally warmer than interior areas) The water absorbs the sunlight’s energy (so we don’t fry) during the day and releases the energy at night to keep the dark side of the planet warm.
How do mountains act as local effects?
*hint Lima
They create a rain shadow effect. This creates deserts on the
backside. As the winds come off the water, they are heavy with moisture. When those winds run into mountains, the air is forced upward resulting in the moisture getting cooler and condensing resulting in lots of rain on the front side of the mountain. With no moisture left as the winds reach the backside or “shadow side” of the mountain, you get deserts typically. (Look at California and Nevada.)
What does wind increase with?
Altitude.
Where do animals tend to be furrier and plants seem to be smaller?
In high altitudes (where there’s a lot of wind).
Temperatures on average drop 6 degrees Celsius for each _______ meters up altitude.
1000
How do ponds and lakes act as local effects?
Temperature creates layers of differing temperatures within the body of water and this leads to thermoclines and turnover of nutrients.This is ultimately due to seasonal changes in temperature. Ice on the surfaces helps prevent this in winter so that the whole body of water does not freeze and thereby kill all life forms in the body of water.
What are thermoclines?
They are temperature gradients (layers) that occur within a body of
water as water heats or cools.
What are microclimates?
They are small ecosystems/environments, such as under a log or your backyard.
What’s ecology?
The study of the interactions in living organisms with one another and their environment.
What are aquatic biomes responsible for?
They are initially responsible for rainfall and global temperature regulation by absorbing solar energy.
Which biome helps with oxygen production and carbon dioxide consumption due to phytoplankton performing photosynthesis?
Aquatic biomes
What is an environment?
The abiotic and biotic factors that act upon organisms and ultimately determine its form and survival.
How do aquatic biomes help?
They help with oxygen production and carbon dioxide consumption due to phytoplankton performing photosynthesis
How much of Earth is covered by aquatic biomes?
Roughly 75% of the Earth’s surface is covered by aquatic biomes.
What is the upper region with light penetration?
Photic Zone
What are all the zones in marine systems?
Photic Zone Aphotic Zone Benthic Zone Intertidal Zone Coral Reef (optional).
What’s the photic zone?
The Photic Zone is the upper region with light penetration.
What’s the aphotic zone?
Aphotic Zone- This is the lower region with no light penetration.
What’s the benthic zone?
Think oceans
Benthic Zone- This is the bottom on the ocean.
What’s the abyss?
Abyss-the deepest part of the benthic zone; deep sea trenches mostly.
What’s the intertidal zone?
Intertidal Zone-harsh environment due to the constant waves; rich in biodiversity; light is present for photosynthesis.
What’s a coral reef?
Coral Reef-very rich in biodiversity; endangered (now protected); found in warm water climates.
What are 2 regions in fresh water, such as lakes, and ponds?
Littoral Zone
Benthic zone
What is the littoral zone?
Ponds, lakes, etc.
Littoral Zone- shallow water; light is present for photosynthesis.
What’s the benthic zone?
For ponds and lakes
Benthic Zone- bottom area; may or may not receive sunlight.
Name 4 streams and rivers.
Headwaters
Midstream
Estuary
Wetlands
Where are headwaters located?
Headwaters- These are generally located in the mountains.
Where are midstreams located?
Midstream- These are located between the mountains and the coast.
What are estuaries?
Estuary- This is where fresh water meets salt water; very rich in biodiversity.
What are wetlands?
Wetlands- These are lands possessing water and above water plants; they are very rich in biodiversity.
