APES Unit 3 Flashcards
adaptation
genetic diversity
genetic variation among individuals in a population
biodiversity
the variety of life on earth
species diversity
the number of species in a region or habitat (in a community or ecosystem)
habitat university
the variety of habitats that exist within a given region
generalist species
can live under a wide range of biotic/abiotic conditions
(ex: raccoons, crows)
specialist species
live under a very narrow range of conditions or feed on one or a very small group of species
(ex: orcas, sharks)
environmental stress
refers to aspects of an animal’s surroundings that increase mental or emotional strain in their lives
types of environmental stressors:
- physical (natural disasters, pollution, thermal stress, radiation)
- Biological (predation, competition)
- climatic (light, temperature)
species richness
number of total species
species evenness
abundance of individuals within each species
intrinsic value
moral/spiritual/philosophical value
(ecosystems have their own value independent from the needs and desires of humans)
Instrumental value
has worth in terms of goods and services
(CriSP)
Provisioning ecosystem service
goods that humans use directly (lumber, food crops, rubber, fur, etc.)
regulating ecosystem service
nutrient + water cycles
support ecosystem service
pollination, water filtration, natural pest control
cultural ecosystem service
tourism, real estate, recreation
island biogeography
the study of the ecological relationships and distribution of organisms on islands, and of these organisms’ community structures
resilience
ability and rate of an ecosystem to remover to its pre disturbed state
limiting factors
the environmental factor that is most often in short supply; most likely to regulate population growth
range of tolerance
populations thrive within certain ranges of abiotic factors (pH, temperature, etc.)
intermediate disturbance hypothesis
resistance
adaption
any behavioral or physical characteristic that increases fitness
fitness
differential ability to survive and reproduce
theory of natural selection
was developed by Charles Darwin and the first presented in his book ‘origin of species’ published in 1859
1. there is a struggle for existence among organisms
2. physical and behavioral variation in living organisms
3. “survival of the fittest”
common descent/ descent with modification
- genes mutate
- individuals survive and reproduce
- populations evolve
keystone species
have a larger impact on the community, if removed, than other species
Colony Collapse Disorder
phenomenon that occurs when the majority of worker bees in a colony disappear and leave behind a queen, plenty of food, and a few nurse bees to care for the remaining immature bees
indicator species
give early warning signs of damage or danger to a community
ecological succession
-natural, gradual changes in the types of species that live in an area; can be primary or secondary
primary succession
happens in a place without soil; starts with the arrival of airborne pioneer that do not need soil to survive
secondary succession
already has soil; was once the home of living things; occurs faster and has different pioneer species than primary succession
climax community
a stable group of plants and animals that is the end of the succession process
adaptive trait
an aspect of the developmental pattern which facilitates the survival and/or reproduction of its carrier in a certain succession of environments.
anthropogenic
originating in human activity.
episodic
occurring occasionally
bottleneck effect
a drastic and sudden reduction in the size of a population leads to a change in the gene pool
evolution
change in the genetic makeup of a population of a species in successive generations
disruption
event caused by biological, physical, or chemical changes which leads to change in an ecosystem’s population size or community composition
ecosystem
location on Earth with interacting biotic and abiotic components
ecosystem services
Processes by which natural ecosystems produce needed resources for humans
migration
movement from one place to another
pioneer species
first species to populate an area during primary succession
