Biology Ecology Review Flashcards
Net Production (Energy)
Gross Production - Respiration
Simpson Diversity Index
N(N-1)/∑n(n-1) where N = total number of species, n = total number of organism of said species
Lincoln Index
Mark and Release. n1*n2/n3 where n1 = initial count, n2 = second count, n3 = marked individuals in second sample
Biotic Index
BI = ∑(ni*ai)/N where ni = number of individuals in a species, ai = tolerance rating of species, N = total number of individuals collected
Species
group of organisms with similar characteristics which can interpreed and produce fertile offspring.
Habitat
environment in which a species normally lives or the location of a living organism.
Population
Group of Organisms o the same species who live in the same area at the same time.
Community
Group of populations living together and interacting with each other in an area.
Ecosystem
A community and its abiotic environment.
Ecology
Study of relationships in ecosystems, both between organisms, and between organisms and the abiotic environment.
Trophic Level
Level of an organism is its position in the food chain. Energy is lost in heat, undigestible parts, and some die before they can be eaten, so not all energy can be passed on to the next trophic level.
Biomass
Total dry mass of oorganic matter in organisms or ecosystems.
Gross Production
Total amount of organic matter produced by plants in an ecosystem.
Net Production
Amount of gross production in an ecosystem after subtracting the amount used by plants in respiration.
Biomagnification
The process by which chemical substances become more prevalent in individual organisms at each trophic level.
Evolution
Cumulative change in the heritable characteristics of a population.
Autotroph
The producers. Synthesizes its own food from simple inorganic matter.
Heterotroph
The Consumers. Relies on eating other organisms to acquire nutrition.
Detritivores
Organisms that decompose dead organic matter for nutrition.
Saprotrophs
Organisms that use extracellular means to digest food.
Niche
Mode of existence of a species. Includes habitat, nutrition, and relationships.
Fundamental Niche
Potential mode of existence of a species. Possible niche that can be occupied if species adapts to it.
Realized Niche
The actual mode of existence of a species which results in its adaptations and competition from other species.
Competitive Exclusion
When a species is unable to occupy any part of a fundamental niche in an area. It has no realized niche in that area.
Interaction of species in communities
Herbivory, Predation, Parasitism, Competition, Mutualism.
Succession
Changes in an ecosystem caused by complex interaction between organisms and the abiotic environment.
Primary Succession
An environment where living organisms have not previously existed. Soil becomes deeper, binded better, organic matter increases, mineral recycling increases.
Secondary Succession
When a ecosystem is present but is replaced by other ecosystems. Soil becomes deeper, binded better, organic matter increases, mineral recycling increases.
Desert
Low rainfall, warm to very hot days, cold nights, few plants thats store water and grow fast after rain.
Grassland
Low rainfall, warm and hot summers with cold winters. Many grasses and herbs that withstand grazing.
Shrubland (Chaparral)
Cool wet winters and hot dry summers with fires. Drought resistant with shrub domination.
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Moderate rainfall with warm summers and cool winters. Trees that shed leaves in winter and dominate with shrubs and herbs beneath.
Tropical Rainforest
Rainfall very high and hot all year round. Huge plant diversity with tall evergreen trees, smaller trees, and shrubs and herbs.
Tundra
Low temperatures with little precipitation in the form of snow. Small trees with herbs, mosses, and lichens present. Permafrost.
Sigmoid Curve
Exponential, Transitional, Plateau.
What limits plant and animal distribution?
Temperature, water, breeding sites, food supply, territory.
R selected
Unstable environment. Small body size, mature early, reproducing once with all available energy and resources devoted to it, producing many offspring, giving offspring little to no parental care.
K selected
Stable environment. large body size, reproducing at an older age, slower maturation, reproducing many times, few offspring, giving much parental care.
RK Graph
Number of survivors Y. Age X.
Greenhouse Gases
CO2, Oxides of Nitrogen and Sulfur, Methane. You know what they do…
Precautionary Principle
When an action has a large risk that is unproven, the action should not be taken until it is proven otherwise that it is safe.
Richness
of species.
Evenness
more even ratio between number of organisms of different species.
Conserve Rainforests… why?
Economics (commodities, job safety, crops, ecotourism). Ecology (Fix large amounts of CO2, soil erosion, river silting, flooding). Ethical (Sacred ground, species have right to life, future human stuff). Aesthetics (Beautipurrrr)
Indicatory Species
Health of a species is used to determine health of the environment.
Alien Species - Control
Introducing another species to control the population of another. Cane toad.
Alien Species - Deliberate
Cane Toad
Alien Species - Accidental
Zebra Mussel damaging harbors and such
Ozone layer
Ozone absorbs harmful UV radiation. CFC goes to atmosphere and one Cl breaks off and breaks apart Ozone to O2 and ClO.
In Situ Conservation
Conserving a species in its original environment. Environment keeps diversity and species can keep its attributes. Species work with others in the environment
Ex Situ Conservation
Conserving species in new environment. Necessary when it is dangerous to leave species alone in natural habitat and there is no other option. Captive breeding, Botanic gardens, and seed banks are used as methods for Ex Situ.
