Biology Sat II Ecology Flashcards
Atmosphere
All the air between the surface of the air and outer space
Biosphere
Portion of atmosphere where life can survive
Ecosystem
All the living and non-living things in a given area (Everything in a given area)
Biome
A major region with distinct flora and fauna
Flora
Plant Life
Fauna
Animal Life
Biomes
- Tundra 2. Taiga 3. Dissiduous Forest 4. Prairie 5. Savannah 6. Chaparral 7. Tropical Rainforest 8. Desert
Tundra
Characterized by dry, cold, and having a layer of soil that is permanently frozen that prevents large plants from growing (Alaska). The border of where things can live and where things can’t live.
Taiga
(Borreal Forest) Forest characterized by having cold winters and evergreen trees
Evergreen Trees
Never lose their leaves during winter (Pine trees)
Dissiduous Forest
Forest where trees do lose their leaves. Like the adirondacks.
Prairie
Dry regions with tall grasses, usually flat land.
Savannah
Generally dry. Has one rainy season. Has few trees that are spread apart.
Chaparral
Hot and dry. Similar to Savannah. Has wet winters. Characterized by frequent wild fires and draught resistent vegitation. Different regions of africa.
Tropical Rainforest
Hot and wet. More diversity of life in tropical rainforest than in any other place combined. The soil is very nutrient poor, even though there is a lot of vegetation. Nutrition comes from dead organisms that form a layer above the soil.
Desert
Dry and hot. Large difference in temperature between day and night. Little rain.
Community
All the living things in a given area.
Climax Community
Community where the proportions of each species is in equilibrium
Population
All the members of a given species living in a given area
Society
Population that has division of labor among its members. (Ants, humans, bees)
Species
All the organisms that can mate with each other and produce fertile offspring
Cline
The variability in traits of members of one species living at different latitudes. (White and black skinned humans because they were born at different latitudes.)
Trophic Levels
Classifications of different organisms based on how they obtain nutrition.
Producers/Autotrophs
Produce their own nutrition. (Seafloor plants and photosynthetic plants.)
Consumers/Heterotrophs
Must ingest other organisms in order to survive. (Humans)
Primary Consumer
Organism that feeds on producers. (Herbivore)
Types of Consumers/Heterotrophs:
- Primary Consumer 2. Secondary Consumer
Secondary Consumer
Organism that feeds on primary consumers.
Tertiary Consumers
Organism that feeds on secondary consumers. (Carnivore)
Omnivores
Feed on plants and animals
Decomposers
Feed on dead, organic matter. They cause decay. (Bacteria that ruin apples, Maggets that eat dead animals)
Biomass
The mass of all the organisms in a given sample
Relationships Between Organisms
- Predator-prey relationships 2. Competitors 3. Symbiosis
Three types of symbiosis
- Mutualism 2. Commensalism
Mutualism
Two species both benefit. (Little fish that eats bacteria off of big fish).
Commensalism
One species benefits and other species is unaffected
Parastism
One species is benefited while other species is harmed. (Different from predation because parasitism is living on/in organism.) (Tapeworm eating its host’s food)
Notable Symbiosis
- Lichen 2. Legumes
Lichen
Mutualistic Association of algae and fungi. Algae does photosynthesis while fungi does respiration.
Legumes
Mutualistic Association between plants and nitrifying bacteria. Life within the roots of the plants.
