C4 interaction and interdependence of ecosystems Flashcards
population
interacting groups of organisms of the same species living in an area that can successfully interbreed
population size
the number of individuals of the same species living in that area at that time
random sampling
when the zone/area that a sample is taken from is chosen without using a predictive pattern
sampling error
the difference between the estimated population size from the random sample and the population size in actuality
quadrat sampling
used for random samples of sessile immobile organisms, all organisms completely within the quadrat are counted
standard deviation
what does it tell us?
if the standard deviation is small then the data set was not very spread out
if the standard deviation is large then the data set was very spread out
why would you use the capture mark release recapture method of sampling
when animals are mobile and can leave the quadrat, if most of the recaptured organisms are marked then the population is small
what is the lincoln index used for
to estimate the size of a population, can be used with the capture recapture method
carrying capacity
the maximum number of organisms that an environnment can consistently meet the needs of
limiting factor
any aspect or event in a habitat that prevents a population from continuing to grow larger as it is in finita availiability but needed by many individuals
density dependant factor
factors that have increasing effectws as the population becomes larger, they are the basis for negative feedback mechanisms
density independent factor
factors that have the same effect on organisms regardless fo the population size
factors of an exponential growth curve
- positive feedback scenario
- both the size and rate of growth continually increase due to abundant resources
- impacted by density independant factors e.g natural disaster or climate change
factors of a sigmond growth curve
- has aan exponential, transotional and plateau phase
- population grows rapidly unitl it stabalises at the carrying capacity due to limited resources
- impacted by both density dependant and independant factors
hebivory
an interspecific relationship that incolves a primary consumer feeding on preducers
(interspecific)
predation
interspecific relaionship where one consumer species kills and eats another
(interspecific)
mutualism
a type of symbiotic relationship where thwo species both benefit from the interaction
(interspecific)
parasitism
a symbiotic relationship where the parasite species benefits to the detriment of the host
(interspecific)
pathenogenicity
where one organism causes a disease to antother (not symbiotic as it’s not an ongoing relationship)
(interspecific)
endemic species
a species naturally found in that area (population size is maintained by density dependent factors)
invasive species
species that sucessfully survive in a non-native environment and do not have a natural predaotor there
cooperation
behaviors that benefits all members and is seen in more complex social animals e.g. huddling for warmth
(intraspecific relaitonship)
competition
when species or individuals live in the same niche and compete for limited resources. Either some die or competitive exclusion principle and niche partitioning occurs
(interpecific and intraspecific relationship)
rhizobium bacteria grow in nidules in plant roots
examples of mutualsim
bacteria - sugar from plant photosynthesising and shelter/protection form consumers on roots
plant - bacteria take nitrogen form atmosphere and fix it into ammonium and nitrates that plants can use (usable nitrogen for proteins)
mycorrhizae fungi growing on (orchid) roots
example of mutualism
fungi - sugar from plant photosynthesising
orchid - fungi help to absorbe nitrogen and phosphorus, help obsorbe carbon compounds and helps unptake of water into plant
zooxanthellae and coral
example of mutualism
algae - get a home, protection from pradators, co2 source from coral, coral grows closer to sea surface therefor close to light aids photosynthesis
coral - sugar from algae photosynthesis
what is considerred a positive association between two species
when they are bothin a quadrat or neither in a quadrat
what is considerred a competitive association between two species
when they are found in seperate quadrats
antibiotics
a secondary metabolite and example of allelopathy were one organism releases a chemical that negatively impacts another (kill/inhibit growth of nearby bacteria)
allelopathy
the release of chemicals into the environment that imapacts another organsim often negatively, providiin a competitive advantage (kill other plants)
primary metabolite
a metabolite essential to the basic function of life and often shared by many organisms
secondary metabolite
only made by certain organisms and not essential to life but often help organisms ger food or avoid predation (usually released into the environment)
first law of thermodynamics
states that energy can be neither created nor destroyed
second law of thermodynamics
states that when energy transfers forms it often transforms to a less usable form like heat energy
producer
organisms that convert water and carbon dioxide into sugars by using solar energy
consumer
organisms that kill and ingest other living organisms to obtain carbon compounds and therfor energy
decomposers
organisms that release enzymes to break down unconsumed parts of other organisms to get energy, return compounds to the soil to help future plants and prevent buildup of unsused matter
trophic levels
indicate howmmany organisms in an ecosystem energy has flown through
assimilation
the process of digesting food containing carbon based compounds and then using the components to build things for the body (post digestion use of nutrients)
open system
a system where energy can enter as solar energy and leave as heat but matter can also eneter and leave in an open system
closed system
energy enters as solar energy and leaves as heat energy only, all matter in the system us recycled
pohtoautotrophs
use light energy, water and co2 to make glucose
chemoautotrophs
use co2 and inorganic compounds e.g. sulfur and iron to make glucose, they use energy from oxidising chemicals to synthesise glucose
heterotroph
relies on other organsisms to obtain carbon compounds
autotroph
use energy to convert co2 into solid carbon compounds (glucose)
primary production
the accumulation of carbon compounds into biomass by autotrophs
secondary production
the accumulation of carbon compounds into biomass by heterotrophs
three types of energy loss between trophic levels
- incomplete consumption
- incomplete digestion
- cell respiration (release of heat during cellular respiraiton)
carbon pool
a reserve or storage of carbon e.g. oceans
carbon sink
a carbon pool that can take up more carbon than it releases
carbon flux
a process that transfers cerbon from one pool to another, can be natural or caused by human activity
carbon flux due to living things
- photosynthesis
- feeding
- respiration
carbon compounds to know
- gas (co2)
- fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)
- organic compounds (solid food, fats, proteins, carbohydrates)
- biomass
- wastes and rots
annual keeling curve pattern
co2:
- decreases from may-october
- coincides with summer in northern hemisphere (more light, more photosynthesis, more use of co2)
