Ch.52 - Intro to Ecology Flashcards
_________ is the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and the environment. These interactions determine the _________ of organisms and their _________.
Ecology is the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and the environment. These interactions determine the distribution of organisms and their abundance
List the biological hierarchy.
Atoms
Cells
Organisms
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biosphere
Over what time scale does ecology occur?
Minutes to years
Events that occur in ecological time affect life on the scale of evolutionary time (many generations)
What is an ecosystem?
All living organisms and the physical environ around them
Biotic features: interactions with other living organisms
- Focus of community ecology
Abiotic features: non-living characteristics
- Climate: 4 key abiotic features
- Salinity and pH of water source
Differentiate biotic and abiotic factors
Biotic features: interactions with other living organisms
- Focus of community ecology
Abiotic features: non-living characteristics
- Climate: 4 key abiotic features
- Salinity and pH of water source
Abiotic factors often vary over time and space, called temporal and spatial ________, resp.
Abiotic factors often vary over time and space, called temporal and spatial heterogeneity resp.
Describe how organisms may acclimate to abiotic variation, both behaviorally and physiologically.
Behavioral changes: hibernation, dormancy, migration
Physiological changes: thicker coats, increasing/decreasing water intake in response to salinity
What are the four major abiotic components of climate?
Climate: long-term prevailing weather conditions
- Temperature • Precipitation • Sunlight • Wind
Diff b/w macro and microclimate
Macroclimate: patterns on the global, regional, and landscape level.
Microclimate: very fine patterns
- Ex: conditions encountered by the community of organisms underneath a fallen log
Describe how global climate patterns are determined largely by solar energy
Warming effect of sun causes temperature variations, which drive evaporation and the circulation of air and water. This causes latitudinal variations in climate.
With each 1,000 meters in elevation, temperature declines __°C.
With each 1,000 meters in elevation, temperature declines 6°C.
The “normal limits” of temperature are ___ and ___.
Below 0°C – cells rupture
Above 45°C – proteins denature
Biomes are major life zones characterized by _________ in terrestrial biomes and __________ in aquatic biomes.
Biomes are major life zones characterized by vegetation type in terrestrial biomes and physical environment in aquatic biomes.
Climate is v imp in det why terrestrial biomes are found in certain areas. Can be summarized w a climograph, wh plots annual mean temp and precip in a region.
Climate is v imp in det why terrestrial biomes are found in certain areas. Can be summarized w a ________, wh plots annual mean temp and precip in a region.
which general features define terrestrial biomes
Often named for major physical or climatic factors and for vegetation
T/F: terrestrial biomes typ grade into ea/o
True
Typ grade into ea/o, w/o sharp boundaries
Ecotone: area of intergradation, may be wide or narrow
_______ (vert/horizontal) layering is an imp feature of terrestrial biomes.
Vertical layering is an imp feature of terrestrial biomes.
- Ex: forest might consist of an upper canopy, low-tree layer, shrub understory, ground layer of herbaceous plants, forest floor, and root layer
- Layering of vegetation in ALL biomes provides diverse habitats for animals
________ is an event such as a storm, fire, or human activity that changes a community
Disturbance is an event such as a storm, fire, or human activity that changes a community.
- Frequent fires can kill woody plants and maintain the characteristic vegetation of a savanna.
- Hurricanes create openings in forests that allow different species to grow.
- In many biomes, even dominant plants depend on periodic disturbance.
T/F: aquatic biomes show more latitudinal variation than terrestrial biomes.
False
Aquatic biomes show LESS latitudinal variation than terrestrial biomes.
Many aquatic biomes are stratified into zones or layers based on wh three factors?
Many aquatic biomes are stratified into zones or layers based on light penetration, temp, depth.
Describe wh species are commonly found in the photic vs aphotic zone.
Photic zone: phytoplankton, zooplankton, many fish species
Aphotic zone: microorganisms, luminescent fishes, invertebrates (sparse populations)
A __________ is a temp boundary that separates the warm upper layer from the cold deeper water.
A thermocline is a temp boundary that separates the warm upper layer from the cold deeper water.
- Found in oceans and lakes
_________ is a semiannual mixing of a lake’s waters.
Turnover is a semiannual mixing of a lake’s waters.
- mixes oxygenated water from the surface with nutrient-rich water from the bottom
If a species is missing from an area, what Q’s can/should be asked?
Does dispersal limit its distribution?
Do biotic factors (other species) limit its distribution?
Do abiotic factors limit its distribution?
Diff b/w ecology and environmentalism
Ecology provides scientific understanding of living things and their environ.
Environmentalism is more about conservation and persecution of life on Earth.
