Chapter 12 Flashcards

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1
Q

Ecosystem Ecology

A

The study of energy flow and the cycling of chemicals among the various biotic and abiotic components in an ecosystem.

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2
Q

Energy

A

The ability to do work.

Defined by the laws of thermodynamics.

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3
Q

First law of Thermodynamics

A

Energy can be changed from one form to another, but cannot be created nor destroyed. Total energy of a system remains constant.

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4
Q

Second law of Thermodynamics

A

In all energy conversions, the potential energy of the final state will always be less than the potential energy of the initial state.
You can’t break even.
There is always an increase in entropy (disorder) when energy is transferred.

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5
Q

Trophic Structure

A

The different feeding relationships within an ecosystem which determine the route of energy flow and the pattern of chemical cycling.

Trophic level of an organism is its position in a food web.

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6
Q

Producers

A

Reduce carbon to get food. They are autotrophs.

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7
Q

Consumers

A

They eat reduced carbon in the form of living organisms. They are heterotrophs.

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8
Q

Decomposers

A

They eat reduced carbon in the form of dead organisms. They are hetertrophs.

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9
Q

Food Web

A

Demonstrates feeding relationships in an ecosystem.
It includes a feeding hierarchy with trophic levels.
Energy is lost each time you go up a level due to the 2nd law of Thermodynamics.

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10
Q

Biomagnification

A

Top predators in a food web represent an accumulation of material from many lower animals.
If there are molecules in the environment that are not readily broker down or metabolized, they can reach high concentrations in top predators through biomagnification.

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11
Q

Nutrient Cycles

A

AKA Biogeochemical cycles.

Pathway by which an element moves through biology and the environment.

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12
Q

Lumpers vs Splitters

A

Lumpers: have a holistic view and define groups broadly.

Splitters: precise and create new categories to further subdivide groups.

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13
Q

Terrestrial Biomes

A
Tropical and Subtropical:
-Moist broadleaf forests
-Dry broadleaf forests
-Coniferous forests
Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests.
Tropical and subtropical:
-Grasslands
-Savannas, and shrublands
Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Flooded grasslands and savannas
Montane grasslands and shrublands
Tundra
Mediterranean:
-Forests (we live here)
-Woodlands
-Scrub Sclerophyll forests
-Mangroves
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14
Q

Deserts and Xeric Shrublands

A

Xeric means of characterized by, or adapted to an extremely dry habitat.
Varies by temperature.

Created by man in some regions through the process of desertification.

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15
Q

Tropical and Subtropical moist broadleaf forests

A

Dominated by semi-evergreen and evergreen deciduous tree species.
High species diversity-half the world’s terrestrial species live here.

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16
Q

Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests

A

Characterized by moderate temperatures but long dry seasons.
Dominated by deciduous trees, many that lose their leaves during the dry season.
Loss of leaves in the canopy allows the under canopy and shrub layers to receive more light.
Have less diversity than rainforests.
Have higher mammalian biomass than rainforests.

17
Q

Tropical and subtropical Coniferous Forests

A

Characterized by low rainfall and moderate variability in temperature.
Populated by diverse groups of conifers whose needles are adapted to low rainfall and variable temperatures.
Thick canopy often leaves only ferns and fungi capable of making a living on the ground.

18
Q

Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests

A

Characterized by variable temperatures and variable rainfall.
Includes conifers in the canopy layer.

19
Q

Temperate Coniferous Forest

A

Characterized by warm summers and cool winters and enough rainfall to sustain a forest.
Dominated by Evergreen conifers.
Have highest levels of biomass of any terrestrial biome.
Include temperate rainforests.

20
Q

Boreal forests/ Taiga

A

Characterized by low rainfall and cold temperatures.
Located in Northern latitudes.
Dominated by conifers.
World’s largest land of biome.
Still has relatively undisturbed large animal migrations.
Under threat due to climate change

21
Q

Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands

A

Characterized by low rainfall (not enough to sustain a forest) and moderate to warm temperatures.
Dominated by grasses with some trees.
Home to large mammals.
Soon to only exist in natural parks.

22
Q

Flooded grasslands and savannas

A

AKA Swamps.
Located tropically or sub-tropically and flooded seasonally or year round.
High avian diversity with both resident and migratory birds.

23
Q

Montane grasslands and shrublands

A

Located at high altitude (alpine or subalpine) and above or below the treeline.
Plants adapted to cool temperatures and high light.

24
Q

Tundra

A
Treeless cold climate
Includes:
-Artic: polar desert
-Antarctic: Polar desert
-Alpine: Above the treeline

Dwarf vegetation and lichens.

25
Q

Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub

A

AKA Chaparral, maquis etc
Characterized by dry summers and rainy winters.
Most plants are fire adapted.
Highly distinctive fauna with many endemic plants.
Only 5 places in the world are a part of this biome.

26
Q

Mangroves

A

Waterlogged salty coastal soils in teh tropics and subtropics are hoe to a forest of various mangrove trees.
Plants uniquely adapted to temporally flooded, brackish, low oxygen conditions.
Protect against storms and tsunamis.

27
Q

Aquatic Biomes

A
  • Lakes
  • Wetlands
  • Streams and Rivers
  • Littoral Zone
  • Pelagic Zone
  • Coral Reef
  • Benthic Zone
28
Q

Lakes

A

Standing body of water that can be large or small.
Surrounded by land and localized in a basin.
Weak tidal forces.
More temporary than an ocean in geological time scales.
The Caspian Sea is a lake.
Sensitive to pollution.

29
Q

Wetlands

A

AKA Marshes, swamps, bogs, and fens
A habitat that inundated with water at least some of the time and that supports plants adapted to water-saturated soil.
Includes mangroves and flooded grasslands and savannas.

30
Q

Streams and Rivers

A

Characterized by flowing water.
Upland headwaters tend to be faster, cooler, clearer, and more turbulent while lowland downstream water tend to be slower, warmer, turbid, and less turbulent.

31
Q

Littoral Zone

A

Contains both the intertidal zone and estuary zones.

32
Q

Intertidal Zone

A

Flooded with water twice a day.
Has sub-zones depending on amount of flooding. These sub-zones are compressed into narrow bands.
Biologically productive despite harsh conditions.

33
Q

Estuaries

A

Estuary is where a freshwater stream or river merges with the ocean.
It’s a transition zone with the temporal variation in salinity and temperature.
Very productive, but very impacted.

34
Q

Coral Reef

A

A warm water tropical ecosystem dominated by the hard skeletal structure secreted by corals. Some also exist in cold and/or deep waters.
Disappearing faster than rainforests and could be gone in 100 years.

35
Q

Pelagic Zone

A

AKA The water column
The open water component of aquatic biomes.
It’s not near the shore or the bottom.
Primary producers are phytoplankton.

36
Q

Benthic Zone

A

The bottom surface of any aquatic environment.
Begins at the shoreline and extends down the continental shelf.
The deeper regions are dark and nutrients come from detritus raining down from above or thermal vents from below.