Chapter 15: Ecosystems and Communities Flashcards
Ecosystem
A community of biological organisms plus the non living components with which the organisms interact
Biotic Environment
Consists of all the living organisms within an area and is often referred to as a community
Habitat
The chemical resources of the soil, water, and air as well as the physical conditions such as the temperature, moisture, and humidity
Biomes
A large naturally occurring community of flora or fauna occupying a major habitat. Ex. Forest
Formation of Rain
Air is heated and rises. Rising air cools. Cooling air loses moisture
Human Engineering
Unintended consequences can occur when humans alter the land such as changes in temperature and in wind speed and direction
Rain Shadow
Warm air holds onto moisture and will often the air will pull moisture from the ground intensifying the already dry conditions
Topography
The arrangement of the natural and artificial physical features of an area
El Niño
A dramatic climate change driven by ocean currents causes a sustained surface temperature change in the central Pacific Ocean that causes flooding, droughts, and famine
Domino Effect
A reduction in the usual east to west ocean breeze can cause a cascade of disastrous weather
La Niña
Ocean surface temperatures are lower than usual and the climate effects are opposite of El Niño
Trophic Levels
An ecosystem comprised of organisms that share the same function in the food chain and the same nutritional relationship to the primary sources of energy
Producers
Plants convert the suns light energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis
Primary Productivity Level
The amount of organic material produced in a biome
Primary Consumers- The Herbivores
Animals that eat plants. These animals need a little help digesting their food and often have bacteria to help digest the food
Secondary Consumers- The Carnivores
Are animals that feed on herbivores. As they eat prey, some of the energy stored in the chemical bonds are captured and used for their own movement, reproduction, and growth
Tertiary Consumers- Top Carnivores
Are animals that eat other carnivores
Food Webs
A system of interlocking and interdependent food chains
Omnivores
Eat both plants and animals
Decomposers
Break down the organic material harvesting the energy still stored in the chemical bonds
Food Chain
Path from producers to tertiary consumers
Biomass
Is the total weight of living or non living organic material in a given volume of all plant and animal matter in an ecosystem
Energy Pyramid
Each layer of the pyramid represents the biomass of a trophic level
Eutrophication
The increase in nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus in an ecosystem
Niche
The space an organism requires, food sources, reproduction, competitors within an ecosystem
Fundamental Niche
The full range of environmental conditions under which they can live
Realized Niche
The actual space that an organism inhabits and the resources it can access as a result of limiting pressures from other species
Coevolution
The influence of closely associated species on each other in their evolution
Competitive Exclusion
Two species battle for resources in the same niche until the more efficient one wins and the other species is driven to extinction in that location
Resource Partitioning
Is an alternative outcome of niche overlap. Individual organisms and species can adapt to changing environmental conditions and can result in an organisms behavioral or structural change
Character Displacement
An evolutionary divergence in one or both of the species that leads to a partitioning of the niche
Predation
An interaction between 2 species in which one species eats the other
Physical Defenses
Include mechanical, chemical, warning coloration, and camouflage mechanisms
Mechanical Defenses
Adaptations like sharp quills on a porcupine or spines of a cactus
Chemical Defenses
Chemical toxins that make the prey poisonous
Warning Coloration
Species protected from predation by toxic chemicals frequently have bright color patterns
Camouflage
Patterns of coloration that enable them to blend into their surroundings
Behavioral Defenses
Include hiding or escaping, alarm calling or fighting back
Hiding or Escaping
Includes safety in numbers like traveling in large groups to reduce their predation risk
Alarm Calling and Fighting Back
A seabird that defends its best from attacks with projectile vomiting aimed at the intruder
Parasitism
One organism benefits while the other organism is harmed
Mutualism
An interaction in which both species gain and neither is harmed
Commensalism
One species benefits and the other species neither benefits or is harmed
Succession
Process of nature reclaiming an area and of communities gradually changing over time
Colonizing Community
Fungi, bacteria, and seeds are often among the earliest colonizers
Intermediate Communities
Mosses, small herbs arrives, and small trees grow and outcompete the shrubs
Climax Community
Larger species outcompete the initial colonizers and persist as a stable and self sustaining community
Keystone Species
The presence of some species greatly influences which other species are present and which are not
