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Biology 20 > Chapter 4: Characteristics of Ecosystems > Flashcards

Chapter 4: Characteristics of Ecosystems Flashcards

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1
Q

Ecology

A

The study of interactions between organisms and their living and non-living environment.

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2
Q

Abiotic Factor

A

A non-living factor that influences an organism.

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3
Q

Biotic Factor

A

A living factor that influences an organism.

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4
Q

Population

A

A group of the same species living in the same habitat.

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5
Q

Community

A

The collection of populations in an ecosystem or habitat.

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6
Q

Ecosystem

A

The community of populations alongside their physical environment.

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7
Q

Ecotone

A

A transition area between ecosystems.

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8
Q

Ecological Niche

A 
An organism's role in an ecosystem. 
Consisting of:
1. Its place in the food web.
2. Its breeding area.
3. The time of day at which it is most active.
4. Its habitat.
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9
Q

Biome

A

A large geographical region with a specific range of temperature and precipitation, and the organisms that are adapted to those conditions of temperature and precipitation.

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10
Q

Terrestrial Ecosystems

A

Ecosystems on land.

Alberta’s terrestrial ecosystems include taiga and grassland.

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11
Q

Canopy

A

The upper layer of vegetation in a forest.

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12
Q

Permafrost

A

Permanently frozen soil.

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13
Q

Muskeg

A

Soil above the permafrost that is swampy or boggy in summer.

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14
Q

Understory

A

Below the canopy layer; usually shrubs and smaller trees.

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15
Q

Abiotic Factors Of Taiga Ecosystem

A
  • northern and central Alberta
  • changeable weather
  • soil contains some water and is acidic
  • precipitation is 50-250 cm/a
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16
Q

Abiotic Factors of Muskeg Ecosystems

A
  • cold temperatures
  • short growing season
  • permafrost layer beneath soil
  • low precipitation; 50-150 cm/a
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17
Q

Abiotic Factors of Grassland Ecosystems

A
  • central and southern Alberta
  • increased sunlight and warmer temperatures than muskeg or boreal forest ecosystems
  • rich fertile soil
  • precipitation 25-100cm/a
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18
Q

Abiotic Factors of Deciduous Forest Ecosystems

A
  • Central Alberta
  • increased sunlight and warmer temperatures
  • rich fertile soil
    precipitation 75-250 cm/a
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19
Q

Littoral Zone

A

The area from the shore of a lake or pond to the point where no more plants grow in the lake bottom.

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20
Q

Limnetic Zone

A

The area of a lake or pond in which there is open water and sufficient light for photosynthesis to occur.

21
Q

Plankton

A

Autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms found in the limnetic zone.

22
Q

Profundal Zone

A

The region of a lake beneath the limnetic zone. in which there is insufficient light for photosynthesis to occur.

23
Q

Litter

A

The upper layer of soil, composed mainly of partially decomposed leaves or grasses.

24
Q

Topsoil

A

The soil layer beneath the litter, composed of small particles of rock mixed with humus.

25
Q

Humus

A

Decaying plant and animal matter.

26
Q

Subsoil

A

The soil layer beneath the topsoil, usually containing more rock particles and less organic matter than the topsoil.

27
Q

Bedrock

A

The layer beneath the soil, composed of rock.

28
Q

Groundwater

A

Water in the soil or rock below Earth’s surface.

29
Q

Climate

A

The temperature, precipitations, and overall conditions of an environment. The common average is used to determine the biome, however there are numerous climates and ecosystems found in a singular biome.

30
Q

Epilimnion

A

The upper level of a lake, which warms up in summer.

31
Q

Hypolimnion

A

The lower level of a lake, which remains at a low temperature year round.

32
Q

Thermocline

A

The zone between the epilimnion and hypolimnion, in which temperature changes rapidly.

33
Q

Biotic Potential

A

The maximum number of offspring that a species could produce with unlimited resources.

Factors include:

  1. Birth potential
  2. Capacity for survival
  3. Breeding frequency
  4. Length of reproductive life
34
Q

Carrying Capacity

A

The maximum number of individuals of a species that can be supported by an ecosystem.

35
Q

Law of The Minimum

A

States that the nutrient in the least supply is the one that limits growth.

36
Q

Law of Tolerance

A

States that an orgnism can survive within a particular range of an abiotic factor.

37
Q

Density-Independent Factor

A

A factor in an ecosystem that affects members of a population regardless of population denisty.

38
Q

Density-Dependent Factor

A

A factor in an ecosystem that affects members of a population because of the population density.

39
Q

Slash-and-Burn

A

The complete clearing of a forest by felling and burning the trees.

40
Q

Clear-Cutting

A

The removal of all trees in an area.

41
Q

Selective Cutting

A

The harvesting of only certain trees from an area.

42
Q

Prescribed Burn

A

A controlled fire set intentionally in a designated area.

43
Q

Oligotrophic

A

Having low nutrient levels.

44
Q

Eutrophic

A

Having high nutrient levels.

45
Q

4 Categories of Water Pollution

A
  1. Organic solid waste
  2. Disease-causing organisms
  3. Inorganic solids and dissolved minerals
  4. Organic compounds
46
Q

Coliform bacteria

A

A type of bacteria that occurs naturally in the intestines of humans and other animals, and indicates the presence of fecal contamination in water.

47
Q

Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)

A

The amount of dissolved oxygen needed by decomposers to completely break down the organic matter in a water sample at 20 degrees celsius over five days.

48
Q

Watershed

A

The land that drains toward a lake or other body of water.

Biology 20 (9 decks)

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