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Biology 1407-01 > Communities and Ecosystems > Flashcards

Communities and Ecosystems Flashcards

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1
Q

define a population

A

a group of interacting individuals of a particular species

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2
Q

define a biological community

A

populations living close enough for potential interaction

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3
Q

community ecology is concerned with…

A

factors that influence the species composition and dynamics of communities

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4
Q

define interspecific interactions

A

relationships with different species in the community that greatly affect population structure and dynamics

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5
Q

list 5 examples of interspecific interactions

A
  1. competition
  2. mutualism
  3. predation
  4. herbivory
  5. parasites and pathogens
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6
Q

competition occurs when

A

populations of two different species compete for the same limited resource

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7
Q

define an ecological niche

A

the sum of an organism’s use of biotic and abiotic resources in its environment

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8
Q

interspecific competition occurs when the niches of two populations…

A

overlap and both populations need a resource that is in short supply

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9
Q

in general competition lowers the ________ _______ for competing populations

A

carrying capacity

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10
Q

mutualism is when

A

both populations benefit

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11
Q

a mutualistic relationship often evolves to be

A

obligatory symbionts

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12
Q

example of mutualism

A

photosynthetic algae and reef-building corals

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13
Q

describe predation

A

the predator kills and eats the prey

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14
Q

adaptations in prey populations for prey avoidance includes

A
  • camouflage
  • mechanical defenses
  • chemical defenses
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15
Q

describe herbivory

A

an animal that consumes plant parts or algae

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16
Q

plant defenses against herbivores include

A
  • spines and thorns

- chemical toxins (sometimes used in the medical field)

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17
Q

Some plants chemical defense causes….

A

abnormal development in insects that eat the plant

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18
Q

Some herbivore-plant interactions illustrate…

A

coevolutions

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19
Q

define coevolution

A

a series of reciprocal evolutionary adaptations in two species

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20
Q

examples of coevolution include..

A
  • monophagy (butterflies that only eat a specific leaf)

- chemical incorporations (toxic butterflies or plants with egg spots)

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21
Q

describe parasitism

A

host plants/animals are victimized by parasites or pathogens

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22
Q

non-native pathogens can have…

give an example

A

rapid and dramatic impacts

-American chestnut being devastated by the chestnut blight protist

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23
Q

define trophic structure

A

a pattern of feeding relationships consisting of different levels

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24
Q

a food chain is known as

A

the sequence of food transfer up the trophic levels

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25
Q

producers are

A

autotrophs that support all other trophic levels

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26
Q

consumers are…

A

heterotrophs

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27
Q

herbivores are..

A

primary consumers

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28
Q

secondary consumers typically eat

A

herbivores

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29
Q

tertiary consumers typically eat

A

secondary consumers

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30
Q

quaternary consumers typically eat

A

tertiary consumers

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31
Q

define detritus..

A

the dead material produced at all the trophic levels

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32
Q

detritivores derive their energy from…

A

detritus

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33
Q

decomposers are mainly..

A

prokaryotes and fungi

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34
Q

decomposers have ______ _______.

A

secretion enzymes

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35
Q

define decomposition

A

the conversion of organic molecules into inorganic molecules through the digestion of decomposers

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36
Q

define a food web

A

a network of interconnecting food chains

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37
Q

what is a more realistic view of the trophic level of a community?

A

a food web

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38
Q

species diversity is defined by…

A
  • species richness

- relative abundance

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39
Q

species richness is the

A

of different species in a community

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40
Q

relative abundance is the…

A

proportional representation of a species in a community

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41
Q

low species diversity is characteristic to most

A

modern agricultural ecosystems

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42
Q

high diversity areas have lots of species at

A

intermediate abundance

43
Q

what is a way to measure the species diversity

A
  • absolute richness

- Shannon entropy index

44
Q

species diversity can often drive other

A

ecological processes/ measures

45
Q

define the edge effect

A

the greatest biological diversity occurs where two ecosystems meet

46
Q

describe keystone species

A

one whose impact on its community is larger than its biomass; occupies a niche that holds the rest of its community in place

47
Q

examples of keystone species

A
  • sea otters and kelp
  • urchins and orcas
  • gopher tortoises in longleaf pine forests
48
Q

disturbances are events that..

A

damage biological communities and include storms, fires, floods, drought, human activity

49
Q

small-scale disturbances often have a…

A

positive effect

50
Q

ecological succession is a…

A

transition in species composition of a community

51
Q

primary succession is the…

A

gradual colonization of barren rocks

52
Q

secondary succession occurs after…

A

a disturbance has destroyed a community but left the soil intact

53
Q

characteristics of invasive species..

A
  1. have been introduced to non-native habitats by humans
  2. established at the expense of native communities
  3. can spread from introduction site
54
Q

invasive species can become

A

naturalist- self-sustaining

55
Q

examples of invasive species

A
  • fire ants

- burmese pythons in South Florida

56
Q

ecosystem ecology emphasized

A

energy flow and chemical cycling

57
Q

an ecosystem consists of

A
  • all organisms in a community

- organisms’ interaction with abiotic environment

58
Q

energy flow moves…

A

through the components of an ecosystem

59
Q

chemical cycling is the…

A

transfer of materials within the ecosystem

60
Q

define primary production

A

the conversion of solar energy to chemical energy by photosynthesis

61
Q

gross primary production is the

A

total amount of primary production during a given time period

62
Q

define net primary production

A

the amount of new organic material added to an organism in a given period

63
Q

primary production varies in

A

different environments

64
Q

only about ___ of available sunlight is converted to organic compounds by plants

A

3%

65
Q

only about ___ of the energy stored at each trophic level is available to next level

A

10%

66
Q

when humans eat grain or fruit we are…

A

primary consumers

67
Q

when humans eat beef we are

A

secondary consumer

68
Q

when humans eat fish, trout, salmon we are

A

tertiary/ quaternary consumers

69
Q

chemicals are cycled between…

A

organic matter and abiotic reservoirs

70
Q

ecosystem are supplied with a constant influx of energy from

A

the sun and Earth’s interior

71
Q

There are no extraterrestrial sources of chemical elements except for

A

meteorites

72
Q

life depends on…

A

the recycling of chemicals

73
Q

biogeochemical cycles include what 3 things

A
  1. biotic components
  2. abiotic components
  3. abiotic reservoirs
74
Q

biogeochemical cycles can be

A

local or global

75
Q

list 3 examples of biogeochemical cycles

A
  • carbon
  • phosphorus
  • nitrogen
76
Q

carbon is the..

A

major ingredient of all organic molecules

77
Q

where is the reservoir for carbon?

A

in the atmosphere

78
Q

carbon cycles…

A

globally

79
Q

carbon resides in plant and animal

A

biomass, fossil fuels, soils, sedimentary rock, and as dissolved carbon

80
Q

where does carbon enter the ecosystem?

A

through wood and fossil fuels

81
Q

the phosphorus cycle depends on…

A

the weathering of rock

82
Q

Organisms usually require phosphorus in the form of…

A

phosphate ion PO4 ^3-

83
Q

phosphorus is an ingredient of

A
  • nucleic acids, phospholipids, ATP,

- as mineral component of bones and teeth

84
Q

Phosphorus DOES NOT have a ______ ______ compared to carbon cycle.

A

atmospheric component

85
Q

phosphates are transferred from terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems more rapidly than…

A

they are replaced

86
Q

why is the phosphorus cycle considered “local”?

A

there’s no atmospheric component

87
Q

Nitrogen is an ingredient to

A

proteins and nucleic acids

88
Q

nitrogen is essential to the

A

structure and functioning of all organisms

89
Q

nitrogen can be described as what ______ and _______ as a plant nutrient.

A

crucial

limiting

90
Q

What are nitrogen’s 2 abiotic reservoirs?

A
  1. the atmosphere (80%)

2. soil

91
Q

What are the 3 types of bacteria?

A
  1. ammonifying bacteria
  2. nitrogen fixing bacteria
  3. nitrifying bacteria
92
Q

what charge do ammonium and nitrate have?

A

a positive one

93
Q

nitrogen fixation converts…

A

N2 to compounds of nitrogen that can be used by plants

94
Q

describe how denitrifying bacteria works

A

under low oxygen conditions soil bacteria strip O from NO3- releasing N2

95
Q

in aquatic ecosystem primary production is limited by

A

-low nutrient levels of phosphorus and nitrogen

96
Q

define eutrophication

A

excessive richness of nutrients in a body of water

97
Q

eutrophication results in

A
  • decreased species diversity

- oxygen depletion in body of water

98
Q

characteristics of eutrophication

A
  • cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates replace native aquatic plants
  • outcompete and crash natural ecosystems
  • consume oxygen
  • produce toxins
99
Q

eutrophication causes…

A

oceanic dead zones

100
Q

Human rely on natural ecosystems to

A
  • supply fresh water and foods
  • recycle nutrients
  • decompose wastes
  • regulate climate/ air quality
101
Q

examples of ecosystem services include

A
  • wetlands

- natural vegetation

102
Q

wetlands purpose…

A
  • buffer against tidal waves
  • reduce the impact of flooding rivers
  • filter pollutants
103
Q

natural vegetation helps to

A
  • retain fertile soil

- prevent landslides and mudslides

Biology 1407-01 (14 decks)

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