DB Flashcards
ecosystem
The interaction between the environment and its community
Community
The different species inhabiting an area at one particular time
Habitat
Area or environment within an ecosystem wear an individual species Lives, feeds and reproduces
environment
Abiotic and biotic components of an area
Population
A group of individuals belonging to the same species living in the same habitat at the same time
limiting factor
Any factor that places an upper limit on the size of the population
Tolerance range
The absence of presence, the frequency, or their range of each factor than organism can survive in
ecology
the study of plants and animals and their interactions between themselves and the environment
ecologist
a person who studies ecology
base-line data
data that can be used to compare to on going monitoring of the area
species diversity
The range or number of different plants and animals within an ecosystem
species richness
The number of species present within a sample or community
species density
The number of individuals per unit area or volume
species distribution
how the species is spread out of the area
classification system
systems designed to identify how organisms are related in an evolutionary sense
kingdom animalia
eukaryotic, multicellular, heterotrophic, no cell walls
phylum anthropoda
exoskeleton made of chiton, jointed appendages, segmented bodies, bilateral symmetry
Phylum chordata
noto chord, embryonic pharyngeal slits
sub-phylum (of chordata) vertabrata
animals with backbone, head, eyes, brain
class chondrichthyes
cartilaginous skeleton, no swim bladder, shark
class osteichthyes
scales, bony skeleton, swim bladder, tuna
class amphibia
moist skin, no scales, fresh water or moist habitat, gas exchange through skin, frogs
class reptilia
dry scaly skin, membraneous eggs, ectotherms, snakes
class aves
feathers, wings, hard shell eggs, birds
class mammalia
hair, produce milk for young, divided heart, endotherms
sub class (of mammalia) prototheria
egg laying mammals, mammary glands dont have nipples, platypus
sub class (of mammalia) theria
young born at early stage of development, kangaroo
sub class (of mammalia) eutheria
true placenta, young develop to mature stage in uterus, humans
order (of sub class of eutheria) primates
eyes directed forward, nails instead of claws, apes
binomial nomenclature
two name naming system
species
a group of organisms whose members can breed and produce fertile offspring
predation
where a predator feeds on its prey (snake and frog)
intraspecific competition
when two or more organisms of the same species compete for a resource (zebras fight for territory)
interspecific competition
when two or more organisms of different species compete for a resource (lioness and hyena fighting for food)
competitive exclusion principle
two or more organisms competing for the same resource cant coexist
mutualism
both parties benefit (lichen and fungi)
commensalism
one benefits, other is not harmed or benefits (sharks and remora fish)
parasitism
one benefits and one is harmed (ecto - tick, endo - tapeworm)
collaboration
organisms of the same species work together for their benefit (wolves)
disease
any condition that impairs or interferes with the normal functioning of a body (caused by fungi, bacteria, algae, etc.)
biodiversity
the variety of life on earth, operating on three different but connected levels; ecosystem, species, genetic diversity
ecosystem diversity
the number of different types of naturally occurring ecosystems in region
species diversity
the number of different species in an ecosystem
genetic diversity
the range of genes and characteristics they produce within a species
stable ecosystem
characteristic of biodiversity, has large food webs and species populations have wide genetic diversity
sustainable ecosystem
nearly all matter is recycled within an ecosystem making it available for future generations
biosphere
the area on earth where living things exist
biomes
main categories of ecosystems across large geographical areas
terrestrial biomes
correspond to major climatic regions that dictate the dominant vegetation type of the region
aquatic biomes
correspond to areas that experience different water properties
terrestrial ecosystem
major influencing abiotic factors are climate and soil type. eg. jarrah woodland
aquatic ecosystem
major influencing factor is the characteristics of the water
high species diversity
result of good growing conditions which support a large diversity of producers to consumers, recycling of matter is efficient
natural selection
the process that allows a species of plant or animal to adapt to changes in their environment
Australia’s biodiversity conservation strategy (2010-2030)
aims to protect and manage plants, animals, ecological communities and heritage places. Regulates wildlife trade and lists threatened species
international trade of endangered species
ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival
ramsar convention on wetlands
the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation,
Conservation of migratory species
states through which migratory species pass, lay the legal foundations for internationally coordinated conservation measures throughout a migratory range
world heritage sites
seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world
Shark Bay
world heritage area in WA; vast sea-grass beds, dugong populations, stromatolites. Home to 5 species of endangered mammals
biodiversity hotspot
region with significant diversity of endemic plants and animals, many of which are under threat due to past, current and future human impacts
Rehabilitation
areas are managed, so as to revert back to the way they would have been prior to human land-use
Turbidity
how much sediment is in the water
Why survey ecosystems
conservation, rehabilitation and land-use proposals
