Eclolgy Flashcards
Flow of energy
One way, from sun, through the
system, radiated to universe as
unrecoverable, entropic heat
Cycling of materials
Materials are re-used, exchanged back
forth between biotic and abiotic
components of environment
Ecological Niche
An organism’s distinctive lifestyle and role
in a community
– takes into account all abiotic and biotic
aspects of organism’s existence
Fundamental niche
organism’s potential ecological niche
Realized niche
the niche organism actually occupies
Competition
Occurs when two or more individuals try to
use the same essential resource
examples of Competition
food – water – shelter – living space – sunlight
Intraspecific competition
among individuals within a population
Interspecific competition
– between different species
Competitive Exclusion Principle
Two species cannot occupy the same niche in the same community for an indefinite period One species is excluded by another as a result of competition for a limiting resource
ECharacter Displacement3
Reduces competition among some species
– structural, ecological, behavioral characteristics
diverge where ranges overlap
Character Displacement Example
: bill sizes of Darwin’s finches
Much energy is converted to ____ as it moves from one organism to another and ____ use it
in next trophic level
heat can’t
whats are the types of material cycles studiedin ecology
Hydrologic Cycl eNitrogen Cycle Phosphorus Cycle Carbon Cycle
In an ecosystem, ______ flows
one-way through the system, and
_____ cycle and recycle
Energy; Materials
Species Richness
Is often greatest in 3
habitats with structural complexity
– a community that is not isolated (distance effect) or
severely stressed
– a community where more energy is available
(species richness–energy hypothesis)
Community Stability depends of
species richness
Human activities reduce biological diversity by 6
habitat loss and habitat fragmentation – pollution – introduction of invasive species – pest and predator control – illegal commercial hunting – commercial harvest
Succession
Orderly replacement of one community by
another
Primary succession ex
n area not previously inhabited (bare rock)
Secondary succession
in area with pre-existing community, wellformed
soil (abandoned farmland)
Solar Energy
_____ at______ ______at ___
– due to Earth’s _____ shape
Concentrated equator, diluted, poles
spherical
Heat Energy
Can be moved around by ______ and _____ ______
This can have a big effect on climate.
winds and
ocean currents.
Precipitation is influenced
atitude
– elevation
– topography
– vegetation
– distance from ocean, large bodies of water
– location on a continent or other landmass
Biome
A large, relatively distinct terrestrial region
with characteristic climate, soil, plants, and
animals
Climate, particularly _______ and_______ affects the distribution of
Earth’s major ______
temperature precipitation biomes.
What is the biggest environmental
problem facing the Earth’s
ecosystems at this time?
Human population
growth
