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Geography > ecological concepts > Flashcards

ecological concepts Flashcards

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1
Q

evolution or biological evolution

A

the change in a population’s genetic makeup, gene pool, through successive generations
*all species descend from earlier, ancestral species

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2
Q

macroevolution

A

long-term, large-scale changes that lead to new species (speciation), and the loss of other species

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3
Q

microevolution

A

small genetic changes that occur in a pop

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4
Q

development of genetic variability through mutations, random changes of the DNA in a cell; brought about by:

A
  • exposure to external agents (radiation, chemicals, etc)

* random mistakes during DNA replication

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5
Q

mutations are

A

random & unpredictable, only source of totally new genetic raw material (without human help), relatively rare events

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6
Q

natural selection

A

process by which a particular beneficial gene or set of genes is reproduced in succeeding generations more than other genes.
This leads to a population of organisms with a greater proportion of individuals better adapted to certain environmental conditions.

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7
Q

adaptation or adaptive trait

A

any genetically controlled structural, physiological, behavioral characteristic that helps an organism survive & reproduce under a given set of environmental conditions.

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8
Q

structural adaptations

A

coloration, mimcry, protective cover, gripping mechanisms

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9
Q

physiological adaptations

A

hibernation, chemical protection

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10
Q

behavioral adaptations

A

migration, various mating behaviors

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11
Q

ecological niche

A

total way of life or role of a species in an ecosystem; all physical, chemical. And biological conditions a species needs to live and reproduce in an ecosystem

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12
Q

species

A

group of organisms that resemble one another in appearance, behavior, chemical makeup and processes, and genetic structure

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13
Q

habitat

A

the physical location in which a species lives

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14
Q

generalists

A

species with a broad ecological niche; can live in many different habitats, eat a variety of foods & tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions; less prone to extinction
EX’s: humans, flies, cockroaches, mice & rats, raccoons,coyotes, channel catfish, various weed species, etc.

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15
Q

specialists

A

species with a narrow ecological niche; may live in only one type of habitat, tolerate only one type or a few types of food, tolerate only a narrow range of environmental conditions; more prone to extinction
EX’s: red-cockaded woodpecker, giant pandas, snail kite, numerous tropical rain forest species

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16
Q

native species

A

species that normally live & thrive in a particular ecosystem in which they evolved or are ‘naturally’ found
EX’s: American bison, American alligator, etc

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17
Q

nonnative species

A

species that migrate into an ecosystem or are deliberately or accidentally introduced into an ecosystem; also known as exotic, alien, or introduced species
EX’s: kudzu, Argentine fire ants, nutria, etc

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18
Q

indicator species

A

species that play roles affecting many other organisms in an ecosystem
EX’s: many birds, frogs, & toads

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19
Q

keystone species

A

species that play roles affecting many other organisms in an ecosystem
EX’s: wolf, leopard, lion, sea otter, great white shark, various bees, bats, & ants

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20
Q

how quickly can a species adapt? 3 limitations

A

1) A change in environmental conditions can lead to adaptation only for traits already present in the gene pool of a population
2) The population’s ability to adapt can be limited by its reproductive capacity
3) Even if a favorable trait is present, most of the population would have to die or become sterile so individuals with the trait could dominate & pass the trait on

21
Q

speciation

A

formation of 2 species from one species as a result of divergent natural selection in response to changes in environmental conditions
Generalist species adapt to changes better

22
Q

geographic isolation

A

separation of populations of a species into different areas for fairly long times

23
Q

reproductive isolation

A

long-term geographic separation of members of a particular sexually reproducing species

24
Q

extinction

A

complete disappearance of a living species from the Earth; happens when a species cannot adapt & successfully reproduce under new environmental conditions or it evolves into one or more new species

25
Q

types or degrees of extinction

A

Background Extinction, Mass Extinction, Mass Depletion
fossil/geologic evidence suggests that at least 2 mass extinctions & 3 mass depletions have occurred during the past 500 million years

26
Q

dispersal: physical (abiotic factors)

A

which control the dist of species

27
Q

dispersal: temp

A

certain species, plants & animals, will only thrive in warm climates, OR only in cold climates; some in both

28
Q

megatherm plants

A

adapted to high temps

29
Q

microtherm plants

A

adapted to within stand low temps

30
Q

water

A

no water = no photosynthesis= no plants= no animals

31
Q

xerophyte

A

adapted to low moisture conditions

32
Q

hygrophyte

A

adapted to high moisture conditions

deciduous(drop leaves) vs evergreen trees and plants(keep leaves)

33
Q

light availability

A

increase light= increase photosynthesis

shade tolerant vs shade intolerant (need direct sunlight)

34
Q

soils

A

structure, texture both affect plant root systems and thus plant survival and dispersal

35
Q

landforms: elevation

A

affects T° and moisture

36
Q

landforms: slope steepness

A

affects water availability, & soil thickness

37
Q

landforms: slope aspect

A

(compass direction a slope is facing) affects amount of sunlight, and thus T° & moisture levels

38
Q

North facing slope ___ vs south facing slope of a mountain ___

A

colder and wetter

warmer and drier

39
Q

types of biotic factors: species interaction

A 
interspecific competition
predation
parasitism
mutualism
commensalism
amensalism
40
Q

interspecific comp

A

members of two or more species trying to use the same limited resources in an ecosystem

41
Q

ex’s of resources

A

nutrients (food), water, sunlight, space, mates, “building supplies”, etc

42
Q

if intense comp exists

A

1) Migration of one species,
2) Shift in habits or behavior through natural selection/evolution,
3) Sharp population decline
4) Extinction from that area

43
Q

resource partitioning

A

the process of dividing up resources in an ecosystem (each organism developing its own ecological niche), is one way to adapt to these conditions

44
Q

predation

A

situation in which an organism of one species (the predator) captures and feeds on parts or all of an organism of another species (the prey)
EX: *grasshopper eating (preying on) grass or crops
*coyote preying on rabbits or mice
*often increases the biodiversity of the ecosystem

45
Q

parasitism

A

interaction between species in which one organism (the parasite) preys on another organism (the host) by living on or in the host; The parasite benefits & the host is often harmed.
EX’s: tapeworms, ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, mistletoe, some fungi

46
Q

mutualism

A

species interaction in which the presence of one species is often essential to the survival of another species, but usually both species benefit from the interaction
EX’s: honeybees & flowers (food/pollination), oxpeckers & black rhinoceros (food/removal of parasites), clownfish & sea anemones (protection & food/protection)

47
Q

commensalism

A

interaction between organisms of different species in which one organism benefits and the other is either helped nor harmed to any great degree
EX’s: epiphytes & various trees (epiphyte gains access to water, nutrients, & sunlight while the tree is unharmed)

48
Q

amensalism

A

the inhibition of one species by another through chemical means
EX: certain plants produce toxins & release them into the soil making the soil unusable by other plants, thus inhibiting the growth of competing plants

Geography (5 decks)

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