Ecology Flashcards
What is Ecology?
An approach to living things
Ecologists study relationships
What is Ecosystem Ecology?
The study of the interactions between the living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of a defined region
We us ek wooed be f interaction to assess ecosystem health & make predictions
How do we make Ecology predictions?
Models (simplified version of reality)
Healthy systems are in a Dynamic Equilibrium. What is that, and how is it maintained?
When change happens, but overall balance is maintained, by feedback loops.
What happens when equilibrium is not maintained?
The system is unstable, ecosystems can collapse (cannot support life).
What is the Biosphere?
Layers that contain & support life on Earth
What is the Lithosphere?
Rock & minerals
What is the Atmosphere?
Gases
What is the Hydrosphere?
All H2O of all kinds
What are Biomes?
Large regions with characteristic temperatures and precipitation
Ex. Desserts vs. Deciduous Forests
What does difference in resources do?
It impacts diversity of living things
What is an Ecosystem?
A small region, characteristics of Abiotic qualities and the living things it supports
What is a Community?
Groups of different interacting species (biotic)
What is a Population?
A groupof organisms of the same species in the same place … and at the same time
What is an Organism?
One individual of a species
______ must be made available to lining things as _______ _________ (ie. _______)
ENERGY must be made available to lining things as ORGANIC MOLECULES (ie. GLUCOSE)
What are Autotrophs?
“Self feeders”, they make their own nutrients
AKA producers
What are PHOTOautotrophs?
Organisms that use Photosynthesis (Light Energy) & CO2 to make Glucose (&O2)
Plants
Phytoplankton
Bacteria
What are CHEMOautotrophs?
Organisms that use inorganic materials (Fe, H2O, Zn, H2S) and heat (Hydrothermal Vents) to do Chemosynthesis (make organic nutrients)
What are Heterotrophs?
“Other” feeders. Consumer producers/consumers to get their energy/nutrients
AKA Omnivores
Who are Primary Consumers?
Organisms that eat Producers
Usually herbivores, ear plants
Who are Secondary Consumers?
Organisms that eat Primary Consumers
Carnivores, eat animal tissue
Apart from Primary and Secondary Consumers, what other types are there?
Tertiary
Quaternary
Who are Omnivores?
Organisms that eat Plants & Animals
Or two or more tropic levels
Who are Detritivores?
An organism that eats dead or decaying plants or animals
What do Ecological Models do, and what are at the base?
They illustrate the movement of matter & energy
The base of any model are Autotrophs
Food Web stats
Food chains are the simplest models
Food chain length is related to energy availability
Solar Radiation & moisture ultimately determine
Chain length
# Organism abundance
Biodiversity (variety of living things)
Food Chains provide an opportunity to predict the outcomes of disturbances to the system
Food Web stats
More complex models, they illustrate more interactions *makes systems look more stable
They are made of two or more food chains
Harder to make predictions
Can also include Detritivores & Decomposers
What is Biomagnification?
When toxins become concentrated at higher Tropic levels
What is Bioaccumulation?
When repeated exposure results in build-up of toxins in one organism’s body
Eg. A bird eating plastic off the sea surface
Why is some solar energy not taken in by plants?
Some is reflected back into space because of participates/clouds
Some is absorbed by the atmoshpere (greenhouse gases: CO2, H2O, CH4 etc.)
Some is reflected off Earth surface because of the Albedo Effect
Surfaces that reflect more have high Albedo, Surfaces that absorb have low Albedo
What is Net Primary Productivity?
The Biomass Producers accumulate through Photosynthesis
What are the three types of Ecological Pyramids?
Numbers
Biomass
Energy
Pyramid of Numbers stats
They show the number of organisms at each Trophic level
They are usually constructed to scale
Ex. 100 organisms, dimensions 5x20
Pyramid of Biomass stats
Shows the dry mass in Kg of organisms per Trophic level… often in a given area
They are constructed to scale
Pyramid of Energy stats
Shows the amount of Energy in K Joules or K calories
They are always upright pyramid shaped because of the limits in energy transfer
What percentage of Energy at each Trophic level makes it to the next?
10%
How is Energy lost at each Trophic level?
Chemical Bonds
Urea, Uric Acid, Ammonia
Feces
H2O, CO2
Heat
Cell Respiration
Activity
Finding Food
Finding H2O, Shelter
Finding Mates
Fleeing Predators
This makes up for 90% of Energy in a Trophic level
How do we figure out how much energy gets passed down from Trophic levels?
By using this equation:
(Energy in A) x 0.1 = Energy in B
Or the rule of 10, divide going up levels, multiply going down level
Spindle Pyramid stats
Pyramid of Numbers, usually in Terrestrial Ecosystems, the producer isn’t the biggest level
Eg. (Going up) Tree, Insects, Birds - (small, large, medium)
Inverted Pyramid stats
A Pyramid of Biomass in Aquatic Ecosystems. Upside down pyramid, where the producers are the smallest level - they contain the least Biomass. But due to their high reproduction rate, they are able to replace themselves repeatedly
Eg. (Going up) Phytoplankton, Zooplankton, Whale (small, medium, large)
How do Negative Feedback loops work?
They have an “On” and an “Off” sequence
How do Positive Feedback loops work?
They amplify the initial stimulus - when they’re turned on, they stay on
What do Healthy Feedback systems look like?
Populations that remain at the size that the environment can support (called its carrying capacity)
Healthy Feedback systems maintain Moisture, Energy and Nutrient levels that fluctuate, but still support the Community
What do all Healthy Ecosystems have?
Biodiversity, a variety of different species or types of species, and as many Trophic levels can be supported
What is a Trophic Cascade?
When an organism is removed, and there are far-reaching consequences for the whole ecosystem
Eg. Wolves from Yellowstone, Otters from the North Pacific
What are Ecosystem Engineers?
Animals that Maddie the habitat in such a way that supports other organisms in the ecosystem
Eg. Beavers turn rivers into rich wetlands that provide habitats for amphibians, fish and aquatic birds
Elephants stop trees in the Savannah from taking over
While Trophic Cascades can generate an enormous number of problems in disturbed ecosystems, what do they also do?
Point to the most effective solutions
