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AP Biology > Ecology > Flashcards

Ecology Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Ecology

A

is the study of how organisms interact with their environment

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2
Q

population

A

all individuals of a species in a habitat that interbreed and produce viable offspring

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3
Q

habitat

A

location where population lives

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4
Q

community

A

population of different species that live close enough to interact

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5
Q

ecosystem

A

community plus biotic and abiotic factors that affect them

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6
Q

abiotic factors

A

non-living elements in an ecosystem

ex.) carbon dioxide, temperature, water, sunlight

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7
Q

biotic factors

A

living organism in an ecosystem

ex.)pathogens, predators

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8
Q

Interspecific Interactions

A

An organism’s interactions with individuals of different species in a community

Includes competition, predation, symbiosis (parasitism, mutualism, commensalism) herbivory, and facilitation

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9
Q

Symbiosis

A

2 species living in direct, intimate contact with each other. Can be harmful, beneficial, or neutral
examples.) Predation, Herbivory, Parasitism, Mutualism, Commensalism, Facilitation

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10
Q

Predation

A

+/- interaction. One species (predator) kills and eats the other (prey). Adaptations of prey and predator refined through natural selection

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11
Q

Herbivory

A

+/- interaction. Organism eats parts of plants or algae

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12
Q

Parasitism

A

+/- symbiotic interaction. Parasite derives nourishment from host which is harmed. Can live in or on host’s body. One third of all species are parasites.

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13
Q

Mutualism

A

+/+ interaction. Benefits both species. Ex: digestion of cellulose by microorganisms in cows’ digestive tract

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14
Q

Commensalism

A

+/0 interaction. One species is benefited, and the other isn’t harmed or helped. Ex: Cattle egrets and cattle

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15
Q

Facilitation

A

+/+ or 0/+ interaction. Species can positive effects on the survival & reproduction of other species even if they don’t live in the same area. Ex: Black rush makes the soil more hospitable for other plants

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16
Q

Interspecific Competition

A

interaction that occurs when individuals of different species compete for a resource that limits their growth or survival
In Canada and Alaska, lynx and foxes compete for prey (snowshoe hares)
Demand is often higher than supply.

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17
Q

Intraspecific Competition

A

Competition between organisms of the same species. Can compete for food, territory, and mates. Competition is strong because the needs of the members of a species are the same. Subordinates can die off, become dominant, migrate, or feed at different times. Some members may move away (potential for speciation)Natural selection can come into play. Those best suited for the environment survive and reproduce more

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18
Q

Species Diversity

A

the variety of the different kinds of organisms that reside in the community.

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19
Q

Species richness

A

number of different species in community

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20
Q

Relative abundance

A

proportion each species represents of all individuals in the community

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21
Q

Why is more diversity better

A

More diverse communities are more productive and better able to withstand and recover from environmental stresses (i.e. drought) and invasive species.

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22
Q

Introduced species

A

are moved by humans outside their native range.

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23
Q

Invasive species

A

are organisms that become established outside their native range. They spread widely and harms native species.
Invasive species are less likely to survive in higher-diversity communities
More diverse communities capture more of the community’s resources, leaving fewer resources for the invader and decreasing its survival

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24
Q

Trophic structure

A

The trophic structure of a community refers to the feeding relationships between organisms.

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25
Q

Primary producer (autotrophs)

A

most are photosynthetic organisms that use light to make sugar

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26
Q

Primary consumers

A

herbivores

27
Q

Secondary consumers

A

carnivores that eat herbivores

28
Q

Tertiary consumers

A

carnivores that eat carnivores

29
Q

Quaternary

A

top predators

30
Q

Decomposers

A

get energy from detritus (non-living organic materials). Ex: fungi & bacteria

31
Q

Energy Transfer and Tropic Levels

A

Food energy gets transferred up the trophic levels.
The 1st law of thermodynamics still applies:
Energy cannot be created or destroyed
Only 10% of energy is transferred to the next level.
The rest of the energy is lost as heat.
Ex: 1000 cal of energy from sun absorbed by producer. Only 100 calories are available to the herbivore, and 10 calories to a carnivore.

32
Q

Food Web

A

Food chains do not exist in isolation, they are linked together to form food webs.
In a food web, arrows link species. They show who eats who.
Food webs show interactions and energy flow between members of a community

33
Q

Energy Flow

A

Energy flows into and out of ecosystem,

34
Q

Nutrient Recycling

A

while nutrients (i.e. matter) are recycled.

35
Q

Keystone species

A

Although not overly abundant in a community, they exert strong control on community structure by their pivotal ecological niches.
Impact stability of an ecosystem.
Ex: Gray wolf in Yellowstone

36
Q

Niche

A

A habitat is the organism’s address and niche is an organism’s profession.

37
Q

Competitive exclusion principle

A

2 species cannot coexist permanently in a community if they have the same niche.

38
Q

ecological niche

A

the sum total of a n organism’s use of abiotic/biotic resources in the enviroment

39
Q

Fundamental niche

A

niche potentially occupied by the species

40
Q

realized niche

A

a portion of the fundamental niche the species actually occupies

41
Q

Population Density

A

How many individuals live in a given area at the same time (how crowded)
Impacts food competition, transmission of disease, abundance of predators
Must also consider how a population is dispersed

42
Q

3 Dispersion Classifications: Clustered

A

all animals live in confined area (Ex: herding animals)

43
Q

3 Dispersion Classifications: Even Dispersal

A

orderly placement of individuals (Ex: trees planted in rows)

44
Q

3 Dispersion Classifications: Random

A

opposite of even (Ex: trees in a forest)

45
Q

Limiting Factors

A

Limiting factors regulate how many organisms live in an ecosystem. Space, food, oxygen, and water are limiting factors.

46
Q

Carrying Capacity

A

An ecosystem can support only so large of a population. The maximum population size that an ecosystem can support is called carrying capacity.
Limiting factors determine carrying capacity.
The availability of abiotic factors (such as water, oxygen, and space) and biotic factors (such as food) dictates how many organisms can live in an ecosystem.
In an ecosystem, the population of a species will increase until reaches the carrying capacity. Then the population size remains relatively the same.

47
Q

Population Growth

A

Populations are stable, declining, or growing.
Numerous factors affect growth: birth and mortality rates, rate of emigration and immigration, food supply, predators, etc.
Can estimate growth using 2 models:
Exponential growth model
Logistic model

48
Q

Exponetial Growth Model

A

Assume ideal conditions and therefore unrestricted growth.
Minimal predation and unlimited resources.
Curve has a slow start, but accelerates rapidly
J shaped curve
When would we see this type of growth?

49
Q

Logistics Model

A

Takes into account density independent and dependant factors
Assumes a population will grow at an exponential rate until environmental factors limit growth rate
Population growth may have peaks and valleys, but is overall stable
3 Steps:
Exponential growth where birth rate is greater than death rate (minimal factors limiting growth)
Density Dependant and Density Independent factors level birth/death rate ratios
Birth and death rates reach steady state

50
Q

Density Dependent

A

Factors that decrease population proportionate with population density
As population increases, effect of density dependant factors increase.
Examples: disease, competition, predation. All increase as population increases

51
Q

Density Independent Factors

A

Factors that decrease population regardless of population size
Examples: weather/climate, natural disasters, human interactions

52
Q

Ecological Sucession

A

Environment changes
Better adapted species reproduce at a faster rate
Ecosystem changes over time
Succession continues until most well-adapted species dominates. End with a climax community.

53
Q

Primary Sucession

A

Colonization of an area where life has not existed before.
Ex: Lava cooling
Begins as pioneer plants and animals form pioneer communities.

54
Q

Surtsey Island

A

In 1963, an undersea volcanic eruption formed the island.
By 2008, about 30 plant species had been established. New species are moving in at the rate of two to five species per year.
Forestation of volcanic land may require from 300 to 2,000 years, depending on the distance to seed sources, wind and water, and chemical composition of the rock.

55
Q

Secondary Sucession

A

More common than primary succession
Occurs in an area where life previously existed
Have a starting point already - soil

56
Q

Trade Off

A

There is a trade-off between reproduction and survival.

Organisms whose young are subject to high mortality rates often produce large numbers of relatively small offspring.

57
Q

Biogeochemical Cycles

A

Pathways taken by essential substances like water, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus as they pass through biotic and abiotic environments.

58
Q

Water Cycle

A

Absorbed by organisms & become part of the biotic system
Water is used & released to abiotic environment through transpiration, respiration, and death.
Can also avoid biotic system completely. Water is recycled from streams, lakes, etc.
Water molecules gain energy and rise in atmosphere, where it cools, condenses, and falls as precipitation.

59
Q

Transpiration

A

Plants lose over 90% of the water they absorb through transpiration.
The plant does not expend energy moving water from its roots to its leaves. How is that possible?

60
Q

Carbon Cycle

A

Exists in abiotic environment as carbon dioxide. Carbon can also be found in fossil fuels and dissolved in the ocean.
Plants and algae absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and create carbon based molecules (glucose).
Herbivores eat the plants, and carnivores eat the herbivores. Carbon becomes part of these organisms.
Plants & animals release carbon dioxide as a waste product of cellular respiration. They also release carbon when they die and decompose.
Fossil fuel combustion and erosion return carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

61
Q

Nitrogen cycle

A

Nitrogen Gas (N2) makes up 78% of the atmosphere. In this form, it can’t be used directly by humans or plants. N2 must be converted into a biologically usable form.

Why does an organism need Nitrogen?

Nitrogen fixation is the process in which N2 in the atmosphere combines with other elements to form ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites.

62
Q

Importance of Nitrogen

A

The Nitrogenous base in a nucleotide

Proteins and Amine Group

63
Q

nitrogen Cycle

A

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria are present in soil and in root nodules of certain plants (legumes). These bacteria engage in nitrogen fixation, process in which N2 in the atmosphere combines with other elements to form ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites.
N2 is converted to Ammonia (NH3) by Nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
Nitrifying bacteria convert NH3to Nitrite (NO2-); additional nitrifying bacteria convert NO2- to Nitrate (NO3-).
Nitrate (NO3-) is the useable form of Nitrogen.

Plants absorb Nitrate (NO3-), changing its environment from abiotic to biotic.
Nitrate (NO3-) gets transferred to other organisms through food webs until it gets to decomposers.
Decomposers convert Nitrogen products into ammonium (NH4+). Nitrifying bacteria can recycle ammonium (NH4+) to Nitrite (NO2-) OR denitrifying bacteria can convert it to Nitrogen gas (N2).

64
Q

Phosphorus Cycle

A

Why does an organism need Phosphorus?
Of all the elements in the geochemical cycles, phosphorous is the scarcest and the most limiting.
Only cycle that does not involve the atmosphere.
Phosphorus is stored in rock (abiotic).
Rain and weathering cause rocks to release phosphorus ions, which leach into soil and water.
Plants absorb phosphorus, and then heterotrophs eat the plants.
Once consumed, the phosphorus is used in the formation of key molecules, like lipids.
When plants and animals die, phosphorus is returned to the soil.

AP Biology (4 decks)

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