ecology Flashcards
organisms
individuals
populations
same species in the same environment
communities
all plants and animals in the same environment
ecosystems
living organisms and the environment they live in
biosphere
the earth
organismal ecology
interested in adaptations that allow for organism to live in a different habitats
adaptations
can be morphological, behavioral, or physiological
conspecific
two individuals of the same species
biogeography
study of the distribution of living organisms across geographic space
heterospecific
interaction of different species
biotic
living
abiotic
non-living
endemic species
found in one very specific area, usually limited in size
terrestrial biomes
forest, deserts, grasslands, tundra
forests
tropical
chaparral
temperate
deciduous
coniferous
deciduous
trees that loose their leaves
chaparral
scrubland
deserts
semi arid
hot/dry
coastal
cold
grasslands
prairie(temperate)
savannah(tropical)
tundra
low plant life
mostly moss
aquatic biomes
saltwater
brackish
freshwater
saltwater
shallow coastal (reefs)
deep sea(benthic –>bottom)
open ocean(pelagic)
brackish
estuaries
salt marshes
freshwater
lakes/ponds
rivers/streams
wetlands/swamps
what has human impact led to
overfishing
destruction of habitats for development, agriculture, wood
pollution
extermination of native animal and plant populations
excessive release of greenhouse gases through burning of fossil fuels
reasons for global variation in climate
uneven heating of the earth’s surface by the sun
rotation of the earth on its axis
-equator spins faster than the regions north and south of it
- prevailing winds that result distribute heat and moisture over the earths surface and dive oceans currents
properties of air, water, and land
-convection transfers energy and water
el nino
occurs every 2-7 years
when a high pressure weather system that is normally stable over the eastern pacific ocean breaks down, destroying the pattern of westward-blowing trade winds
-warm water reversal which causes a warmer winter
largest threats to coral reefs
increases sea temperature
decreased pH
increased disease(related to increased temperature and human activity)
direct human contact
coastal development(run off, increased nutrients
global climate change means
co2 and other greenhouse gases are released by humans are contributing to
global warming of atmosphere and sea
increased number and intensity of hurricanes
sea surface level rise
ocean acidification
natural effects of global climate regulation
milankovitch cycles
solar intensity –> decreased in recent years
volcanic activity- haze-cooling effect
eccentricity
the shape of earth orbit
precession
direction earths axis of rotation is pointed
obliquity
the angle earths axis is tilted with respect to earths orbital plane
