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Science > Ecology > Flashcards

Ecology Flashcards

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Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Biotic

A

Living

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2
Q

Abiotic

A

Non-Living

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3
Q

Ecology

A

The study of interactions among organisms with each other

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4
Q

Habitat

A

Where an organism lives + what it needs to survive(abiotic factors)

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5
Q

Niche

A

A role which an organism plays in an ecosystem(a job)

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6
Q

Herbivore

A

eats plants

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7
Q

Omnivore

A

eats plants and animals

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8
Q

Carnivore

A

eats other animals

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9
Q

Detrivores/Decomposers

A

Eats dead/decaying material

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10
Q

Autotrophs

A

Producers - Uses mostly light to make their own food

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11
Q

Heterotrophs

A

Consumers - Consumes other organisms to obtain energy

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12
Q

Symbiosis

A

An interaction between 2 organisms

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13
Q

Albedo

A

how much light a substance reflects back(mirrors, water, glass)

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14
Q

Pioneer species

A

The first organisms to live in a previously uninhabited area

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15
Q

Succession

A

The series of changes in an ecosystem when one community is replaced by another community as a result of changes in biotic and abiotic factors

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16
Q

Climax Community

A

A community that is able to maintain itself for long periods of time with few changes in the species that populate it.

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17
Q

Levels of Organization (6)

A

Species -> Population -> Community -> Ecosystem -> Biome -> Biosphere

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18
Q

Species

A

A group of individuals that can mate with one another

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19
Q

Population

A

All individuals of a species in one area

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20
Q

Community

A

All the population that live together in one area

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21
Q

Ecosystem

A

A community including the abiotic and biotic factors in one area

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22
Q

Biome

A

A large area that has a particular climate and organisms

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23
Q

Biosphere

A

A part of earth that supports life

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24
Q

Lithosphere

A

crust & core of the earth

25
Q

Hydrosphere

A

water

26
Q

Atmosphere

A

sky

27
Q

Primary Succession

A

The process of creating and developing an ecosystem in an area that was previously uninhabited. Eg. Sides of volcanoes and glacier recessions

28
Q

Primary Succession Process (6 steps)

A
  1. Pioneer species move into an unoccupied area
  2. Once enough soil, small plants grow
  3. Small plants create habitats for small animals
  4. Larger plants begin to populate the area
  5. Larger animals follow the larger plants
  6. Eventually, a mature community is formed called a climax community
29
Q

Secondary Succession

A

The process of repairing a damaged ecosystem (Eg. Natural disasters, human activities, death of organisms)

30
Q

Secondary Succession notes(6)

A
  • Occurs in areas where the soil was left intact
  • Usually much faster than primary succession because there is soil already
  • Never ending process
  • Any disturbance in ecosystem results in secondary succession starting over
  • Similar to primary succession but doesn’t require soil forming pioneer species
  • If ecosystem is often disturbed, it won’t be able to support large trees and animals so it will consist of the animals that are in the early stages of succession
31
Q

Food Chain

A

A simple model that shows only a single set of energy-transfer relationships

32
Q

Energy Pyramid

A
  • Biomass = # of organisms x mass of organism
  • Only 10% of the energy is being passed on to next trophic lvl (/10 or *0.10) (10% rule)
  • The other 90% of energy is used for living, growing and reproducing
33
Q

Food Webs

A

A food web consists of all the food chains in a single ecosystem

34
Q

Photosynthesis

A

6CO^2 + 6H^2O –(light)–> C^6H^12O^6 + 6O^2

35
Q

Cellular Respiration

A

Sugar + oxygen (O^2) → carbon dioxide (CO^2) + water (H^2O)

36
Q

Water Cycle

A

evaporation/transpiration -> condensation -> precipitation -> surface runoff/groundwater

37
Q

Carbon Cycle

A
  • Reason for life
  • Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere causes the “Greenhouse Effect”
    -Allows for tolerable temps on earth
    -Plants require it for photosynthesis
  • Fossil Fuels are made of carbon
    • Burning them increases carbon dioxide
    • Oil and Coal
      Humans and animals exhale carbon dioxide
38
Q

Nitrogen Cycle

A

(check other notes)

39
Q

Carrying Capacity

A

the maximum # of individuals that an ecosystem can sustain for a long period of time bc all ecosystems have limited resources

40
Q

Euthrophication

A

fertilizer -> groundwater/surface runoff -> bodies of water -> algae blooms -> dead zones

41
Q

Invasive Species: Direct Threats

A
  • preying on native species
  • out-competing native species for food or other resources
  • causing or carrying disease
  • preventing native species from reproducing or killing their young
42
Q

Invasive Species: Indirect Threats

A
  • Changing food webs
  • Decreasing biodiversity - replacing diverse ecosystem
  • Altering ecosystem conditions(eg. Changing soil chem)
43
Q

Invasive Species: Control Methods

A
  • chemical control
  • biological control
  • mechanical control
44
Q

Chemical Control

A

pesticides, herbicides and poison

45
Q

Biological Control

A

introduce a predator of the species

46
Q

Mechanical Control

A

use tools to kill, destroy, trap and remove the species.(humans)

47
Q

Bioaccumulation

A

The increase in concentration of a substance greater than the outside environment(as time goes on, more contaminants)

48
Q

4 things needed for chemical bioaccumulation to occur

A
  1. Long lived
  2. Mobile
  3. Fat soluble(dissolved) - if soluble in water, it will be excreted by organism
  4. Biologically active - if not active, may biomagnify but not cause any problems
49
Q

Biomagnification/Bioamplification

A

The increase in concentration of a substance as it moves through a food chain

50
Q

Pros and Cons

A

Pros - vital nutrients
Cons - pollutants, metals, pesticides

51
Q

Pesticides

A

protection of crops, people, animals and biodiversity

52
Q

DDT

A
  • pesticide
  • half life of DDT - 15 years
  • Toxic to insects and in high concentrations can cause problems to animals
53
Q

ppm

A

parts per million

54
Q

Predator Prey interaction

A

one species hunts another for food

55
Q

Mutualism

A

both benefit

56
Q

Commensalism

A

one benefits while not harming the other organism

57
Q

Parasitism

A

one lives off another harmfully

58
Q

Competition

A

contest between organisms for resources, recognition, or group or social status

Science (10 decks)

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