Ecology Flashcards
what is ecology
the study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment
Goals of Ecology
- Understanding the distribution and abundance of organisms
- Identifying impacts humans have on the environment
what is the Scale and flow of ecology
- individual: survival, reproduction
- population: dynamics, unit of evolution
- community: interactions among species
- ecosystem: flow of energy and matter
- Biosphere: global processes
5 different approaches to studying ecology
- biosphere
- ecosystem
- community
- populations
5.individual approach
whats the Biosphere approach
- Oceans and wind currents define climate
- How this governs species distribution
whats the Ecosystem approach
- Movement of energy and mater between non-living environment (abiotic) and organisms (biotic)
- Abiotic: water, air, temperature, light, soil, nutrients
whats the community approach
- Diversity and abundance of oragnisms living in the same place
- Interactions between populations
whats the populations approach
- Variation over time and space in density, composition (e.g. sex ratio), distribution of species
- Causes of this variation
whats the individual approach
Morphology, physiology, behaviour
Adaptations to their environments
define biogeography:
study of how organisms are distributed geographically
Abiotic factors on distribution and abundance
Climate; temperature and moisture
Biotic factors on distribution and abundance
competitors, mutualisms, predators, parasites
Why are the tropics Hot and Moist
Solar radiation per unit area declines with increading lattitude, closer to equator is warmer
Tropics are moist because
Hadley cells cause tropics to be more moist than 30 degrees lat
Area of rising, warm, moist air
How are terrestrial biomes distinguished
dominate vegetation type, average temp, and average precipitation
Properties of tropical wet forest
Warm temp and high moisture
Favourable growth conditions\
High species diversity, aboveground biomass
Properties of subtropical deserts
Extreme temps and low moisture
Unfavourable growth
Low diversity
Slow grown, adaption for low moisture (cacti)
properties of temperate grasslands
Moderate temp to low moderate moisture
Dertile soil, lower productivity then forest
Too dry to support tree growth
Fire regimes
properties of temperate forests
Moderate temperatures and moderate moisture
Photosynthesis not supported year round
Dominated by deciduous trees
properties of temperate coniferous forests
Mild winter temps and high moisture
Canada and US pacific northwest
Canopy of conifers, understory of ferns, shrubs etc
properties of boreal forest
Low temp low moisture
Low productivity low diversity
Dominated by cold tolerant coniders
Slow-growing species are long-lived perennials
properties of Arctic tundra
Low temp and low moisture
Low productivity and low diversity
Low above ground biomass
Permafrost can be present
define Anthropocene
new epoch, when humans have driven land changed signific
Three physical factors that affect distribution and abundance in organisms in marine habitat
salinity, water movement or flow, wetland
Salinity
solute with + charge combine with - charged ions to form salts
Affects osmosis and water balance
Species adapt for salinity
water movement or flow
Presents a physical challenge
Species disperal and distribution (eg salmon swimming upstream to mate)
Wetlands
Shallow-water habitates where soil is saturated for a least part of year
Distinct lakes/ponds as they only have shallow water and have emergent vegetation (everglades)
Explain lake turnover
- winter stratification:dense water at bottom become nutrient rice, cold water near surface becomes oxygenated
- spring turnover: surface water warms and sinks, carrying O2 down and driving nutrients uo
- Summer stratification: dense water at bottom become nutritent rich, water near surface oxygenates
- fall turnover: surface water warms, sinks carrying O2, driving nutrients up
does light penetrate further in freshwater or saltwater
freshwater
what wavelength is dominate underwater
blue
ocean zone with highest productivity
Neritic zone, tropical and coral reefs
zones in lakes
littoral: flowering plant rooted
Limnetic: water receive enough light for photosynthesis in photic zone only
Photic: home of fish, plankton, crusteans
Benthic zone: scavangers
