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Ecology Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

ecology

A

the study of interactions between organisms and their environment.

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2
Q

environment

A

encompasses all that is external to the organisms and is necessary for its existence.
-contains two components- the physical or non living and the living environment.

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3
Q

physical environment

A

climate, temperature, availability of light and water and the local topology

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4
Q

the biotic environment

A

includes all living things that directly or indirectly influence the life of the organism, including the relationships that exist between organisms.

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5
Q

Organism

A

the individual unit of an ecological system but the organism itself if composed of smaller units.
-contains many organ systems which are made up of organs->, tissues->, cells and many different molecules->atoms ->subatomic particles

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6
Q

population

A

a group of organisms of the same species living together in a given location.

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7
Q

species

A

any group of similar organisms that are capable of reproducing fertile offspring.

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8
Q

communities

A

consists of populations of different plants and animals species interacting with each other in a given environment.
-generally a community contains populations from all five kingdoms depending on each other for survival

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9
Q

biotic community

A

used to include only the populations and not their physical environment

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10
Q

ecosystem

A

ecological community- encompasses the interaction between living biotic communities and the nonliving environment.

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11
Q

biosphere

A

includes all portions of the planet that support life- the atmosphere, the lithosphere (rock and soil surface) and the hydrosphere (oceans). its is relatively thin zone extending a few feet beneath the earths surface, several miles into the deepest sea and several miles into the atmosphere

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12
Q

Water

A

water is the major component of the internal environment of all living things. water may be readily available, or the organism may posse adaptations for storage and conversion of water.

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13
Q

temperature

A

temperature must be maintained at an optimal level. organisms have adaptations necessary for protection against extremes.
temperature in a location depends on the geographic latitude and altitude.

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14
Q

sunlight

A

the ultimate source of energy for all organisms. green plants must compete for sunlight in the forests. but they have multiple adaptations

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15
Q

photic zone

A

in water is the top layer through which light can penetrate and where all aquatic photosynthetic activity takes place

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16
Q

aphotic zone

A

only animal life and other heterotrphic life exists

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17
Q

oxygen supply

A

poses no problem in terrestrial life since the air contains 20% of oxygen.
aquatic plants and animals utilize the small amount of oxygen dissolved in water.

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18
Q

pollution in water

A

significantly lower oxygen content in the water and threatening aquatic life.

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19
Q

Substratum

A

the substratum determines the nature of plant and animal life in the soil. Soil is affected by ; acidity, texture minerals and humus.

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20
Q

acidity of soil

A

rhododendrons and pines are more suited for growth in acidic soil. acid ran may make soil pH too low for plant growth

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21
Q

texture of soil

A

and its clay content determine the water holding capacity of the soil. most plants grow well in loams, which contain high percentages of each type of soil

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22
Q

minerals in soil

A

including nitrates and phosphates affect the type of vegetation that can be supported. beach sand has no minerals

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23
Q

humus in soil

A

the quantity is determined by the amount of decaying plant and animal life in the soil

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24
Q

niche

A

defines the functional role of an organism in its ecosystem.
describes what the organism eats, where and how it obtains food, what climatic factors it can tolerate and which are optimal, etc. it embodies every aspect of the organisms existence
-very specific -no two species can have the same niche in the same location.

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25
Q

habitat

A

physical place where an organism lives. the characteristics of the habitat aid in defining the niche.

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26
Q

Competition

A

when species occupying similar niches utilize at least one resource in common. leads to extinction, elimination, divergent developing differences in their niches

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27
Q

autotrophs

A

organisms that manufacture their own food

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28
Q

heterotrophs

A

cannot synthesize their own food and must depend upon autotrophs or other heterotrophs in the ecosystem to obtain food and energy

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29
Q

herbivores

A

animals that only consume plants or plant foods. the toughness of cellulose containg plant tissues has led to the development of parts for grinding and crushing. also having long digestive systems with symbiotic bacteria to assist in digestions.
more defensive because they are often prey.

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30
Q

carnivores

A

animals that only eat other animals. they posses pointed fanglike teeth for tearing flesh. they have shorter tracts due to easier digest animal food.

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31
Q

omnivores

A

animals that eat both plants and animals.

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32
Q

major types of interspecific interactions

A

symbiosis, predation, saprophytism, and scavenging.

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33
Q

symbiosis

A

symbionts live together in an intimate often permanent association which may or may not be beneficial to both participants.
-some are obligatory: one cant survive w/o the other
types of relationships are commensalism, mutualism, parasitism

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34
Q

commensalism

A

one organism is benefited by the association and the other is not affected. the host neither discourages nor fosters the relation ship.
(+/0)

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35
Q

mutualism

A

(+/+) a symbiotic relationship from which both organisms derive some benefit

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36
Q

parasitism

A

a parasite benefits at the expense of the host. exists when competition for food is most intense. few autotrophs are parasite. Seen mostly in bacteria fungi and animals.
-does not kill the host because if so then it will die.

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37
Q

ectoparasites

A

cling to the exterior surface of the host using suckers or clamps

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38
Q

endoparasites

A

live within the host. to gain entry they must pass through defenses like skin, digestive juices antibodies and WBC.

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39
Q

predation

A

free living organisms that feed on other living organisms. includes both carnivores and herbivores. in many cases the predator aids in controlling the number of the prey but not so much as to endanger the existence of the prey population.

40
Q

saprophytism

A

include those protists and fungi that decompose dead organic matter externally and absorb the nutrients: they constitute a vital link in the cycling of material within the ecosystem.

41
Q

scavengers

A

are animals that consume dead animals. they don’t have any adaptations for hunting and killing their prey. decomposes can be considered scavengers.

42
Q

intraspecific interaction

A

species may also compete with one another for resources. but they must also cooperate. it can be extensive or nearly non existent. influenced by disruptive and cohesive forces. disruptive is competitions and cohesive include reproduction and protection.

43
Q

osmoregulation

A

animals have developed many adaptations for maintiang their internal osmolarity and conserving water

44
Q

salt water fish water reg

A

live in an hyperosmotic environment which causes them to loose water and take in salt. they must compensate by constant drinking of water and excretion of salt across their gills

45
Q

fresh water fish water reg

A

live in a hypo-osmotic environment which causes intake of excess water and excessive salt loss. they drink seldom and absorb salts through the gills and excreting dilute urine

46
Q

insects water reg

A

excrete solid uric acid crystals to conserve water

47
Q

desert animals water reg

A
  • the camel can tolerate a wide rang of body temps and fat layers assist
  • horned toad thick scaly skin to prevent water loss
  • others avoid sunlight
48
Q

plants water reg

A
  • non desert plants have waxy cuticles on leaf surfaces and stomata on the lower leaf surface. they shed leaves in the winter to avoid water loss.
  • desert plants have extensive root systems and fleshy stems to store water. spiny leaves to limit water loss
49
Q

thermoregulation

A

60% of total energy is given off as heat. vast majority of animals and plants are cold blooded or poikilothermic, most of the energy escapes to the environment.

50
Q

poikilotherms

A

body temp is very close to that of its environment. since the metabolism is closely related to its surroundings temp, it is radically effected by environmental changes.

51
Q

homeothermic

A

mammals and birds. evolved physical mechanisms that allow them to make use of heat produced as consequence of respiration. the temp maintained is that higher then the environment expanding their capabilities

52
Q

Energy flow

A

transfer of energy mapped out in a food chain or food web each ecosystem has one

53
Q

Food chain

A

single chain showing the transfer of energy . within the food chain energy is transferred from the original source in green plants through a series of organisms in repeated stages of consumption and decomposition.
there are producers, primary consumers, secondary and decomposers

54
Q

producers

A

autotrophic green plants and chemo synthetic bacteria are the producers. they utilize the energy of the sun and simple raw materials (CO2, water and minerals) to manufacture carbs lipids and proteins.

55
Q

primary consumers

A

animals that consume green plants (herbivores)

56
Q

secondary consumers

A

animals that consume the primary consumers (carnivores)

57
Q

tertiary consumers

A

animals that feed on secondary consumers (also carnivores)

58
Q

decomposers

A

include the saprophytic organisms and organisms of decay which include bacteria and fungi.

59
Q

food web

A

is not a simple linear chain but an intricate collection of interconnected food chains. there are diff food chain levels which are consumed by other food chains. the greater number of pathways that the food chain connects the more stable the community

60
Q

food pyramids of energy

A

each member of the food chain utilizes some of the energy it obtains for its food for its own metabolism. and looses some addtional energy in the form of heat. leading to a loss of energy at every feeding level

61
Q

pyramid of mass

A

since organisms at the upper levels of the food chain derive their food energy form the lower levels, and energy is lost from one level to the next- each level can support a successively smaller biomass. 100g of grass->20lbs of grass hoppers etc

62
Q

pyramid of numbers

A

consumer organisms at the top of the food chain are normally larger and usually heavier than those further down. and the mass equates to the population.

63
Q

Material cycles

A

material is cycled and recycled between organisms and their environment. passing forms of inorganic to organic then back to inorganic. credited largely to decomposers and scavengers

64
Q

Nitrogen cycle

A

elemental nitrogen cannot be used by organisms. Lighting and nitrogen fixing bacteria in the roots of legumes change nitrogen to usable nitrates

  • nitrates are absorbed by plants and are used to synthesize nucleic acids and plant proteins.
  • animals eat the plants synthesize their own materials then die and give off wastes.
  • nitrogen locked up in the wastes and dead tissues are released by bacteria decay which converts proteins into ammonia.
65
Q

fates of ammonia in nitrogen cycle

A
  • some is nitrified to nitrites by chemosynthetic bacteria then to usable nitrates by nitrifying bacteria
  • rest is denitrified
66
Q

denitrifed

A

ammonia is broken down to release free nitrogen which returns it to the beginning of the nitrogen cycle

67
Q

carbon cycle

A
  • gaseous CO2 enters the living world when plants use it to produce glucose via photosynthesis.
  • animals eat the plants and use nutrients to form carbs, fats and proteins. a part of these are used as fuel in respiration in plants and animals
  • metabolic produced CO2 is released in the air the rest is release after the being is decomposed.
68
Q

conditions for stability in the ecosystem

A

self sustaining and will remain if it has relatively stable physical environment and community, constant energy source and living system to transfer energy, and cycling of materials.

69
Q

ecological succession

A

the orderly process by which one biotic community replaces or succeeds the other until a climax community is established.
-each community stage or sere in an ecological succession is identified by a dominant species- the one that exerts control over the other species that are present.
grass in the grasslands

70
Q

why do changes occur

A

because each community that establishes itself changes the environment, making it more favorable for itself and for its community that succeed it

71
Q

climax community

A

the final and most stable stage of succession that occurs after the replacement of a new community that was created. permanent unless there is drastic change in equilibrium

72
Q

pioneer organism

A

base and producer of the new community- if it has the proper resources and physical factors it will thrive

73
Q

terrestrial biomes

A

desert, grassland, tropical rain forest, temperate deciduous forest, temperate coniferous forest, taiga, tundra and polar regions.

74
Q

biome

A

geographic region inhabited by a distinct community

75
Q

Land biome characterization

A

according to the climax vegetation of the region.

76
Q

climax vegetation

A

the vegetation that becomes dominant and stable after years of evolutionary development. and since plants are the primary producers they in turn determine the climax animal population

77
Q

Desert biome

A

receive fewer than 10 inches of rain a year

  • growing is restricted to after the short burst of rain falls
  • inhabited by small plants and animals
  • desert plants conserve water, animals live in burrows yet few mammals and birds live here
78
Q

grassland biome

A

low rain fall 10-30 inches a year

  • provide no shelter for herbivorous animals from predators
  • animals here have long legs and hooves for protection
  • deer ox etc
79
Q

Tropical rain forest biome

A

Jungles- with high temps and torrential rains

  • dense growth of vegetation that does not shed leaves.
  • saprophytes live on the floor of the forest
  • monkeys, lizards insects ex.
80
Q

temperate deciduous forest biome

A
  • cold winters, warm summers and moderate rainfall
  • trees such as beech, maple and oaks and willow shed their leaves during cold winter months
  • deer, fox and squirrels etc
81
Q

temperate coniferous forest biome

A

cold, dry and inhabited by fir, pine and spruce trees. much of the vegetation has evolved adaptations for water conservation, such as needle shaped leaves.

82
Q

taiga biome

A

receive less rainfall than the temperate forest

  • long cold winters and are inhabited by a single coniferous tree the spruce.
  • floor contains moss and lichens
  • moose is chief then bears and wolves etc
83
Q

polar region

A

frozen with no vegetation, and few terrestrial animals. few that do live there live near the polar oceans.

84
Q

tundra biome

A

treeless, frozen plain found between the taiga lands and northern ice sheets. very short summer and short growing season.
-lichens, moss polar bears and arctic hens

85
Q

aquatic biomes

A

more than 70% of the earths surface is covered by water. 90% of the earths food and oxygen production takes place in the water.

  • most stable ecosystems the food systems are balanced
  • marine and freshwater
86
Q

marine biome

A

composed of the oceans, form to connect one continuous body of water. which controls the earths temp by absorbing solar heat. contains relatively constant amount of nutrient materials and dissolved salts.

87
Q

intertidal zone

A

the region of the ocean exposed at low tides that undergoes variations in temp and periods of dryness. populations are of algae, sponges, clams, snails sea urchins and crabs

88
Q

littoral zone

A

the region on the continental shelf that contains ocean area with depths up to 600 feet and extends several hundred miles from shores.
population- algae crabs crustacea and many diff fish

89
Q

pelagic zone

A

typical of the open seas and can be divided into photic and aphotic zones.

90
Q

photic zone

A

the sunlit layer of the open sea extending to ta depth of 250-600 feet. contains plankton, nekton, the chief autotroph is diatom an algae

91
Q

plankton

A

passively drifting masses of microscopic photosynthetic and heterotrophic organisms

92
Q

nekton

A

active swimmers such as fish sharks or whales

93
Q

Fresh water biomes

A

rivers, lakes ponds and marshes the links between oceans and land.
factors that effect life are temp, transparency, depth of water, available carbon dioxide and oxygen and salt concentration.

94
Q

rivers

A

routes by which ancient marine organisms reached land and evolved terrestrial adaptations. many failed to adapt and can cope with land and water

95
Q

how freshwater differs from salt water

A
  • hypotonic- plants and animals have adapted to ways to remove excess water
  • river and streams have strong swift currents thus selection favored fish and plants with strong muscles and roots
  • temp varies

Biology (17 decks)

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