Ecology Flashcards
What are the 5 basic concepts of economic ecology
- diversity
- interdependency
- resource and energy cycles
- nested systems
- dynamic balance
What are the levels of organization
Biosphere Biome Ecosystems Community Population Species
What is the biosphere
Earth
What is a biome
Major regional area made up of distinct plants and animals
What is an ecosystem
Smaller area in biome, more complex
What is a community
Within ecosystem, group of plants and animals that make up ecosystem
What is a population
One species
What is a species
Group of organisms that are similar and able to breed together
How many biogeoclimatic zones are there
18 in world
13 in BC
What is a physical adaptation
Adaptation of body
What is a behavioural adaptation
Adaptation with the way an organism acts
Do individuals evolve
No, the species does
Characteristics of tundra
Temp:-40 to 18
150-160 cm perception
Little to no trees
Permafrost characteristics
Little soil
Not much growing
Polar bears ,Arctic foxes
Boreal forest characteristics
Temp: -40 to 20
45-65 mm a year precipitation (mainly snow)
Temperate forest characteristics
Temp: 5 to 25 Perception: >200cm Large evergreens 4 distinct seasons Large biodiversity Rich soil Most organisms live on forest floor
Temperate grassland characteristics
Temp: -10 to 30
Precipitation: 25 to 200 cm
Flat
Large grassing animals
Tropical grassland characteristics
Temp: 7 to 30
Precipitation: 25 cm
Salty soil and few plants
Plants have lots of adaptations
Tropical rainforest characteristics
Temp: 20 to 25 Precipitation: 2000 to 10000 poor soil Largest biodiversity Produces more than 40% of worlds oxygen
What are biotic factors
Living components of an ecosystem
What are abiotic factors
Non living parts of an ecosystem
What is symbiosis
Relationship between 2 or more organisms
What is commensalism
One organism is benefited
Other is not harmed
What is mutualism
Both organisms benefit
What is parasitism
One organism is benefited
Other is harmed
What is a niche
Role of species in an ecosystem
What is competition
How do the species in an environment interact
What is biodiversity
Variety of living species
What contribute to the availability of food water and nutrients
Each ecosystem’s unique biotic and abiotic factors
What do biogeoclimatic zones have
Biological components
Geological components
Climate components
What is ecology
Study of the environment and the relationship between all the components
What is succession
Changes that take place over time in a species in an environment
What is biodegradation
When dead matter is broken down by biological agents
What is a pyramid of numbers
Shows how much of each species
What is a pyramid of energy
Shows amount of energy available at each level
What does primary succession start with
Rocks
What is secondary succession
Result of natural disaster
Starts with soil
What are the trophic levels
Producer Primary Consumer Secondary consumer Tertiary consumer Quaternary consumer
What are trophic levels
The different feeding positions on a good chain
What is producer
Gets its food from abiotic sources
Photosynthesis
What is a primary consumers
Herbivores
What is a secondary consumer
Eat primary consumers
Carnivores and omnivores
What is a tertiary consumer
Eats secondary consumers
What is a quaternary consumer
Eats tertiary consumers
What percent of energy gets passed in to the next trophic level
10%
