ecology accumulative terms Flashcards
Alien species
Any species that moves to an area where it did not previously inhabit and negatively impacts the environment.
Bioaccumulation
When organisms within one trophic level accumulate toxins in their body through food
Biomagnification
When organisms feed on other organisms from the trophic level below and by doing so, accumulate toxins to a concentration greater than the trophic level below them
Gyre
Naturally rotating ocean current, 5 located within oceans around the world
Indicator species
Species present only when specific environmental conditions are met
The edge effect
Changes in a population or community along the boundary of a habitat
Fragmentation
When reserves become fragmented in smaller patches (usually by road construction)
Detritivores
obtain energy from detritus (waste) by internal digestion, ex: worms
Saprotrophs
obtain energy by external digestion aka breaks down debris using secreting enzymes to absorb, ex: fungi
Fundamental versus realized niche
FUNDAMENTAL NICHE: set of conditions an organism can survive/reproduce in. REALIZED NICHE: set of conditions in an organism’s actual mode of existence after interacting with other species.
Why is the number of trophic levels limited?
10% rule. As the trophic levels move up, less of the original solar energy is stored at each level.
3 reasons why energy decreases through trophic levels
The rest of the 90% of energy is 1. released into biosphere as heat 2. some biomass is not eaten (bones) 3. biomass is egested
What are some forms of energy conversion?
Cellular respiration and light energy into chemical energy in photosynthesis
Primary succession versus secondary succession
PRIMARY SUCCESSION: newly exposed or newly formed rock is colonized by living things for the first time. SECONDARY SUCCESSION: an area that was previously occupied by living things is disturbed, then re-colonized following the disturbance.
