ecology and biomes Flashcards
abiotic factors
all of the nonliving things in an environment
EX: wind, temp, water, light, soil
biotic factors
all of the living organisms in an environment
EX: plants, animals
habitat
- the place where an organism lives out its life
- it can change or even diappear
niche
the role a species has in its environment like how it gets its food, how it survives, and how it reproduces
tolerance
the ability of an organism to withstand changes in abiotic or biotic factors around them
symbiosis
when different species live and interact in a close and permanent association
mutalism
both species benefit from association
parasitism
one benefits and one is harmed
commensalism
on benefits and one is unaffected
have a host
community
group of organisms of different species that interact with eachother
ecosystem
biotic factors in an area and the abiotic factors that impact them
biosphere
region on Earth where living organisms are found from the deep oceans to the atmosphere
biodiversity
different species of organisms as well as the genetic variety within a species
importance of keeping biodiversity in nature
- great biodiversity gives stable ecosystems
- food chains and food webs cannot exist without it
- more resistant to disease
food chain
a simple model that shows the flow of energy in an ecosystem
EX: grass -> deer -> mountain lion
food web
a more complicated model that shows all of the feeding situations in an ecosystem
invasive/exotic species
species not native to a particular area, but now live and thrive in their new environment
-they have no natural predators
what does more biodiversity mean
more complex food web which means a stable environment
succession
natural changes and the replacement of different species in the communities of an ecosystem
-it can take a very long time to happen
primary succession
the first arrival of communities of organisms in a formerly lifeless area
pioneer species
the very first species to colonize a lifeless area
colonization
moving from a familiar habitat to a new unfamiliar area
secondary succession
changes in a community that occur when a natural or unnatural disaster destroys most of the individuals in a community
climax community
a stable, mature community that undergoes little or no succession
biome
a large group of ecosystems that share the same type of climax community
marine biome
biomes that are found in salt water
photic zone
- the portion of the marine biomes that’s shallow enough for light to penetrate
- it’s main food source is plankton which is small organisms that include small plants
aphotic zone
- deeper water that never gets sunlight
- dark, little food found, food falls from above
estuary
anywhere where a river joins the ocean and freshwater mixes with salt water
(salinity changes with tides)
detritus
tiny pieces of organic material
-food source for animals at the base of the estuary food web
intertidal zone
the area that’s completely covered by water at high tide, but exposed at low tide
freshwater biomes
no salt in the water
what determines the type of terrestrial biome you are in
climograph
desert
TERRESTRIAL BIOME
extremely dry, not always hot, very little vegetation, large areas of no life
temperate grassland
TERRESTRIAL BIOME
- large communities covered in grasses and other similar plants
- usually has dry seasons so that little tree life can be supported
humus
dead, decaying plant and animal matter which helps make up the underlying soil
temperate forest
TERRESTRIAL BIOME
- medium precipitation, noticeable seasons\
- trees everywhere and most lose their leaves annually
- clay dound under humus
- we live here
tropical rainforest
TERRESTRIAL BIOME
- characterized by intense rainfall, many species from all kingdoms, and warm climate
- located near the equator
- has different levels within forests, providing many different niches
- little humus bc dead organisms are decomposed quickly
Tundra
TERRESTRIAL BIOME
-cold, little rainfall
-few large animals
-horrible, dark winters
-short growing season of plants is a strong limitign factor
Permafrost is permanently frozen ground that occurs bc the temp rarely reaches above freezing
EX: northern canada
Taiga
TERRESTRIAL BIOME
-a bit warmer than Tundra and a bit more rainfall
- long severe winter and short mild summers
-more large animals than Tundra
called Boreal Forest in the less barren areas
