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Biology 2 > Ecology And The Biosphere > Flashcards

Ecology And The Biosphere Flashcards

1
Q

—: the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and the environment

A

Ecology

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2
Q

The interactions between organisms and the environment determine the — of organisms and their —

A
  1. Distribution

2. Abundance

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3
Q

Ecologists work at levels ranging from — organisms to the —

A
  1. Individual

2. Planet

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4
Q

——: Studies how an organism’s structure, physiology, and (for animals) behavior meet environmental challenges
*Includes —, —, and — ecology

A
  1. Organismal Ecology

2. Physiological, evolutionary, & behavioral

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5
Q

—: a group of individuals of the same species living in an area

A

Population

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6
Q

——: focuses on factors affecting population size over time

A

Population Ecology

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7
Q

—: a group of populations of different species in an area

A

Community

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8
Q

——: examines how species interactions (e.g., predation, competition) affect community structure and organization

A

Community Ecology

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9
Q

—: the community of organisms in an area and the physical factors with which they interact

A

Ecosystem

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10
Q

——: Emphasizes energy flow and chemical cycling among the various biotic and abiotic components

A

Ecosystem Ecology

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11
Q

—: a mosaic of connected ecosystems

A

landscape (or seascape)

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12
Q

——: Focuses on the exchanges of energy, materials, and organisms across multiple ecosystems

A

Landscape Ecology

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13
Q

—: The global ecosystem, the sum of all the planet’s ecosystems

A

Biosphere

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14
Q

——: examines the influence of energy and materials on organisms across the biosphere

A

Global Ecology

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15
Q

— are major life zones characterized by:

  • Vegetation type for — biomes
  • Physical environment for — biomes
A
  1. Biomes
  2. terrestrial
  3. Aquatic
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16
Q

—: the long-term (≥30-year) prevailing weather conditions in a given area
*Major factor determining the — of terrestrial biomes because it strongly influences the distribution of plants

A
  1. Climate

2. Location

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17
Q

—: event such as a storm, fire, or human activity that changes a community
*E.g., frequent fires can kill woody plants and maintain the characteristic vegetation of a savanna

A

Disturbance

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18
Q

General features of terrestrial biomes often name for major — or — factors and for —

A
  1. Physical
  2. Climatic
  3. Vegetation
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19
Q

Usually grade into each other, without sharp boundaries

*Area of intergradation is called an — and may be wide or narrow

A

Ecotone

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20
Q

Vertical layering is an important feature of terrestrial biomes, and in a forest it might consist of:

  • Upper —
  • Low — layer
  • Shrub —
  • — layer of herbaceous plants
  • — floor
  • — layer
A
  1. Canopy
  2. Tree
  3. Understory
  4. Ground
  5. Forest
  6. Root
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21
Q

Biomes are — and the species composition of each kind varies from one location to another

A

Dynamic

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22
Q

Similar characteristic can arise in distant biomes through — evolution
* E.g., cacti in the Americas and euphorbs in African deserts appear similar but are from different evolutionary lineages

A

Convergent

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23
Q

Terrestrial Biomes can be characterized by:

  • —
  • —
  • —
  • —
  • —
A
  1. Distribution
  2. Precipitation
  3. Temperature
  4. Plants
  5. Animals
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24
Q

Tropical Forest

—: equatorial and subequatorial regions

A

Distribution

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25
Q

Tropical Forests
—:
* Tropical rain forests: rainfall is relatively constant
* Tropical dry forests: precipitation is highly seasonal

A

Precipitation

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26
Q

Tropical Forest:

—: high year-round (25–29 C) with little seasonal variation

A

Temperature

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27
Q

Tropical Forest:

—: vertically layered and competition for light is intense

A

Plants

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28
Q

Tropical forest:

—: diversity is higher than any other terrestrial biome

A

Animals

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29
Q

Desert:
Distribution: occur in — near —— C north & south of the equator, and in the interior of continents

A
  1. bands

2. 30 degrees C

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30
Q

Desert

Precipitation: — & — variable

A
  1. Low

2. Highly

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31
Q

Desert

Temperature: variable — & — and may be — or —

A
  1. Daily
  2. Seasonally
  3. Hot
  4. Cold
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32
Q

Desert

Plants: adapted for — and — tolerance, — storage, and — leaf surface area

A
  1. Heat
  2. Desiccation
  3. Water
  4. Reduced
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33
Q

Desert

Animals: many are — and have adaptations for ——

A
  1. Nocturnal

2. Water Conservation

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34
Q

Aquatic Biomes are diverse and dynamic,ic systems that cover — of the —

A
  1. Most

2. Earth

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35
Q

Aquatic biomes account for the — part of the biosphere in terms of —

A
  1. Largest

2. Area

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36
Q

Aquatic biomes show less — variation than terrestrial biomes

A

Latitudinal

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37
Q

Aquatic Biomes
Marine:
*Have salt concentrations of about —
*Largest is made of oceans which cover about — of Earth’s surface and have an enormous impact on the biosphere

A
  1. 3%

2. 75%

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38
Q 
Aquatic Biomes
Freshwater:
   *Have salt concentrations of less than 0.1%
   *Influenced by:
     ~Surrounding — biome
     ~Patterns and speed of ——
     ~—
A
  1. Terrestrial
  2. Water Flow
  3. Climate
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39
Q

Many aquatic biomes are stratified into zones or layers defined by:

  • ——
  • — from —
  • —
  • —
A
  1. Light Penetration
  2. Distance from shore
  3. Depth
  4. Temperature
40
Q

Upper —— has sufficient light for photosynthesis

A

Photic zone

41
Q

Lower —— receives little light

A

Aphotic zone

42
Q

——: open water column outside of coastal areas (includes aphotic & photic zones)

A

Pelagic Zone

43
Q

——: sediment at the bottom of all aquatic zone

A

Benthic Zone

44
Q

—: community of organisms living in the benthic zone

45
Q

—: falling dead organic matter that serves as an important food source for the benthos

46
Q

——: deep region of the aphotic zone with a depth of 2,000-6,000 m

A

Abyssal Zone

47
Q

Zones based on distance from shore
Freshwater:
*——: shallow coastal water
* ——: photic odd-shore water

A
  1. Littoral Zone

2. Limnetic Zone

48
Q 
Zones based on distance from shore
  Marine:
    * ——: area between high and low tide marks
    * ——: shallow coastal water
   * ——: deeper off-shore water
A
  1. Intertidal Zone
  2. Neurotic Zone
  3. Oceanic Zone
49
Q

Zones based on Temperature
*—: temperature boundary layer in oceans and most lakes that separates the warm upper layer from the cold deeper water
* —: semiannual mixing of lake waters
~Mixes oxygenated water from the surface with nutrient-rich water from the bottom

A
  1. Thermocline

2. Turnover

50
Q

Communities in Aquatic Biomes

* Vary with —, ——, — from shore, & position in the — or — zone

A
  1. Depth
  2. Light Penetration
  3. Distance
  4. Pelagic
  5. Benthic
51
Q

Communities in Aquatic Biomes

* Most organisms occur in the relatively shallow ——

A

Photic Zone

52
Q

Communities in Aquatic Biomes

* The — zone in oceans is —, but harbors little life

A
  1. Aphotic

2. Extensive

53
Q

Major Aquatic Biomes can be characterized by:

  • — environment
  • — environment
  • — features
  • — organisms
  • —
A
  1. Physical
  2. Chemical
  3. Geological
  4. Photosynthetic
  5. Heterotrophs
54
Q

Lakes

* Physical: sizes vary from small — to very large —; may have seasonal or permanent—

A
  1. Ponds
  2. Lakes
  3. Thermoclines
55
Q

Lakes
*Chemical:
~ Oligotrophic lakes: nutrient — and generally oxygen —
~ Eutrophic lakes: nutrient — and often — of oxygen

A
  1. Poor
  2. Rich
  3. Rich
  4. Depleted
56
Q

Lakes

* Geological: eutrophic lakes have — surface area: depth ratio relative to depth than oligotrophic lakes

57
Q

Lakes
* Photosynthetic:
~ Littoral Zone: — & — aquatic plants
~ Limnetic Zone: —

A
  1. Rooted & Floating

2. Phytoplankton

58
Q

Lakes

* Heterotrophs: zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, fishes in zone with ——

A

Sufficient oxygen

59
Q

Coral Reefs

* Physical: formed from the —— skeletons of corals

A

Calcium carbonate

60
Q

Coral Reefs

* Chemical: require — oxygen levels

61
Q

Coral Reefs

* Geological: requires a —— for attachment; coral reef progresses from a — reef, to a — reef, then a ——

A
  1. Solid Substrate
  2. Fringing
  3. Barrier
  4. Coral Atoll
62
Q

Coral Reef

* Photosynthetic: —— live within Corals

A

Symbiotic algae

63
Q

Coral Reefs

* Heterotrophs: — group of coral, fish and other invertebrates; biodiversity rival that of ——

A
  1. Diverse

2. Tropical Rainforest

64
Q

Species distributions are the result of — factors (biotic and abiotic) and — history
*E.g., kangaroos occur only in Australia
~Lineage originated there when the continent was geographically —
~Ecological factors also affect the kangaroo distribution – particular species occur in some —, but — others

A
  1. Ecological
  2. Evolutionary
  3. Isolated
  4. Habitats
  5. NOT
65
Q

Biotic and Abiotic Factors Influence Species Distribution:

  • E.g., the distribution of Saguaro cacti is influenced by:
    • —, — availability
    • Mice and goats feed on seeds
    • Bats pollinate the flowers
    • — diseases
A
  1. Temperature
  2. Water
  3. Bacterial
66
Q

—: movement of individuals away from centers of high population density or from their area of origin
*Contributes to —— of organisms

A
  1. Dispersal

2. Global Distribution

67
Q

Natural range expansions show the influence of — on —
*E.g., cattle egrets arrived in the Americas in the late 1800s and have expanded their distribution

A
  1. Dispersal

2. Distribution

68
Q

In rare cases, long-distance dispersal can lead to ——

*E.g., Hawaiian silverswords are a diverse group descended from an ancestral North American tarweed

A

Adaptive Radiation

69
Q

Species Transplants:

Include organisms that are intentionally or accidentally relocated from their ——

A

Original distribution

70
Q

Species Transplants:

If successful, indicates that its potential range is — than its actual range

71
Q

Species Transplants:

Species Transplants can — the communities or ecosystems to which they have been introduced

72
Q

Biotic factors that affect the distribution of organisms include:

  • —
  • —
  • —
  • —
  • —
A
  1. Predation
  2. Herbivory
  3. Competition
  4. Mutualism
  5. Parasitism
73
Q

Abiotic factors affecting distribution of organisms include:

  • —
  • —
  • —
  • —
  • —
  • — & —
A
  1. Temperature
  2. Water
  3. Oxygen
  4. Salinity
  5. Sunlight
  6. Rocks & Soil
74
Q

Most abiotic factors vary in — and —

A

Space and time

75
Q

Temperature is an important factor in — of organisms because of its effects on biological processes

  • — may freeze and rupture below 0° C, while most —— above 45° C
  • Distribution of mammals and birds (i.e., endotherms) influenced by ability to regulate — temperature
A
  1. Distribution
  2. Cells
  3. Denatures proteins
  4. Internal
76
Q

All terrestrial organisms and some species living near the seashore (tidal pools) are subject to —
*Desert organisms exhibit — for ——

A
  1. Desiccation (drying out)
  2. Adaptations
  3. Water Conservation
77
Q

Water affects —— as — diffuses slowly in water

*Oxygen concentrations can be — in deep oceans and deep lakes

A
  1. Oxygen availability
  2. Oxygen
  3. Low
78
Q

Salinity

* — concentration affects —— of organisms through —

A
  1. Salt
  2. Water balance
  3. Osmosis
79
Q

Salinity:
*Most aquatic organisms are restricted to either —— or —— habitats
~Salmon are able to migrate between fresh water and ocean

A
  1. Freshwater

2. Saltwater

80
Q

Sunlight:

* Light intensity and quality (wavelength) affect —

A

Photosynthesis

81
Q

Sunlight:

Water absorbs —, thus in aquatic environments most photosynthesis occurs near the —

A
  1. Light

2. Surface

82
Q

Sunlight:

In deserts, high light levels — temperature and can — plants and animals

A
  1. Increase

2. Stress

83
Q

Sunlight:

*Damaging —— can also limit survival and distribution of species

A

UV Radiation

84
Q

Rocks & Soil:

* Many characteristics of soil limit — of plants and thus the animals that feed on them

A

Distribution

85
Q

Rocks & Soil:

* Physical structure: determine the organisms that can — to a — or — within it

A
  1. Attach
  2. Substrate
  3. Burrow
86
Q

Rocks & Soil:
* pH:
~ —(extreme acidic or basic conditions)
~ Solubilizing — & —

A
  1. Directly

2. Toxic ants & Nutrients

87
Q

Rocks & Soil:

* Mineral Composition: affects ——

A

Water chemistry

88
Q

The most significant influence on the distribution of organisms on land is —

89
Q

—: the long-term prevailing weather conditions in a given area
* — year period or more

A
  1. Climate

2. 30

90
Q

—: consists of patterns on the global, regional, and landscape level

A

Macroclimate

91
Q

—: consists of very fine, localized patterns

* eg. Those encountered by the community of organisms underneath a fallen log

A

Microclimate

92
Q

Global climate patterns are determined largely by —— and the —— in space

A
  1. Solar energy

2. Planet’s movement

93
Q

Latitudinal variations in climate are caused by the warming effect of the sun:

* —— 
 	* Drives — and the —  of air and water
A
  1. Temperature variations
  2. Evaporation
  3. Circulation
94
Q

Global climate change is the —— to the global climate lasting three decades or more

A

Directional change

95
Q

Burning of fossil fuels and deforestation have increased the concentration of —— in the atmosphere

  • —and — patterns are shifting
  • Global temperature and the frequency of extreme weather events have —
A
  1. Greenhouse gases
  2. Wind & precipitation
  3. Increased
96
Q

One way to predict the effects of future global climate change is to study — change
*E.g., as glaciers retreated 16,000 years ago, tree distributions shifted northward

97
Q

Species that have difficulty — or — of suitable replacement habitat may have smaller ranges or could become —
*E.g., the geographic ranges of 67 bumblebee species in the Northern Hemisphere have decreased

A
  1. Dispersing
  2. Shortage
  3. Extinct

Biology 2 (16 decks)

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