Ecology- Chapter 2 Flashcards
What is an abiotic factors?
a non living part of an ecosystem that shapes its environment
what are some of the organisms abiotic factors?
Light, water, soil PH, Atmosphere(CO2, O2, H2O), nutrients
What is Ecophysiology?
Ecophysiology or Autecology , studies the response of an organism to its abiotic environment
T/F: Ecophysiologists study organism’s physiological
responses to abiotic environment, such as
temperature, moisture, light, nutrients, O 2 , CO 2
True
T/F: Trees grown at a warmer
temperature require higher
temperatures for optimal
performance
True
T/F: Photosynthetic rate of black
spruce depends on actual
temperature and the growth
temperature of the plants
True
What are the factors that affects photosynthetic rate of black spruce(Picea mariana)?
actual temp & growth temp of the plant
what is comparative ecology?
Comparative ecology investigates interspecific
differences in responses to abiotic environment.
It uses mostly ecophysiological methods
why Pitcher thistle is rare?
Pitcher’s thistle is physiologically adapted to survive the
extreme environment of sand-dunes along the shores of the
Great Lakes. It is limited to those environments and it is rare
what is a biotic environment?
A biotic environment is home to living things that directly or indirectly affect other living things
T/F: The biotic environment consists of organisms of other
species, e.g., in a prey-predator relationship
True
what is community?
the interacting organisms of all species in a given area
Define Community Ecology?
Community Ecology or synecology , studies interspecific interactions and the results of these, such as diversity and species composition
T/F: Misumena vatia, the goldenrod crab spider can actively change it colour, depending on
the flower in which they are hunting
True
T/F: Goldenrod crab spiders are often found in goldenrod(Solidago sp).
True
T/F: goldenrod (
Solidago sp.), a bright yellow flower which
attracts large numbers of insects, particularly in autumn
True
T/F: Honey bee (
Apis mellifera), a
eusocial flying insect has been
domesticated for honey
production and crop pollination
True
succession
Ecological succession is the process by which the mix of species and habitat in an area changes over time
community dynamics
Community dynamics are the changes in community structure and composition over time, often following environmental disturbances such as volcanoes, earthquakes, storms, fires, and climate change
T/F: Grasshoppers are the primary prey.
Nest on the ground, hidden at the
base of a grass clump
True
T/F: Black-throated green warbler
Eat glean caterpillars from small branches
on coniferous and deciduous trees.
Nest usually 3-10 feet off the ground
(sometimes higher) in a small tree or
sapling, close to the trunk
True
T/F: The abiotic environment is usually strongly modified
by other organisms
True
T/F: Biotic and abiotic environments affect organisms
True
during the winter, what are the factors that small birds rely on for survival?
- food availability(Biotic environment)
- temperature(abiotic environment)
population
group of individuals of the same species inhabiting a
given area (and interbreeding).
Population ecologists
study interactions with
conspecific organisms:
numbers of individuals
and the underlying
processes, such as
birth and mortality
rates
