Ecology Quiz Flashcards
all of the non-living things in an environment
Abiotic factors
all of the living things in an environment
Biotic factors
the place where an organism lives out its life
Habitat
the role a species has in its environment
Niche
the ability of an organism to withstand changes in abiotic or biotic factors around them
Tolerance
when different species live and interact in a close and permanent association
Symbiosis
name the 3 types of Symbiotic Relationships
Mutualism, Parasitism and Commensalism
when both species benefit from association
Mutualism
when one benefits and one is harmed
Parasitism
what is the species being harmed in a parasitic relationship called?
Host
when one benefits and one is unaffected
Commensalism
a group of organisms, of different species that interact with each other
Community
biotic factors in an area and the abiotic factors that impact them
Ecosystem
region on the earth where living organisms are found (including ocean)
Biosphere
the variety of life- different species of organisms as well as the genetic variety within a species
Biodiversity
Why is biodiversity important in nature?
- more biodiversity= stabler ecosystems
- cannot maintain a food web without it
a simple model that shows the flow of energy in an ecosystem
Food chain
a more complicated model that shows all of the feeding situations in an ecosystem
Food web
species not native to a particular area, but now live and thrive in their new environment
-no natural predators
Invasive/Exotic Species
examples of invasive species in NC
Kudzu, European Gypsy moth, Rifa(fire ants)
natural changes and the replacement of different species in the communities of an ecosystem
Succession
the first arrival of communities of organisms in a formerly lifeless area
Primary Succession
the very first species to colonize in an area
Pioneer species
moving from a familiar habitat to a new unfamiliar area
Colonization
changes in a community that occur when a natural/unnatural disaster destroys most of the individuals in a community
Secondary Succession
A stable mature community that undergoes little to no succession
Climax Community
a large group of ecosystems that share the same type of climax community
biome
biomes that are found in salt water
marine biome
the portion of the marine biome that is shallow enough for light to penetrate
photic zone
deeper water that never receives sunlight
aphotic zone
anywhere where a new river joins the ocean and freshwater mixes with saltwater
estuary
temperate zone estuaries dominated by salt tolerant grasses
salt marsh
the area that is completely covered by water at high tide, but exposed at low tide
intertidal zone
no salt in the water
freshwater biomes
the amount of rainfall and the average yearly temperature determine what?
what type of terrestrial biome you’re in (climographs)
- extremely dry not always hot
- very little vegetation
- large areas of no life
desert
- large communities covered in grasses and other similar plants
- usually has dry seasons so that little tree life can be supported
- humus
temperate grasslands
dead, decaying, plant and animal matter which helps make up the underlying soil
humus
- medium precipitation, noticeable seasons
- trees everywhere and must lose their leaves annually
- clay found under humus
- we live in temperate forest
temperate forest
- characterized by intense rainfall, many species from all kingdoms and warm climates
- located near equator
- different levels within the forests providing many different niches
- little humus because dead organisms decompose quickly
tropical rain forests
- cold little rainfall
- permafrost
- short season of growing plants is a strong limiting factor
- few large animals
- horrible dark winters
- north canada
tundra
permanently frozen ground that occurs because the temperature rarely reaches above freezing
permafrost
- a bit warmer than tundra, bit more rainfall
- long severe winters short, mild summers
- more large animals than in the tundra
- called boreal forest in less barren areas
Taiga
primary succession is short or long period of time
long
secondary succession is short or long period of time
short
food web requires…
Biodiversity
freshwater is mostly photic or aphotic?
photic
marine is mostly photic or aphotic?
aphotic
tundra has few..
large animals
taiga has noticeable…
seasons
grasslands has few…
trees
