Ecology Test Flashcards
biotic factors
all the living thins that affect an ecosystem
Ecology
study of how living things interact with each other and with their environment
abiotic factors
non-living things that affect an ecosystem
population
group of same species that breed and live in the same area
community
all the different living populations in the same area
ecosystem
all the living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) factors in an area
biome
environment defined by it’s limate and the biological communities
biosphere
the Earth
producers
organisms that make thier own energy (autotrophic)
consumers
organisms that consume other living things for energy (heterotrophic)
herbivore
consumer tjat eats plants
carnivore
consumers that eats animmals
omnivore
consumer that eats both plants and animals
decompposer
consumer that breaks down living/dead organic matter
detritivore
consumer that eats decaying organi matter and feces
trophic level
energy level or step in a food chain/web
succession
series of preditable changes in a community over time
symbiosis
two organisms living together in a close relationship
mutualism
symbiosis in which both organisms benefit
commensalism
symbiosis in which one organism benefits and the other gets no benefit and is not harmed either
Parasitism
symbiosis in which one organism benefits (parasite) and one is harmed (host). The parasite usually livres in or on the host
Predation
when one organism kills and eats another
competition
occurs two individuals try to use the same resource at the same time and place
interspecific competition
competition between 2 members of different species
intraspecific competition
competition between 2 members of the same species
niche
an organisms way of life and role in an ecosystem. includes all the biotic ad abiotic factors that a specific organism needs to live
immigration
occurs when individuals move IN to a population
emigration
occurs when individuals lrave/move OUT of a population
exponential growth
“J-Curve”- very fast, non linear growth
Logistic growth
“S-Curve” very fast growth followed by stable population
carrying capacity
hightest number of individuals that an ecosystem can support
limiting factor
anything causing a population to stop growing/decrease in size
density dependent
limiting factor that depends on population size and density
densitty independent
limiting factor that affects popuulations eqully regardless of sizer or density
What are the ecological levels of organization from smallest to largest?
individual, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere
What is an energy pyramid
shiows the energy available at each trophic level
What is a biomass pyramid
shows the amount of living matter at each trophic level
What is the pyramid of numbers?
shows numbers of living thins at each trophic level
What is primary succession
occurs in areas where there is no soil. Pioneer species are the first to arrive and begin to break down rock into soil.
What is secondary succession?
occurs in an area where there has been a disturbance or change in the ecosystem and the soil is still intact
What is fundamental niche?
the full range of conditions an organism can live in
What is a realized niche?
the conditions in which an organism is actually found in nature
WHat is the competitive exclusion principle??
states that no two species can occupy the same niche
WHat are the four factors that affect population growth?
birth ratem death rate, immigration, and emigration
What is dynamic equilibrium?
the interaction between predator and prey, where the population sizes cycle back and forth in reaction to each other
What way does energy flow in an ecosystem?
Energy flows in only one direction from lowest (trophic level) to the highest (trophic level)
How much energy in one trophic level is transferred to the next highest level?
Only 10%
What flows through an ecosystem Ina circular cycle?
Nutrients (such as carbon, water, and nitrogen) NOT energy
What makes up the lowest trophic level Ina food chain or web?
Producers
What makes up all the trophic levels beyond the lowest level in a food chain or web?
Consumers
Each step in the food chain is a different….
Trophic level
Who (in the food chain) get their energy from the sun?
Producers
What do consumers depend on for energy?
Lower trophic levels
What are the three types of ecological pyramids?
Energy pyramid
Biomass pyramid
Pyramid of numbers
What is an energy pyramid?
It shows the energy available at each trophic level
What is a biomass pyramid?
It shows the amount of living matter at each trophic level
What is the pyramid of numbers?
It shows the number of living things at each trophic level
What is a biome?
Biomes are environmental and geographical regions defined by their climate and biological communities.
What are the ten biomes you studies in class?
Tropical rain forest, desert, chaparral, temperate grassland, tropical savannah, temperate deciduous forest, northwestern coniferous forest, boreal forest/taiga, tundra, and estuaries (biotic biome)
What are the two types of ecological succession you discussed?
Primary succession and secondary succession
What is an example of primary succession?
After a glacier melts or volcano erupts, the first species to arrive and break down rock into soil
What’s an example of secondary succession?
Forest fires, natural disasters, land clearing, McCrephys field-areas where there has been a disturbance or change in ecosystem and soil is intact
Which is more common, primary or secondary succession?
Secondary succession is more common and leads to a stable climax community
What is a symbiotic relationship?
Symbiotic relationships occur when two species live together Ina close relationship often to the benefit of both or one or the other.
What are the three types of symbiotic relationships?
Mutualism
Commensalism
Parasitism
In mutualism, who benefits? Organism A or B?
Both
In commensalism, who benefits?
Organism A benefits, organism B is neutral
In parasitism, who benefits?
Organism a benefits and organism B is harmed.
When does “competition” occur?
Competition occurs when two organism try to use the se resource at the same time and place.
What are the two types of competition?
IntERspecific and intRAspecific
What is interspecific competition?
Competition between 2 members of the different species
What is intraspecific competition?
Competition between members of the same species
What is predation?
It occurs when one organism kills and eats another
What is a predator?
An organism that kills and eats another organism
What is prey?
An organism which is eaten by another (predator)
What is a niche?
An organisms role/job and way of life in an ecosystem
What is included i an ecological niche?
Everything an organism does or needs to live
What is an example of an ecological niche?
What it eats, predators, when/how it reproduces, what biome it lives I, what habitat it lives in, what climate it lives in
What are the two types of niches?
Fundamental niche and realized niche
What is a fundamental niche?
The full range of conditions an organism can live in.
What is included Ina fundamental niche?
Anywhere an organism could live, anything it could eat or do etc
What is a realized niche?
The conditions in which an organism is actually found in nature.
Which is smaller, a realized or fundamental niche?
A realized niche is smaller due to competition .
What does the competitive exclusion principle state?
That no two species can occupy the same niche.
What for factors affect population growth?
Birth rate
Death rate
Immigration
Emigration
What ate the two TYPES of population growth?
Exponential growth
Logistic growth
What is exponential growth?
J curve= Very fast growth, occurs when resources are abundant
What is logistic growth?
S curve=fast growth followed by a plateau. ( this is what population growth tends to look like in nature)
What is carrying capacity?
Describes the maximum number of individuals that an ecosystem can support
What limits (or makes smaller) carrying capacity?
Limiting factors
What are limiting factors?
They are things that cause a population to stop growing or et smaller. There are two types.
What are the two types of limiting factors?
Density-dependent
Densîty-independant
What does density-dependent mean?
A type of limiting factor affected by population size and density. Has greater affect on large/dense populations . Are usually biotic factors.
What does density-independent mean?
A limiting factor not affected by population size/density. These affect all size/density populations equally. usually abiotic factors.
What are some biotic factors?
Competition, predation, disease
What are some abiotic factors?
Natural disasters, weather
What is dynamic equilibrium?
The interaction between predator and prey where the population sizes cycle back and forth in reaction to each other.
What does hare and lynx graph show?
1.Predators cause the population of prey to decrease
2. When population of prey falls, predictor population then decreases
3. This decrease in predators causes prey population to rise back up
4. When population of prey increases again, predator population increases again.
An example of dynamic equilibrium
What are the ecological levels of organization from smallest to largest?
Starting after Individual>Population>Community>Ecosystem>Biome>Biosphere
