Ecology testt Flashcards
Energy source used in photosynthesis
The sun
What is population density?
Average number of individuals in population per unit of area or volume
Clumped dispersion:
clustered together in groups
Uniform dispersion:
aligned in an orderly fashion
Random dispersion
Randomly thrown out, not in order and spaced over the area
2 ways a population can Increase
Birth rate and immigration
2 ways a population can decrease
Death rate, emigration
Difference between logistics and exponential growth?
Ex shows unrestricted increase while log shows rapid increase (log S shaped Ex J shaped)
Limiting factor;
Any environmental resource that restricts the growth of populations
Two types of limiting factors
Density independent and density dependent
Density independent ex-
Natural disasters, climate changed and pollution
Density dependent ex-
Competition for resources, predation and disease
Habitat fragmentation
Breaking up of a continuous habitat into smaller isolated patches
Describe the role of an invasive species into a new habitat.
Invasive species can outcompete native species for resources, disrupt food webs and alter habitats often causing decline in native biodiversity.
Role of greenhouse effect
Like the blanket around the earth, keeps us warm some is good but too much makes it too hot.
What is carrying capacity?
Max population an environment can support sustainably.
Role of an indicator species in its environment.
Like canaries in coal mine, health reflects the overall health of ecosystem.
What is a keystone species?
Species which other species depend on heavily, if removed ecosystems would change drastically.
Define global warming
Ongoing increase in earths temp due to human released green house gases like co2 causing climate change
Renewable resources
Replenish naturally; solar power from sun
Non renewable resources
Won’t replenish in our life time; coal
What’s an ecological footprint and why is it important?
Amount of earth resources you use. Important for understanding our impact and promoting sustainable practices.
Define acid rain and describe how it’s formed.
Acid rain is rain w/ extra acid from pollutions
What does acid rain do to an aquatic environment.
Harms aquatic life by making water too acidic and killing fish.
Clean air act
Protect air
Clean water act
Protect water quality
Endangered species act
Protects endangered species respectively
What is bio magnification?
Increase in toxins you go up the food chain.
Where in food chain do we see greatest effect in biomagnification?
Top predators are most affected.
How can plants respond to their environment?
Responds to stimuli w/ tropisms
Phototropism
Towards light
Gravitropism
With gravity
Hydrotropism
Toward water
How does animal behavior help w/ survival and population growth?
Animal behaviors help them survive and reproduce.
What are costs and benefits in being in a group.
Offers protects and efficiency but also competition and disease risk.
The current grown of human population can be described as:
Exponential
Design a solution to reduce the impact of human activity on environment.
Reduce reliance on fossil fuels by switching to renewable energy sources
Humans contribute to keystone species by
Habitat loss
Humans contribute to Biomagnification by
Releasing toxins
Humans contribute to Invasive species and non native species
Spreading through trade and travel
Humans contribute to Greenhouse gas production
Burning fossil fuels
Humans contribute to deforestation
Logging and agriculture
Humans contribute to chemical use
Agriculture and industry
Innate behaviors
Appear fully functional form the first time they are performed
Behavior
Way an organism reacts to stimuli
Kinesis
Indirect change in activity level/turning rate of animals in response to a stimulus
Toxis
Directed movement towards or away from a stimulus
Migration
Long distance seasonal movements to find food or better environmental conditions.
Chemical communication
Pheromones like peeing or spraying
Visual communication
Animals make displays to show aggression or courtship
Auditory communication
Making sounds
Tactile communications
Touching
