Ecosystems Flashcards

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1
Q

Morphology

A

A physical appearance of an organism. Usually influenced by its environment.

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2
Q

Species

A

Organisms that are able to breed with each other and produce fertile offspring

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3
Q

Population

A

A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area at the same time

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4
Q

Communities

A

All of the individuals in all of the interacting populations in a given area. interactions between populations can also be studied (predator-prey)

interactions that might influence the structure of a community include competition between individuals of the same species in different populations, as well as predator-prey populations

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5
Q

Ecosystem

A

Community of populations together with the abiotic conditions (large or small)

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6
Q

Biosphere

A

All of the ecosystems in the world

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7
Q

How are most environments dynamic

A

They are always changing. Populations of organisms change and natural disturbances like floods and fires change the ecosystem. because of this though, new habitat may become available.

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8
Q

List the following from smallest to largest: Species, communities, ecosystem, individuals, biosphere, population

A
  1. Individuals
  2. Species
  3. Populations
  4. Communities
  5. Ecosystem
  6. Biosphere
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9
Q

What is phylum

A

Identification based on overall body plan

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10
Q

What is class

A

Mammals, amphibions, etc for ex animals with backbone

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11
Q

What is order

A

herbivore, carnivore, etc

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12
Q

what is family

A

primates with relatively flat faces and 3d vision

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13
Q

What are all classifications

A
  1. Life
  2. domain
  3. kingdom
  4. phylum
  5. class
  6. order
    7.family
    8.genus
    9.species
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14
Q

What are the 6 kingdoms

A

archaebacteria, eubacteria, animalia, plantae, fungi, protists

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15
Q

The 6 kingdoms are separated by what

A

mainly separated by their cell type, structure, and nutrition

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16
Q

what are th e 3 domains of life

A

eukaryota, eubacteria, archaebacteria

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17
Q

why are organisms often split at the genus level

A

because of morphology (form and structure)

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18
Q

eukaryotes

A

organisms that have dna in a nucleus (plants, animals)

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19
Q

prokaryotes

A

dont have a nucleus to enclose their DNA (bacteria)

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20
Q

What is a binomial nameclature

A

a two name system

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21
Q

how do you properly write a bionomial nameclature

A

first part: genus. 1st letter always capitalized
2nd part: species. all letters always lowercase
entire name is underlined if written and italicized if typed

names must be submitted for acceptance by original discoverer and are generally Latin or latinized

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22
Q

archaebacteria characteristics

A
  • dna is differeny from other true bacteria.
  • most live in extreme conditions (very hot, acidic/basic, sulfurous, hot springs, very salty, etc)
  • prokaryotic, unicellular
  • lack of membrane bounded nucleus
  • reproduce asexually
  • many are autotrophs by chemosynthesis and some are heterotrophs by absorption
  • unique rDNA base sequence
  • distinctive plasma membrane and cell wall chemistry
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23
Q

(eu)bacteria characteristics

A
  • prokaryotic, unicellular
  • lack of membrane bounded nucleus
  • reproduce asexually
  • heterotrophs by absorption
  • autotrophs by chemosynthesis or photosynthesis
  • move by flagella
  • include cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria
  • type of bacteria to make us sick, live in our gut to help with digestion, or is used in the making of cheese
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24
Q

eukarya characteristics

A
  • contains all kingdoms besides archaea and eubacteria
  • contains all eukaryotes (organisms with nucleus in cells)
  • unicellular to multicellular organisms
  • repro. sexually
  • phenotypes (observable traits) and nutrition are diverse
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25
Q

What are animal-like protista (protozoans)

A

amoeba, paramecium, giardia

26
Q

fungus like protista

A

water and slime mold

27
Q

plant like protisa

A

euglena, green and brown algae, diatom, dinoflagellates

28
Q

Protista characteristics

A
  • neither plant or animals
  • hetero/autotrophs
  • a/sexual production
  • need moist habitat
  • includes all protists (eukaryotic and unicellular)
  • uni/multicellular
  • include algae
  • some of them photosynthesize like plants while others ingest food and move around like animals. Some obtain nutrients by decomposing and then absorbing their food like fungi
29
Q

Fungi characteristics

A
  • multicellular
  • heterotrophs
  • a/sexual reproduction
  • molds, mushrooms, rust, lichens
30
Q

plantae characteristics

A
  • multicellular
  • a/sexual repro
  • photosynthesis
  • relatively complex and specialized cells
31
Q

animalia character.

A
  • multicellular
  • heterotrophs
  • repro sexually
  • live in terrestrial or aquatic habitats
    -complex and specialized cells
32
Q

niche

A

the niche of a species consists of its role in the ecosystem (herbivore, carnivore, etc.). also contains its tolerance limits (ph of soil, temp, humidity) and requirements for shelter

33
Q

oligotophic lake characteristics

A
  • low nutrient levels
  • deep and cold
  • reduced population
  • clear water
34
Q

eutrophic lake characteristics

A
  • high nutrient levels
  • warm and shallow
  • many species
  • murky water
35
Q

What abiotic factors influence all lake zones

A

temp of water, o2 content, light penetration

36
Q

Littoral zone

A

Most abundant in plant species and most nearest to the shore. abundant in d.o, sunlight, and nutrients. serve as a growth area for plants. also abundant in animal species. nutrient absorbing area. includes clinging bacteria on the plants

37
Q

Limnetic zone

A

the open and well lit part of the water. dominated by phyto/zooplankton. lots of swimming and floating organisms like fish, surface organisms, and insect larvae

38
Q

profundal zone

A

the deep zone in the water where sunlight is not effectively penetrated. dim lit and cold. most bottom dwelling organisms live here. not much o2, little to no plant life

39
Q

bentheic zone

A

lowest ecological zone. involves sediments on the sea floor. The sediments provide nutrients for the organisms living on or in it. Low temp and high pressure.

40
Q

what are indicators of water quality

A

bacteria- we look for coliform bacteria, which is present in humans/animal intestines

dissolved o2- more oxygen, more species

BOD- measure of amount of dissolves o2 needed by decomposers to completely break down organic matter in a water sample at 20 degrees over 5 days

41
Q

list water pollution/ers

A

-organic solid waste
-disease carrying organisms
-thermal energy
-inorganic solids and dissolved minerals
-organic compounds
-
polluting water can increase or accelerate eutrophication

42
Q

how do a/biotic factors influence the niche of an animal

A

competing if same niche, co-exist if different niches

43
Q

exotic species entering ecosystem

A

-causes a disturbance
-competes for a niche alr occupied by a native species
-may have no natural predators
-may bring a new disease native species arent immune to

44
Q

biotic potential

A

the max number of offspring a species could produce if resources were unlimited

45
Q

birth potential

A

max number of offspring per birth

46
Q

capacity for survival

A

how many offspring reach productive age

47
Q

breeding frequencies

A

number of times a species produces each year

48
Q

length of reproductive life

A

reproduce from what age to what age

49
Q

carrying capacity

A

the max number of individuals of a species that can be supported at the time by an ecosystem.

50
Q

what determines carrying capacity

A

availability of resources like food and water

51
Q

law of tolerance

A

an organism can survive in a certain range of abiotic factors. the greater the range, the greater the organisms ability to survive. For ex: pikas have a small range of tolerance due to sensitivity to temperature.

52
Q

law of the minimum

A

the nutrient in the least supply is the one that limits growth

53
Q

limiting factors

A

a factor that controls the growth of a population

54
Q

density dependent limiting factors

A

competition, predation, disease, parasitism, stress from overcrowding.

operate strongly only when populaitpn density reaches a certain level. higher population=better

55
Q

density independent limiting factors

A

affect all population regardless of size and density

include unusual weather, natural disasters like hurricanes, droughts, wildfires

56
Q

competition

A

when populations become crowded, individuals compete for food, water, shelter space, sunlight, and other essentials

some obtain enough to survive and reproduce while others obtain only enough to survive. some obtain not enough for either and die from starvation or lack of shelter.

competition can lower birthrates or increase death rates or both

can also occur between members of different species that attempt to use similar or overlapping resources. This type of competition is a major force behind evolutionary change

57
Q

parasitism and disease

A

parasites and disease causing organisms feed at the expense of their host, weakening or causing death or disease. they are density dependent. the more host, the easier parasites can spread from one host to another

58
Q

how do abiotic factors affect a community

A

abitotic factors lile amount of moisture and sunlight percent, have a strong influence on which and how many species live within a community

59
Q

taxonomy

A

the practice of classifying living things

60
Q

interspecific

A

made up of diff species

61
Q

intraspecific

A

same species