Ecosystems Flashcards
Niche structure
How they resemble or differ from each other
Amensalism
Interaction between two species where one suffers and the other is not affected.
Commensalism
The interaction between two species whereby one organism benefits and the other is not affected. Ex: when small fish or mites use sharks as protection or transportation
Mutualism
The interaction between two species whereby both species benefit.
Keystone species
Species whose very presence contributes to a diversity of life and whose extinction would lead to the extinction of other life forms.
Edge effect
How am environment can change along some type of boundary or edge
Biomes
Regional part of the world that can be characterized by the dominant forms of plant life and climate
Biome: Antarctic
Area surrounding South Pole. Rainfall is about 5cm per year
Biome: Benthos
Bottom of oceans. No sunlight, therefore no plant life
Biome: Coastal Zone
Includes estuaries, wetlands and coral reefs. High diversity of plants and animals
Biome: Coral Reefs
Warm, clear, shallow ocean habitats near land, tropical.
Biome: Deserts
Generally in the interior of continents. Less than 20 inches of rainfall per year.
Biome: Freshwater Lands
Include freshwater swamps, marshes, bogs and ponds. Ground is saturated with water. Soil is low in oxygen. Easily polluted.
Biome: Grasslands
Found in areas too dry for forests and too wet for deserts. Rainfall is seasonal. Temperatures are moderate. Few trees and shrubs due to frequent fires.
Ocean occupies ___ of Earths surface
75%
