Ecosystems Flashcards
a physical system composed of a set of biotic and abiotic elements that are interdependent
ecosystem
a period rapid change
phase transition
non-addictive interactions and feedback loops over time can give exponential relations between input and output
nonlinearity
appear as networks in a higher level
connectivity
enables self-organization & the process of evolution that shapes complex systems
autonomy (& adaptation)
terrestrial ecosystem: arid
deserts
terrestrial ecosystem: lush vegetation, high faunal diversity
tropical rainforest
terrestrial ecosystem: cold, short growing season
tundra
terrestrial ecosystem:rainfall low but higher than in deserts
grassland
terrestrial ecosystem:leaves fall in autumn (four seasons are more pronounced)
temperate deciduous forests
aquatic ecosystems:standing water
lentic
aquatic ecosystems: running water
running water
aquatic ecosystems: high diversity
coral reefs
aquatic ecosystems: salinity tolerant trees
mangroves
aquatic ecosystems:stabilize sediment, improve water clarity
seagrass meadows
aquatic ecosystems: low light conditions
deep sea
increases system complexity
heterogeneity
increase a system’s resilience and robustness
degree of complexity
measure of population demographics in a certain geographical area
spatial complexity
a measure of species richness;snapshot of a population at a given time
heat map
used to characterized time series of different variables system dynamics
temporal complexity
describes not only relationships but also the organization between components of a system
structural complexity
highly ordered w/ each node having exactly the same number of links
planar networks
connections are created at random based on a certain probability of connectivity
random networks
degree of distribution is defined by a “power law distribution” instead of a normal curve distribution associated with the random network
scale-free networks
most nodes are not neighbors of one another , can be reached from every other node by a small number of nodes
small-world networks
temporary changes that possibly result from natural causes, human activities or form disease and invasion of exotic species
the spread of disturbance
aids recovery from an environmental disturbance
dispersal (of seeds)
opened gap in a forest w/ seeds randomly fallen and germinated
disordered system
agriculture monoculture
ordered system
