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AP environmental science > Enviro Unit 2 > Flashcards

Enviro Unit 2 Flashcards

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Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

3 levels of biodiversity

A

Ecosystem (habitat) diversity
Species diversity
Genetic diversity

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2
Q

Ecosystem resilience

A

How quickly a ecosystem can return to its original conditions after a major disturbance. Higher diversity means more resilience.

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3
Q

Habitat loss

A

biggest reduction in diversity. First affects species specialists then generalists.

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4
Q

Niche specialist

A

Specialized to live in a specific habitat. If environment changes disadvantaged. EX: pandas

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5
Q

Niche generalists

A

Species that can survive under a lot of conditions. Broad niche. Advantages when environment changes. EX: racoon

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6
Q

Bottleneck events

A

Bottleneck events randomly kill individuals regardless of their genes. reduce gene diversity.

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7
Q

Ecosystem disturbances examples (bottleneck event causes)

A

Wildfires, droughts, diseases.

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8
Q

The more genetically diverse a population is →

A

the more likely the pop. will survive a ecosystem disturbance.

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9
Q

Genetic diversity

A

how different the genes inside of individuals of the same species.

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10
Q

Ecosystem (habitat) diversity

A

How many habitats are available in a given area

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11
Q

more habitat diversity →

A

more organisms/species. Can support many microhabitats.

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12
Q

Microhabitat

A

Small area which differs from surrounding habitats.

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13
Q

Species diversity

A

Number of different species and balance of population size.

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14
Q

Species Richness

A

Total number of different species in an area.

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15
Q

Species evenness

A

measure of how the pop. in an ecosystem is balanced. Counts individuals.

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16
Q

more evenness =

A

more diversity

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17
Q

High richness is a

A

good sign of ecosystem health.

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18
Q

Evenness indicates

A

if there is a dominant species.

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19
Q

Ecological tolerance/ range of tolerance
EX.

A

range of abiotic conditions an organism can endure before injury or death. EX: temperature, salinity, pH, sunlight

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20
Q

Species and individual tolerance

A

Species will more be an average. Some individuals will always be able to withstand more extreme conditions than the rest due to genetic diversity.

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21
Q

Optimal range

A

Where organisms thrive. Survive, reproduce and grow.

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22
Q

Zone of physiological stress

A

Organisms can survive but under stress.

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23
Q

Zone of intolerance

A

Organisms die. Cannot survive in conditions.

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24
Q

Fundamental niche

A

the abiotic conditions under which a species theoretically can live under. (without competition)

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25
Q

Realized niche

A

The range of biotic and abiotc conditions under which a species actually lives. (with competition)

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26
Q

Ecosystem Services

A

Benefits provided to humans by healthy ecosystems

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27
Q

Provisioning services
Examples.

A

Physical good from nature that we can directly use.
Drinking water
Food
Wood for building or fuel
Medicine

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28
Q

Regulating services
Examples

A

Ecosystem processes that help regulate environmental conditions like climate.
Rainforest/ocean remove carbon
plants filter water and air
pollination

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29
Q

Cultural services
Examples

A

non-material benefits that contribute to human culture.
aesthetic value of nature
outdoor recreation
mental/physical well-being

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30
Q

Supporting services
Examples

A

Underlying natural processes that make it possible for the other processes to exist.
Soil formation
photosynthesis
habitat
cycles

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31
Q

Anthropogenic

A

Human caused

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32
Q

Human activities that disrupt the ability of ecosystems to function decr. the value of services.

A

Deforestation
Over-fishing/over-harvesting
water pollution

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33
Q

biogeography

A

study of ecological relationships and distribution of organisms on islands.

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34
Q

Real island

A

Island surrounded by water

35
Q

habitat island

A

area different from surroundings EX parks

36
Q

Sky island

A

Mountains with high peaks and therefore different climate

37
Q

Larger islands support more total species.
Why?

A

Larger islands support more total species.
-more diff. ecosystems
-more niches available
-larger pop. size
-more food or habitat/species
-lower extinction rate.

38
Q

Islands closer to mainland support more species.
Why?

A

Islands closer to mainland support more species. 2nd rule of biogeography.
-easier to colonize/get to
-more continual migration and colonizing organisms

39
Q

Evolution on islands

A

Islands have limited resources so there is more pressure for species to adapt.

40
Q

Adaptive radiation
Example-

A

a single species rapidly evolving into new species to use different resources. To reduce competition. EX Galapagos finches. Hawaiian honeycreepers

41
Q

Natural Disturbances that disrupt the structure of an ecosystem
Examples

A

Natural event that disrupts structure or function of an ecosystem.
-tornadoes
-hurricanes
-forest fires
-drought
-asteroid

42
Q

Natural Disturbances time frames

A

Periodic
Episodic
Random

43
Q

Periodic time frame
Examples

A

Occurs with some regular frequency somewhat predictable. Ex. dry and wet seasons

44
Q

Episodic time frame
Examples

A

Occasional events with irregular frequency. Not predictable. Some times of the year it is more likely to happen.
EX. Droughts, fires, hurricanes

45
Q

Random time frame
Examples

A

No regular frequency. We understand why but not when.
Ex. Volcanoes, earthquakes, asteroids.

46
Q

Natural climate change
Examples

A

Earth’s climate varies over time for many reasons that are natural.
Ex. -Slight change in orbit and tilt cause mini ice-ages and warm periods.
- sea levels rise and fall due to glaciers melting and forming.

47
Q

Environmental Change=

A

habitat disruption

48
Q

Sea levels rise →
Estuaries shift due to

A

Loose of coastal estuary habitats.
Sea levels rising change the habitats by increasing depth and salinity of water. Also flood inland habitats.
Estuaries shift due to high water.

49
Q

Migration
Examples

A

Natural disturbances cause species to migrate, sometimes predictable and repetitive patters or less predictable.
Example: Wildebeest follow rain patterns in savanna.

50
Q

Bird migration

A

Birds migrate due to insect births. Peak demand for bird hatchlings coincides with peak insect/caterpillar hatching

51
Q

Resistance vs. Resilience

A

Resistance ability of an ecosystem to withstand a disturbance
Resilience is the ability to recover after a disturbance.

52
Q

seed scarification

A

fire cracks open the seeds

53
Q

Heat shocks

A

High temperatures to break dormancy of seeds.

54
Q

Smoke stimulation

A

chemicals in smoke trigger germination.

55
Q

Why do all populations have some genetic diversity?

A

Random mutations result in copying errors when copying DNA.

56
Q

What are adaptations?

A

Adaptations are a trait the increases an organisms fitness.

57
Q

What is organism fitness?

A

The ability to survive and to reproduce.

58
Q

Natural selection

A

Species will have more offspring where individuals that are better adapted survive.

59
Q

Individuals with adaptations

Evolution?

A

-Individuals with adaptations pass them on to offspring
-Individuals without adaptations die off leading to eventually the whole population having these adaptations. (Evolution)

60
Q

selective pressure/force

A

Environmental condition that kills individuals without adaptation.

61
Q

Selective pressure examples

A

-Predation
-lack of food
-Disease

62
Q

Environmental change and evolution

A

the environment and habitat in which an organism lives in determines which traits are adaptations. These change if your habitat changes.

63
Q

Evolution Peppered moths example

A

Peppered moths in England were mostly light in color. Because of the industrial revolution the trees in the forest turned darker, making dark moths less visible to predators giving them an advantage. Now all moths are dark.

64
Q

Genotype
Phenotype

A

Genes
physical trait

65
Q

Paces of evolution (3)

A

1) If envir. changes rapidly, you might not have time to adapt. Leading in migration or complete wipeout.
2) Lots of genetic diversity means better survival change.
3) longer life-span means slower evolution rate. EX bacteria evolve quickly humans don’t.

66
Q

Ecological succession

A

gradual process of change in the structure of a community over time.

67
Q

Changes in plant life →

A

leads to change in habitat

68
Q

Primary succession occurs
example

A

occurs in area without previous plant life. EX: after volcanic eruption. BARE ROCK!

69
Q

pioneer species in primary succession
How is soil formed?

A

moss and lichen
able to grow directly on rocks. initial soil is formed by chemical weathering of rocks.

70
Q

Secondary succesion

A

occurs in an area WITH soil WITHOUT plant life. was removed by disturbance (fire, tornado, logging)

71
Q

pioneer species secondary succession

A

grasses, wildflowers, weeds.
very small, fast growing plants.

72
Q

stages of succession indicate

A

which plants dominate the ecosystem

73
Q

Pioneer species (stages of succession)

Examples

A

pioneer species appear first.
-seeds spread quickly by wind or animals.
-fast growing, tolerant of full sunlight.

74
Q

mid-successional species (stages of succession)

Examples

A

appear after pioneer species have developed soil.
-relatively fast growing
-larger plants need deeper soil
-sun tolerant
EX: shrubs, bushes, cherry, pine

75
Q

late-successional species / climax community species (stages of succession)
Examples

A

need deep soil for root growth.
-large, slow growing trees
-tolerant of shade
-require deep soil of large network of roots
EX: maple, oak, other large trees

76
Q

succession in aquatic ecosystems (lakes)

A

lakes fill with sediments over time and slowly become terrestrial biomes
sediments moved by wind, water, landslide

77
Q

What increases over time as succession occurs?

A

biomass
species richness
NPP

78
Q

key stone species
Example

A

play a more important role in community than their abundance says. MAINTAIN BIODIVERSITY
EX: sea otters

79
Q

Trophic cascade

A

domino affect on the whole food web when keystone species are removed

80
Q

trophic cascade example sea otter

A

sea otters live in kelp forests and they eat sea urchins. when otters are removed, sea urchins take over and eat all the kelp removing habitats for other species

81
Q

ecosystem engineer and
Example

A

creates or provides habitats for other species EX: beavers building dams for other animals

82
Q

indicator species
and example

A

indicate ecosystem health by reflected abiotic/biotic state of environment.
EX: Amphibians (frogs) are sensitive to pollution
EX: birds (canary) brought down into mines so if they die we know that the air quality is poor.

83
Q

macro-invertebrates in rivers and streams

A

are indicators if water quality is good in streams and rivers. some animals are more pollution tolerant than others meaning that if the quality of water is bad, the intolerant die. (bio-indicators)

AP environmental science (6 decks)

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