environmental challenges 3

Question 1

ecosystem

Answer 1

distinctive biotic community and the abiotic systems it interacts with (ex. tundra, desert, rainforest)

Question 2

biota

Answer 2

living organisms

Question 3

abiota

Answer 3

non-living part of the environment (ex. rocks, sun, lava, water)

Question 4

biotic community

Answer 4

identifiable groups of animals, plants, microbes, etc…

Question 5

biome

Answer 5

large regions of similar biotic communities

classified by major vegetation types (change w altitude, most biodiversity close to the equator)

determined by temperature and precipitation

Question 6

feeding relationships

Answer 6

help determine ecosystem structure (you + cow, you eat cow)

Question 7

non-feeding relationships

Answer 7

can be symbiotic (between two different organisms)

mutualism - mutual benefit (birds on big animal)
parasitism - one benefits at cost of other (baby in mother)
altruism - benefits others even at own expense (bees)
competitive relationships - niches in a habitat overlap and compete (lion and zebra)

Question 8

invasive species

Answer 8

outcompete organism in their natural environment because it has no competitors (emerald ash borer, zebra muscle, hogweed)

Question 9

habitat

Answer 9

physical and biological conditions where a species is adapted

Question 10

ecological niche

Answer 10

sets of resources in a habitat that a specific species uses

organisms may have to compete for resources and that can limit their niche size

Question 11

specialist species

Answer 11

specific requirements

Question 12

generalist species

Answer 12

wider range of requirements

Question 13

fundamental niche

Answer 13

species uses all the resources it can and does all its roles

Question 14

realized niche

Answer 14

species is limited to a subset of resources and is limited in its roles

Question 15

abiotic-biotic interactions

Answer 15

organisms maximize niche by altering exposure to abiotic factors as required

(ex. desert plants - minimize light reaching leaves)

Question 16

evolution (biological)

Answer 16

the gradual change in species characteristics over time

Question 17

species

Answer 17

group of similar organisms that can mate with each other and produce fertile offspring

Question 18

natural selection: species evolve over time

Answer 18

darwin: theory of evolution by natural selection
- specific traits and adaptations ENHANCE SURVIVAL
- success of trait = passed on = increased prevalence in population
(mutations can be passed on, helpful in pandemic, not helpful in non pandemic)

Question 19

natural selection: peppered moth

Answer 19

factory pollution gave black moths advantage because they could camoflauge

Question 20

artificial selection

Answer 20

selection under HUMAN direction (ex. cabbages)

Question 21

directional selection

Answer 21

when one extreme type of species is favoured

Question 22

stabilizing selection

Answer 22

when the intermediate of the species is favored

Question 23

disruptive selecion

Answer 23

when both extreme types of species is favored

Question 24

adaptation

Answer 24

divergent evolution - groups of same common ancestor evolve and accumulate differences which forms a new species

convergent evolution - unrelated species develop similar traits due to similar environment

Question 25

speciation

Answer 25

• single population
• geographically isolated populations
• divergence (become different) due to long-term geographical isolation
• isolated populations come together as now separate species and they can’t interbreed