Environmental Science - Ch 4 Flashcards
Intraspecific Competition
Takes place between members of the same species
Interspecific Competition
Takes place between members of different species
Competitive Exclusion
If one species is the better competitor, it may keep other species from the resources
Species Coexistence
If all species are at roughly the same level of competition they will live side by side
Niche
The role a species plays within its ecosystem
Fundamental Niche
The full potential niche of a species in the ecosystem
Resource Partitioning
Individuals use shared resources in different ways
Character Displacement
Competing species develop different characteristics
Predation
The predator hunts and consumes the prey
Parasitism
The parasite depends on the host for nourishment or other benefit while not harming the host
Parasitoids
Insects who parasitize other insects, killing them in the process
Pathogens
Parasites that cause disease
Examples of Pathogens
Protists, Bacteria, Viruses
Coevolution
Parasites and hosts are locked into an “evolutionary arms race” as they each respond to each other’s adaptations to the parasite/host relationship
Herbivory
Animals feed on plants
Mutualism
Interaction where two or more species benefit from each other
Symbiosis
Close, physical relationship between two species
Pollination
Birds or insects transfer pollen from flower to flower
Community
Collection of population of organisms living in the same area at the same time
Community Ecologists
Study which species coexist, how they interact, and how the communities change over time
Trophic Level
The position an organism occupies in the food chain/web, based on what it eats or what eats it
Energy Pyramid (From Bottom to Top)
Primary producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers, apex predators
Primary Producers
Mostly plants
Primary Consumers
Herbivores
Secondary Consumers
Feed on primary consumers
Tertiary Consumers
Feed on secondary consumers
Detritivores
Feed on waste and dead bodies
Decomposers
Break down nonliving matter to nutrients in the soil
Food Chain
The flow of energy and feeding relationships from lower to higher trophic levels
Food Webs
Show feeding relationships and energy flow within communities
Keystone Species
A species that has an impact far greater than its abundance
Ecosystem Engineers
Physically alter ecosystems
Top Predators
Control populations of lower trophic level consumers
Trophic Cascade
If top predators are lost, primary consumers will over consume producers and alter the ecosystem
Disturbance
Any event that has rapid and drastic effects on the community and ecosystem
Resistance
A community that resists change caused by the disturbance and remains stable
Resilience
A community that is changed by the disturbance but returns to its original state
Succession
Happens when a severe disturbance eliminates all or many of the species in a population
Primary Succession
Happens when a disturbance is so severe that no vegetation or soil life remains, forcing the community to start over
Invasive Species
Eradication
Total elimination of the population
Control
Limiting population growth by trapping, treating with pesticides and other techniques
Prevention
Keeping invasive species away from areas they haven’t yet colonized
Restoration Ecologists
Devise ways to restore altered habitats to their condition before human intervention
Ecological Restoration
Aims to restore the functionality of an ecosystem OR return a community to pre - settlement conditions
Biome
A regional complex of similar communities
How Many Biomes Does Earth Have?
10
Temperate Deciduous Forests
Found at midlatitudes, precipitation is similar throughout the year
Where Are Temperate Deciduous Forests Found?
Eastern US, Canada, Europe, China, and Japan
Temperate Grasslands
Seasonal temperature differences are more pronounced, while rainfall is diminished.
Where Are Temperate Grasslands Found?
Interior of North America, Eurasia, South America, southern Africa
Temperate Rainforests
Found in the midlatitudes with mild winters, moderate summers, and abundant rainfall
Where Are Temperate Rainforests Found?
Pacific Northwest, west coast of Chile, southeastern Australia
Tropical Rainforests
Have dark, damp interiors with lush vegetation and highly diverse communities
What is the One Continent Without a Tropical Rainforest?
Antarctica
Tropical Dry Forests
Have consistently warm temperatures with wet and dry seasons that each occupy about half of the year
Where are Tropical Dry Forests Found?
Central and South America, large areas of Africa, and Indo - Asia Pacific
Savannas
Tropical grasslands with distinct wet and dry seasons
Where are Savannas Found?
Parts of Africa, Australia, and India
What is the Driest Biome?
Deserts
