Exam #2 Vocab Flashcards
population
group of individuals of the same species in a single area
species
“kind” of organism
community
all the species in a single area
species evenness
the relative abundance of species in a community
species diversity
consider richness and evenness
producer
capture abiotic energy
trophic levels
distance from the abiotic energy source
disturbance
environmental change that substantially modifies the structure and resources of a community
succession
predictable change in community structure after a disturbance
climax community
the final community in ecological succession that will remain as long as no disturbance occurs
eutrophication
high nutrients increase biomass and decrease species richness
keystone species
when present species richness is much higher
ecological equilibrium
a community at a near steady state
community resistance
ability to remain at equilibrium despite a possible disturbance
community resilience
spread of a community return to equilibrium (speed of succession) more diverse communities usually are more resistant and resilience
habitat fragmentation
separation of habitat patches into smaller patches (“islands”); lowers species richness
edge effect
the periphery of the habitat patch affected by the adjacent habitat
intraspecific
individuals of some species
interspecific
individuals of different species
symbiosis
general term for interaction between individuals of different species
competition
organisms use same resource
predation
one organism kills and eats another from the outside
parasitism and grazing
one organism eats part of another without killing it
commensalism
one organism benefits and the other is unaffected
amensalism
one organism if harmed and the other is unaffected
mutualism
both organisms benefit from the interaction
ecosystem
community of living organisms and the abiotic factors with which they interact
biogeochemical cycle
geological and biological processes that recycle elements vital to life
biome
geographic region classified according to the main plant types present
micronutrients
substances required in relatively small amounts by living organisms
organic matter
organisms and parts of organisms (part of dead living things apart of it)
microorganisms
bacteria and fungi that cycle and transform nutrients
mycorrhizae
fungi mutualists with plant undergo structures (usually roots)
traditional agriculture
use large amounts of human and or animal labor; usually produces diverse foods for farmer use plus more to sell (intercropping, crop rotation)
intercropping
uses the same to grow 2 crops at the same time
crop rotation
uses the same field to grow different crops at different times
plantation agriculture
uses large amounts of human labor; large scale and usually produces one crop to sell agricultural green revolution
organic agriculture
minimal off-farm inputs and practices that restore, maintain or enhance environmental health and productivity (focus on health and environmental impact)
sustainable agriculture
balances profitability and environmental stewardship that will allow for long-term productivity
mycorrhizae- plant mutualism
plants get more water and micronutrients; fungus gets glucose
rhizobium bacteria-legume mutualism
the plant gets ammonia; bacteria get glucose
tillage
turning over soil (plowing); if extensive can cause erosion and deep compaction
conventional agriculture
high input, high yield
coal
solid fossil fuel formed from compression of plant material in low or no oxygen sediments
oil/ petroleum
liquid fossil fuel formed from compression of algae in low or no oxygen sediments
natural gas
gaseous fossil fuels formed from the compression of algae or plants in low or no-oxygen sediments
undernutrition
deficiency in a macro or micronutrient
climate
the long-term average of weather conditions
climate change
global change in climate patterns or conditions
global warming
increase in global average temperature
green revolution (1940-1960s)
increased yield; increased input (“hybrid” seed, mechanization, irrigation, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides)
