Final Exam Terms and Definitions Flashcards
Actual Evapotransition
amount of water lost from an ecosystem to the ATM due to a combination of evaporation and transportation by plants
ammonification
conversion of organic forms of nitrogen to ammonium, generally mediated by bacteria
bottom up control
control of a community or ecosystem by physical or chemical factors like temp or nutrient availability
community importance
change in quantitative community or ecosystem trait resulting from change in species abundance
decomposition
breakdown of organic matter accompanied by release of carbon dioxide and other inorganic compounds: its a key process in nutrient cycling
denitrification
conversion of nitrate to gaseous nitrogen, generally mediated by bacteria
keystone species
species that despite low biomass, exert strong effects on the structure of the communities that inhabit
nutrient cycling
use, transformation, movement, and resume of nutrients in ecosystems
persistence
community’s ability to continue to exist
resilience
capacity to recover structure and function after disturbance- highly resilient community or ecosystem may be completely disrupted by disturbance but quickly to its former state
resistance
capacity of a community or ecosystem to maintain structure and or function in the face of potential disturbance
return-time
the time it takes for a community to return to equilibrium following disturbance
top down control
control of influence of consumers on ecosystem processes
total impact
the magnitude of change resulting when a species has been removed regardless of direction of change
Liebig’s Law of Minimum
rate of a biological process is limited by that factor in least amount relative to the organisms requirement
Shelford’s Law of Tolerance
Distribution of a species controlled by that environments factor for which the organism has the narrowest range of TOLERANCE
Diffusion
gradual spread of limits of geographical range of a species over ecological time
JUMP dispersal
long distance movement of particular individuals often w/ aid if wins os another species, followed by successful establishment of a new population
SECULAR dispersal
diffusion and local adaption of a species over geological time
resource competition
organisms utilize common resources on short supply
interference competition
organisms seeking a rescue harm one another in the process even in the resource is NOT in short supply
intERspecific competition
2 species use same limited resource or harm one another WHILE seeking resources
intRAspecific competition
individuals of SAME species use same limited resources or harm one another while seeking said resources
fundamental niche
-abiotic factors
- necessary base and core
- where a species CAN be found
-range and parameters a species CAN survive
