Glossary Flashcards
‘Tropical’
is a widely-used term referring to particular conditions
conditions may have changed over time
‘Tropics’
bounded by 23o27’ North and 23o25’ South
Gigantothermy =
= bulkyectothermicanimals are more easily able to maintain a constant, relatively highbody temperaturethan smaller animals by virtue of their smallersurface area to volume ratio.A bigger animal has proportionately less of its body close to the outside environment than a smaller animal of otherwise similar shape, and so it gains heat from, or loses heat to, the environment much more slowly
Allopatry =
is a term used to describe populations or species that occupy mutually exclusive (nonoverlapping) geographic areas
biogeography =
= is the study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time
Vicariance =
the geographical separation of a population, typically by a physical barrier such as a mountain range or river, resulting in a pair of closely related species.
Endemism =
is the ecological state of a species being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation, country or other defined zone, or habitat type
Sympatric speciation =
= is the process through which new species evolve from a single ancestral species while inhabiting the same geographic region
Natural selection =
those variations in the genotype that increase an organism’s chances of survival and procreation are preserved and multiplied from generation to generation at the expense of less advantageous ones.
Physiological =
its focus is in howorganisms,organ systems,organs,cells, andbiomoleculescarry out thechemicalandphysicalfunctions that exist in a living system
Morphological =
= a branch of biology dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features
Refugia =
is a location which supports an isolated or relict population of a once more widespread species.
Species richness =
is the number of differentspecies represented in an ecological community, landscape or region
is simply a count ofspecies, and it does not take into account the abundances of thespeciesor their relative abundance distributions.
Species Diversity =
is defined as the number of species and abundance of each species that live in a particular location
alpha richness =
number of species present
beta richness/diversity =
rate at which species change between habitats
gamma diversity =
= biogeographical diversity, total species diversity in a broad region
Relative humidity =
warm air can hold a lot more water then cold air
Fecundity =
= the ability to produce an abundance of offspring
Stability time hypothesis =
due to rainforests being relatively stable and are ancient, that it has resulted in speciation to occur at high rates allowing a high species richness
Productivity – resources hypothesis =
high diversity in tropics is a direct result in of high plant productivity, supporting more species
Interspecific competition hypothesis =
high species diversity has occurred due to high competition among species resulting in over time, niche partitioning, which is when species subdivide the resource, each specialising in a part of the desired resource, thus they a not in competition
Predation hypothesis =
= predators exert a major influence on species at lower trophic levels (herbivores)
Grasslands =
grass and herbaceous plants
Savannas =
grasslands with scattered trees
Shrublands =
= woody or herbaceous shrubs
riparian areas =
= the interface between land and a river or stream
Grazing =
just eats grass
Browsing =
= feeding on leaves, twigs or other high-growing vegetation
ecological guild =
= guild is a group of species that share a range of resources
niche partitioning =
= which is when species subdivide the resource, each specialising in a part of the desired resource, thus they a not in competition
Parasitism =
= is a relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or in another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life.
Mutualism =
= Both gain
Commensalism =
One gains, the other has not effect
Predation =
= One gains, the other suffers
Parasitism =
= One gains, the other suffers
Competition =
= both suffer
ecological specialisation =
= refers to how many species limit themselves to small diet- or habitat-niches, as a result of evolutionary trade-offs
trophic dynamics =
= the movement of carbon, nutrients, and energy among organisms in an ecosystem
Müllerian mimicry =
= be poisonous and look like something else poisonous
Batesian mimicry =
be tasty but resemble something poisonous
Mimicry =
the close external resemblance of an animal or plant (or part of one) to another animal, plant, or inanimate object.
keystone species =
= exert strong influence on food web
