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A Introductory Ecology WEC > Introductory ecology key terms > Flashcards

Introductory ecology key terms Flashcards

1
Q

Define ecology

A

The study of the distribution and abundance of organisms, the interaction between organisms, the interaction between organisms and their environments, and structure and function of ecosystems.

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2
Q

Define ecosystem

A

A dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit.

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3
Q

Define communities

A

An assemblage of populations of different species, interacting with one another

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4
Q

Define carrying capacity

A

The maximum population of a species an environment can sustain

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5
Q

Define biosphere

A

The global sum of all ecosystems

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6
Q

Define habitat

A

A place where an organism or community lives, including biotic and abiotic factors

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7
Q

Define microhabitat

A

The smallest part of the environment, which supports flora and fauna e.g. a hole in a tree

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8
Q

Define population

A

The summation of all organisms within a species

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9
Q

Define ephemeral

A

Temporary habitats, e.g. puddles

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10
Q

Define ecotones

A

The transition between habitats

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11
Q

Define ecocline

A

The gradient of abiotic factors in ecotones

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12
Q

Define succession

A

The process of change in the structure of an ecological community, beginning with pioneer plants

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13
Q

Define plagioclimax community

A

A community which arises in succession due to human intervention

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14
Q

Define populations

A

The summation of organisms within a specis

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15
Q

Define autotrophs

A

Self-nourishing organisms

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16
Q

Define photoautotrophs

A

Organisms that use sunlight as energy

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17
Q

Define chemoautotroph

A

Organisms that obtain energy from chemical reactions

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18
Q

Define heterotrophs

A

Organisms that cannot make their own food

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19
Q

Define photoheterotrophs

A

Organisms use light energy as well as other food sources

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20
Q

Define chemoheterotrophs

A

Organisms that use organic sources for energy

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21
Q

Define granivores

A

Organisms that eat grains

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22
Q

Define frugivores

A

Organisms that eat fruit

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23
Q

Define foliovores

A

Organisms that eat leaves

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24
Q

Define saprotrophic nutrition

A

Organisms that feed on dead organic matter, e.g. fungi

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25
Q

Define commensalism

A

Ecological interactions where one organism benefits, whilst the other neither gains or loses

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26
Q

Define competition

A

Ecological interactions where both species suffer

27
Q

Define mutualism

A

Ecological interactions where both species benefit

28
Q

Define parasitism

A

Ecological interactions where one species benefits whilst the other is disadvantaged

29
Q

Define amensalism

A

Ecological interaction where one species is disadvantaged, but there is no effect on the other

30
Q

Define interference competition

A

Direct competition for common resources, e.g. 2 birds fighting for food

31
Q

Define exploitation competition

A

Indirect competition for common resources e.g. plants shading out each other

32
Q

Define apparent competition

A

There isn’t competition for resources but it appears there is e.g. buzzards eating mice, which leads to a decrease in mice populations and an increase in vole populations.

33
Q

Define intraspecific competition

A

Competition within the same species

34
Q

Define interspecific competition

A

Competition between species

35
Q

Define obligate mutualism

A

Interaction where one species can not live without the other e.g. acacia ants defend acacia trees from herbivores and in return provide shelter for the ants

36
Q

Define facultative mutualism

A

Intereaction where both species benefit but could survive without each other. E.g. mycorrhizal fungi

37
Q

Define fundamental niche

A

The entire set of conditions under which an animal can survive and reproduce

38
Q

Define realised niche

A

The actual set of condition under which an animal lives

39
Q

What is Gause’s competitive exclusion principle?

A

Two species cannot inhabit the same niche, competition for limited resources will lead to decline and extinction of a species

40
Q

Define niche packing

A

The umber of species along a resource gradient, species have niches which overlap

41
Q

Define resource partitioning

A

Animals can divide up resources to live on. E.g. zebras eat low quality grass as they have a low metabolic rate compared to their body mass and don’t have a rumen. The smallest ruminant, Thomson Gazelle, had a high protein and high energy diet as it has a higher metabolism and has a ruminant strategy to obtain maximum nourishment by thorough digestion. Bees have different proboscis lengths and choose different plants with different proboscis lengths to feed on. Plants have different root lengths to reach water at different levels.

42
Q

Define r strategies

A

Animals have many offspring, care less for individual young, are short lived, high juvenile mortality, begin breeding early in life and have short gestation periods. There are boom and bust cycles and populations are effected by major environmental catastrophes.

43
Q

Define k strategies

A

Animals have few offspring, care more for individual young, mature slowly, long-lived, low juvenile mortality, begin breeding later on in life, long gestation periods. They have more stable habitats but can be vulnerable due to the few offspring.

44
Q

What are examples of density dependent factors which effect populations?

A

The amount of food or water available, number of predators, pests, diseases, competition for food or space, availability of nest sites.

45
Q

What are examples of density independent factors which effect populations?

A

Drought, flood, fire, storms, human interference

46
Q

What is type I survivorship

A

There are larger young populations and smaller old populations, e.g. humans

47
Q

What is type II survivorship?

A

There are equal populations of all age groups e.g. water voles and golden eagles

48
Q

What is type III survivorship?

A

More older populations survive than younger populations e.g. frogs and mayflies

49
Q

Define species richness

A

A measure of the variety of species based on a count of the number of species

50
Q

Define species abundance

A

The number of individuals of a particular species

51
Q

What are generalist species?

A

They have broad niches, can tolerate a broad set of environmental conditions, use a wide range of resources, widespread species

52
Q

What are specialist species?

A

Narrow niches, tolerate narrow set of environmental conditions, use a narrow range of resources, species are usually restricted and locally scarce

53
Q

What is the MacArthur-Wilson theory of biogeography?

A

As new species immigrate, the rate of immigration slows and extinction of current species rises

54
Q

What did Ciais et al. find?

A

Estimated 30% reduction in primary production during the 2003 heatwave. Could be explained by the reduction in evapotranspiration and reduced water uptake by plants. Leaf area index also reduces with temperature rise, meaning that energy isn’t captured. However, this was only data from 1 year.

55
Q

Define chronosequence

A

Sites showing different stages of succession since abandonment

56
Q

Define sere

A

The sequence of succession

57
Q

Define secondary succession

A

The second stage, which occurs when disturbance such as fires does not kill all life in an environment.

58
Q

What are examples of autogenic succession

A

Soil development and vegetation structure

59
Q

What are examples of allogenic succession

A

External influences e.g. climatic changes, animal influence, pathogens

60
Q

Define keystone species

A

Species which act as ecosystem engineers and are able to control dominanat species e.g. otters, elephants and humingbirds

61
Q

What did Payne et al find?

A

Removing pisaster, a keystone species, led to species reducing from 15 to 8 as mussels took over.

62
Q

What are flagship species?

A

Species chosen to represent charities and organisations

63
Q

What are umbrella species?

A

Species with a focus on their conservation, which then benefits others.

A Introductory Ecology WEC (9 decks)

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