LITE: Environmental Science Basics

Question 1

Interspecific Competition

Answer 1

interaction between 2+ species when fighting for a limited resource; one with better adaptive trait wins

Question 2

Adaptive Traits

Answer 2

traits that give a species a competitive advantage; procured though evolution

Question 3

Resource Partitioning

Answer 3

where the niches do not overlap, and species share resources

Question 4

Predation

Answer 4

a predator-prey relationship [win-lose]

Question 5

Coevolution

Answer 5

evolution is cyclical and adaptive traits build up, caused through competition and predation

Question 6

Parasitism

Answer 6

a strategy where organisms feed from inside the host, maybe even reproduce

Question 7

Mutualism

Answer 7

is where species have a “win-win” scenario — usually regarding nutrition and protection

Question 8

Commensalism

Answer 8

where species have a “win-no effect” relationship; birds and trees

Question 9

Ecological Succession

Answer 9

a gradual change in species composition due to environmental change in a given area

Question 10

Primary Ecological Succession

Answer 10

a gradual establishment of communities where there is no soil — like bunch of rocks

Question 11

Secondary Ecological Succession

Answer 11

a gradual establishment with soil — like deforested areas

Question 12

Natural Ecological Succession

Answer 12

where ecological succession is rebuilt naturally, without human interference

Question 13

Rate of Succession

Answer 13

the speed of the ecological succession: facilitation, inhibition, and tolerance

Question 14

Facilitation

Answer 14

where a set of species that makes it suitable for other species’ niche

Question 15

Inhibition

Answer 15

where a set of species that makes it unsuitable for other species’ niche

Question 16

Tolerance

Answer 16

where plants in late stages of succession succeed because niches don’t overlap much

Question 17

Inertia/Persistence

Answer 17

the ability of an ecosystem to survive in moderate disturbances; protection

Question 18

Resilience

Answer 18

the ability for an ecosystem to restore through secondary ecological succession after severe disturbance; regrowth

Question 19

Population

Answer 19

an amount of a specific species in individuality

Question 20

Clumps

Answer 20

formed in packs because species gather in resourceful areas, more protection, more vision

Question 21

Four Factors of Population

Answer 21

birth, deaths, immigration, and emigration

Question 22

Age Structure

Answer 22

the distribution of age groups: prereproductive, reproductive, postreproductive stage

Question 23

Range of Tolerance

Answer 23

stages where a species is best fit physically and chemically: optimum range, zone of physiological stress, & zone of intolerance

Question 24

Limiting Factors

Answer 24

the factors that determine population size; like population density

Question 25

Limiting Factor Principle

Answer 25

too much or too little of any factor can prevent growth of population, even when all are at/near optimum range

Question 26

Acquatic Life Zones

Answer 26

water filled areas; limiting factors on temperature, sunlight, nutrient avalibility, acidity, dissolved oxygen content, and salinity

Question 27

Population Density

Answer 27

limiting factor —for both land and acquatic life zones, as it intesifies the importance of other limiting factors — like disease spread

Question 28

K-Strategists

Answer 28

species who needs a stable environment to reproduce — like humans — though the offsprings are expected to live long

Question 29

R-Strategists

Answer 29

species who reproduce quickly, and are not expecting all to survive — like bacteria; can reproduce under unstable conditions and reproduce at an early age as well

Question 30

Environmental Resistance

Answer 30

culmination of all factors which inhibit population growth; determines carrying capacity

Question 31

Carrying Capacity

Answer 31

the maximum population of a given area

Question 32

J-Curve

Answer 32

exponential growth of population; unrealistic because resources aren’t unlimited

Question 33

S-Curve

Answer 33

logistic growth and levels on carrying capacity; realistic

Question 34

Population Crash

Answer 34

when population overshoot the carrying capacity, and experiences die-back