Patterns in the marine environment

Question 1

Define ecological niche

Answer 1

The range of environments over which a species is able to live

Question 2

Define commensalism

Answer 2

An association between two organisms whereby one benefits and the other derives neither benefit or harm

Question 3

Define lower limit

Answer 3

Niche limit nearest the sea

Question 4

Define upper limit

Answer 4

Niche limit furthest from the sea

Question 5

Define biogeography

Answer 5

large-scale distribution from the sea

Question 6

Define photic

Answer 6

exposed to light

Question 7

Define aphotic

Answer 7

without light

Question 8

Define nekton

Answer 8

free-swimming organisms

Question 9

Define benthos

Answer 9

organisms living on/within the substrate

Question 10

Define deposit feeder

Answer 10

animal that eats sediment

Question 11

Define detritivore

Answer 11

animal that feeds on dead organic matter

Question 12

Define planktotrophic

Answer 12

with a free-swimming/huntin larval stage

Question 13

Define lecithotrophic

Answer 13

larvae recieves no nutrition other than yolk - not free-swimming

Question 14

Define functional diversity

Answer 14

the measure of the number of different dunctional istinct species (e.g. grazers, predators) in a given area

Question 15

Define keystone species

Answer 15

a species that, if removed, would have major ecological consequences for other species

Question 16

Define littoral zone

Answer 16

zone near shore where light reaches the substrate, highlighting distinct zonation

Question 17

Define macro-ecology

Answer 17

the relationship between living organisms and their environment at large-spatial scales

Question 18

What is the Humboldt current?

Answer 18

a cold Pacific Ocean current flowing north along the coasts of Chile and Peru

Question 19

Define biodiversity

Answer 19

the diversity among living organisms , and all those that have ever lived, including diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems

Question 20

Define ecological biodiversity

Answer 20

diversity among biomes, ecosystems, and habitats

Question 21

Define organism biodiversity

Answer 21

diversity among kingdoms, phyla, and species

Question 22

Define genetic biodiversity

Answer 22

diversity among populations and individuals

Question 23

What is a morpho-species?

Answer 23

organisms that look different to one another but belong in a single species

Question 24

What is a cryptic species?

Answer 24

species that look similar to one another but cannot interbreed