Patterns in the marine environment Flashcards
Define ecological niche
The range of environments over which a species is able to live
Define commensalism
An association between two organisms whereby one benefits and the other derives neither benefit or harm
Define lower limit
Niche limit nearest the sea
Define upper limit
Niche limit furthest from the sea
Define biogeography
large-scale distribution from the sea
Define photic
exposed to light
Define aphotic
without light
Define nekton
free-swimming organisms
Define benthos
organisms living on/within the substrate
Define deposit feeder
animal that eats sediment
Define detritivore
animal that feeds on dead organic matter
Define planktotrophic
with a free-swimming/huntin larval stage
Define lecithotrophic
larvae recieves no nutrition other than yolk - not free-swimming
Define functional diversity
the measure of the number of different dunctional istinct species (e.g. grazers, predators) in a given area
Define keystone species
a species that, if removed, would have major ecological consequences for other species
Define littoral zone
zone near shore where light reaches the substrate, highlighting distinct zonation
Define macro-ecology
the relationship between living organisms and their environment at large-spatial scales
What is the Humboldt current?
a cold Pacific Ocean current flowing north along the coasts of Chile and Peru
Define biodiversity
the diversity among living organisms , and all those that have ever lived, including diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems
Define ecological biodiversity
diversity among biomes, ecosystems, and habitats
Define organism biodiversity
diversity among kingdoms, phyla, and species
Define genetic biodiversity
diversity among populations and individuals
What is a morpho-species?
organisms that look different to one another but belong in a single species
What is a cryptic species?
species that look similar to one another but cannot interbreed
