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Environmental Science > Species & Populations > Flashcards

Species & Populations Flashcards

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Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Ecology

A

Study of living & non-living parts that interact within an ecosystem

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2
Q

Ecosystem

A

Community of interdependent organisms & their interactions with the phyiscal environment

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3
Q

Pyramid

A
  1. organisms
  2. species
  3. populations
  4. community
  5. ecosystems
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4
Q

Biosphere

A

Global ecosystem composed of living organisms and the abiotic factors from which they derive energy and nutrients

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5
Q

Organism

A

An individual animal, plant, or single celled life form which goes through life processes

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6
Q

Species

A

A group of organisms sharing common characteristics that are able to reproduce and produce fertile offspring

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7
Q

Binomal Nomenclature

A

Used by scientists to identify a specfiic species.
Always underlined or in italics.
Genus is capitalized.
Species is lower case

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8
Q

Dichotomous Key

A

Used to identify organisms

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9
Q

Endemic Species

A

Species found only in 1 specific region of the Earth and are most vulnerable to die out
EX: kangaroos (Australia), Lemurs (Madagascar)

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10
Q

Population

A

A specific species in 1 area.

EX: African Elephant in the bush of Liwandi, Bottlenose dolphins of the Indian River Lagoon

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11
Q

Community

A

Several populations within 1 area

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12
Q

Biotic Factors

A

All the living components of an ecosystem

EX: plants, bacteria, fungi, animals

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13
Q

Abiotic Factors

A

Non-living physical factors in an ecosytem that may influence an organism or system
EX: temperature, salinity, pH, light

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14
Q

Habitat

A

The place where an organism lives that provides them with the necessary components of life
EX: food, water, shelter

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15
Q

Niche

A

The role “job” of the organism

EX: plants make food for rest of food chain, tigers keep herbivore population under control

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16
Q

Fundamental Niche

A

The entire range of condiitons in which a species could live

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17
Q

Realized Niche

A

The actual conditions under which the species lives (usually due to competition- limiting factors)

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18
Q

Competition

A

Demand for a limited resource by multiple organisms

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19
Q

“Competitive Exclusion Principle”

A

States that 2 species cannot coexist in a community if they share a niche, or compete for the same resources

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20
Q

Intraspecific Competition

A

Competition within 1 species

EX: tree sapplings compete for light, flamingoes compete for mates

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21
Q

Interspecific Competition

A

Competition between different species

EX: a puma vs a brown bear competing for salmon

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22
Q

Mark & Recapture Method

A

Used for aquatic & terrestrial animals.
1. Camera / traps used.
2. Captured animals are marked & released.
3. After a bit of time, traps are set again.
4. Repeat recapture as many times as possible.
Should not affect survival / fitness of organism.

23
Q

The Lincoln Index

A

Assuming no deaths, births, immigration, emmigration.
N = (# marked in 1st catch) x (total # in 2nd catch)
/
(# of recaptures in 2nd catch)

24
Q

Quadrat Method

A

Used for plants & sessile organisms.

  1. Mark out grid line along 2 edges of area
  2. Use calculator / tables to generate 2 random numbers to use as coordinates & place quadrat on ground with corner at coordinates
  3. Count individuals inside quadrat
  4. Repeat steps 2&3 as many times as possible
  5. Measure total size of area occupied in square meters.
  6. Caluclate mean number of indivuals per quadrat
  7. Calculate population size with equation
25
Q

Quadrat Method Equation

A

N = (mean # per quadrat) x (total area)
/
(area of each quadrat)

26
Q

Density

A

of individuals per unit area

27
Q

Frequency

A

Proportion of quadrats sampled that contain your species.

Assessment of patchiness of distribution.

28
Q

% Cover

A

Space within the quadrat occupied by each species.

Distinguishes the larger and smaller species.

29
Q

Population Characteristics

A
  1. Size (# of individuals)
  2. Density (# of indivuals in a certain space)
  3. Dispersion (spatial pattren of individuals: random, uniformed, clumped)
  4. Age distribution (proportion of each age)
30
Q

Population Dynamics

A

Changes of populations in response to environmental stress & change

31
Q

Keystone Species

A

Species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend

32
Q

Foundation Species

A

Species that has strong role in structuring a community

33
Q

Flagship Species

A

Species selected to act as ambassador, icon, symbol for defined habitat, issue, campaign, environmental cause

34
Q

Symbiotic Relationships

A

2 organisms live closely with each other & at least 1 benefits

35
Q

Mutualism

A

Both organisms benefit from each other

EX: termites & microorganisms in their stomach

36
Q

Parasitism

A

1 organism benefits while the other is harmed

EX: tapeworm & human intestines

37
Q

Commensalism

A

1 organism benefits and the other is unaffected

EX: pilot fish & shark

38
Q

Predation

A

1 animal feeding on another

EX: Lion eating antelope

39
Q

Carrying Capacity

A

Maximum number of organisms of a single species that an ecosystem can support

40
Q

Limiting Factors

A
  1. Birth
  2. Death
  3. Immigration
  4. Emigration
    Population changes = (birth + immigration) - (death + emigration)
41
Q

Density-dependent

A

Limiting factors that increase as density increases.

EX: competition for food, waste build up, predation, disease

42
Q

Density-independent

A

Limiting factors whose occurence are not related to population density.
EX: extreme cold or heat, wildfires, flooding, drought, vehicle accidents

43
Q

Biotic Potential

A

Capacity for growth.

Perfect case scenario.

44
Q

Environmental Resistance

A

All factors which limit growth of populations

45
Q

Exponential Growth

A

J Curve.

Occurs with few or no resource limitations.

46
Q

Logistic Growth

A
  1. Exponential growth
  2. Slower growth
  3. Then plateau at carrying capacity
47
Q

S Curve

A

Population will fluctuate around carrying capacity

48
Q

Negative Feedback

A

Response that causes output of system to be lessened so feedback tends to stabilize system

49
Q

R-selected Species

A 
Opportunists.
Reproduce early.
Many offspring, few survive.
Common after disturbance but poor competitors. 
EX: rats, roaches
50
Q

K-selected Species

A 
Competitiors.
Reproduce late.
Few offspring, most survive.
Common in stable areas, strong competitiors.
EX: kangaroos, killer whales
51
Q

Human Impact on Natural Populations

A
  1. Fragmenting & degrating habitats
  2. Simplifying natural ecosystems
  3. Using / destroying world primary productivity which supports all consumers
  4. Strengthening pest & disease populations
  5. Eliminating predators
  6. Introducing exotic species
  7. Overharvesting renewable resources
  8. Interfering with natural chemical cycling & energy flow
52
Q

Environmental Stress on Organisms

A
  1. Physiological changes
  2. Psychological changes
  3. Behavior changes
  4. Few / no offspring
  5. Genetic defects
  6. Cancers
  7. Death
53
Q

Environmental Stress on Populations

A
  1. Changes in population size
  2. Changes in age structure (old, young, weak may die)
  3. Survival of strains genetically resistant to stress
  4. Loss of genetic diversity & adaptability
  5. Extinction
54
Q

Environmental Stresses on Ecosystem

A
  1. Distruption of biogeochemical cycles
  2. Habitat loss & degradation
  3. Lower species diveristy
  4. Less complex food webs
  5. Lower stability
  6. Ecosystem collapse

Environmental Science (5 decks)

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