Test 1 Flashcards
Science
The state of knowing or the knowledge of a system
Biology
The study of life: defies a simple, one sentence definition; recognized by what living things do.
Organizations of life we are studying
Animals, Plants, Fungi, Bacteria, Algae
The earth’s spheres
Hydrosphere, Biosphere, Atmosphere, Lithosphere
Taxonomy
Branch of biology that names and classifies species into groups based on shared characteristics/presumed relatedness.
Climate
Long term weather conditions with temp, precipitation, sunlight, and wind that is affected by seasons, large bodies of water, and mountain ranges.
Circulation of Surface Water in Oceans
Includes the labrador and california current
Biome
distinct climate with plants and animals.
Community
All population’s living and interacting in area with the living portion of an ecosystem.
Population
Group of individuals of same species living and interacting here.
Terrestrial Biomes
Forests, Grasslands, Tundra
Aquatic Biomes
Freshwater, Saltwater- lakes/ponds, streams/rivers, wetlands; Marine
Community Ecology
Study of interactions among all populations in common environment.
Ecological Niche
Role species serves in its ecosystem - no two species have same niche
Characterizing a community steps
- species diversity- how many and where they are 2. # of species and individuals 3. composition- which species rule.
Food Web
Branching food chain with complex trophic interaction: play more than one role and is more comprehensive than food chain.
Trophic Structure
refers to feeding relationships
Food Chains
Link trophic levels from producers to top carnivores
Different types of consumers
quaternary, tertiary, secondary, primary
Defense Mechanisms
Camouflage (cryptic coloration), mimicry, aposematic (warning coloration to predators)
Mutualism
Both benefit from each other
Commensalism
Helping but not mutual benefit
Parasitism
Parasite thrives at cost of host
Species Richness
Number of different species in a community
Species Abundance
Proportion each species represents of all individuals in community
Keystone Species
Influential ecological role that increases diversity in habitat and is important in regulating effect.
Foundation Species
Helps to structure; Can be at any trophic level and plants will change if animals are removed; “ecosystem engineer”
Top Down Effects
when changes in top predators causes a cascade change in all trophic levels below.
Bottom-up Effects
When changes in primary producers causes change in trophic levels above them.
Ecological Succession
Sequence of community changes; transition in species composition over time (usually after disturbance)
Primary ecology succession
bare rock to grasses - grasses, shrubs, shade intolerant - shade tolerant trees
Secondary Ecological Succession
fire - annual plants, grasses - grasses, pines, young oak - mature oak and forest
1st Law of Thermodynamics
Energy is neither created or destroyed and it changes form.
2nd Law of Thermodynamics
Whenever organisms use chemical bond or light energy, some is converted to heat (entropy).
Earth’s incoming and outgoing flows of ________ must be equal for global temps to stay constant.
radiant energy
In the Greenhouse effect, the amount of _______ energy decreases as it is passed on.
chemical-bond
Types of Biogeochemical Cycles
Carbon, Water, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus Cycle
In the case study of “Nutrient cycling in Hubbard Brook Forest”, 60% of precipitation if exited through streams while 40% is lost by ________.
evapotranspiration
Limiting Nutrient & Examples
Weak link in ecosystem or shortest supply; nitrogen and phosphorus can be examples for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Extents of photosynthetic production sets the spending limit for an __________
Energy Budget
Scientific Method
Observational? - Problem definition - construct hypothesis - testing/results - adequate?
Taxonomic Levels
Kingdom - Phylum - Class - Order - Family - Genus - Species
Factors used to characterize biomes?
latitude, temperature, precipitation, disturbance, vegetation
Research ?’s in Population
What factors will affect the size? How and why does it change through time?
Research ?’s in Ecosystem
How do interactions between species affect community structure and organization?
Research ?’s in Landscape
What factors are controlling exchanges of energy, materials, and organisms across ecosystems?
Research ?’s in Biosphere
How does regional exchange of energy and materials influence functioning and distribution of organizations across the biosphere?
Species
Population of group of populations whose members can interbreed in nature and produce viable, fertile offspring but do not produce these in other groups.
Habitat
Area and resources used by particular being.
Latitude
Warming of sun causes dramatic latitudinal variations in climate.
Climograph
Plot of annual mean temperatures and precipitation in region.
Disturbances & Examples
Frequent fires - can kill woody plants and keep savanna from becoming a woodland. Hurricanes - create openings for new species in many tropical and temperate forests.
Ecotone
Transition to one habitat/ecosystem to another.
Biotic Factors
Living; the other organism that are part of environment
Abiotic Factors
Nonliving; chemical and physical of environment.
Population Dynamics
Study of how complex interactions between abiotic and biotic factors influence variations in population size.
Growth Rate
The rate, or speed, at which a number of organisms in population increases
Patterns of Dispersal
Random pattern that gather in clumps
Territory
Any area defended by organization for mating, nesting, feeding, etc.
Geographic Range
Geographical area within which species can be found.