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Environmental science > Test 1 > Flashcards

Test 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Adaptation

A

Traits that help species survive and are passed to future generations

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2
Q

Natural selection

A

Fittest individuals reproduce and survive more successfully

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3
Q

Tolerance limits

A

Minimum and maximum environmental conditions a species can survive

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4
Q

Ecological niche

A

A species’ role in an ecosystem and environmental needs

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5
Q

Generalists

A

Adapt to many conditions

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6
Q

Specialists

A

Thrive only in specific environments

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7
Q

Speciation

A

Development of new species

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8
Q

Allopatric speciation

A

Due to geographic isolation

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9
Q

Sympatric speciation

A

Occurs within the same area due to behavioral differences

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10
Q

Directional selection

A

Traits shift toward one extreme

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11
Q

Stabilizing selection

A

Reduces variation, keeping traits average

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12
Q

Disruptive selection

A

Traits diverge to extremes

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13
Q

Taxonomy

A

Classification of organisms into three domains: Bacteria, Archaea, and Euharya

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14
Q

Intraspecific

A

Within the same species

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15
Q

Interspecific

A

Between different species

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16
Q

Predation

A

Any organism feeding on another

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17
Q

Prey defenses

A

Camouflage, mimicry, chemical defenses

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18
Q

Mutalism

A

Both species benefit

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19
Q

Commensalism

A

One benefits, the other is unaffected

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20
Q

Paraitism

A

One benefits, the other is harmed

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21
Q

Biotic potential

A

maximum reproduction rate of a species

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22
Q

Exponential growth

A

Rapid population increase

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23
Q

Carrying capacity

A

Maximum population an environment can support

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24
Q

Logistic growth

A

Population stabilizes due to environmental limits

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25
Q

Density dependent

A

Affected by population size

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26
Q

Density independent

A

Unrelated to population size

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27
Q

K-selected species

A

Slow reproductions, few offspring

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28
Q

R-related species

A

High reproductive rate, many offspring

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29
Q

Diversity

A

Number of species in an area

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30
Q

Abundance

A

Number of individuals of a species in an area

31
Q

Random community structure

A

Individuals settle wherever resources allow

32
Q

Ordered community structure

A

Competition/Territoriality create patterns

33
Q

Patchy community structure

A

Species clump together for survival

34
Q

Primary succession

A

Occurs in barren areas

35
Q

Secondary succession

A

Occurs after a disturbance

36
Q

Ecological footprint

A

The amount of land needed to support and individuals consumption

37
Q

Demography

A

Study of population

38
Q

Zero population growth

A

Births + Immigration = deaths + emigration

39
Q

Life span

A

Maximum age a species can reach

40
Q

Life expectancy

A

Average age a newborn can expect to live

41
Q

Developed countries

A

Higher education and career opportunities lead to fewer children

42
Q

Developing countries

A

Lower costs of raising children in larger families

43
Q

Birth control

A

Celibacy, delayed marriage, contraception and abortion

44
Q

Deductive reasoning

A

Drawing conclusions from general laws or principles

45
Q

Inductive reasoning

A

Forming general rules based on specific observations

46
Q

Probability

A

The likelihood of an event occurring, not a certainty

47
Q

Ecosystem

A

An interconnected group of plants, animals, and their environment where materials and energy move

48
Q

Open system

A

Exchange energy and matter with their surrondings

49
Q

Closed system

A

Do not exchange energy or matter with their surrondings

50
Q

Matter

A

Anything with mass that occupies space

51
Q

Elements

A

Substances that cannot be broken down chemically

52
Q

Ionic bonds

A

Formed by attraction between oppositely charged ions

53
Q

Covalent bonds

A

Formed by sharing electrons between atoms

54
Q

Carbon

A

Forms the backbone of organic compounds like lipids, carbs, proteins, and nucleic acids

55
Q

Hydrologic cycle

A

Water constantly moves through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation

55
Q

Kinetic energy

A

Energy of motion

56
Q

Carbon cycle

A

Carbon moves through organisms, soil, and atmosphere

57
Q

Nitrogen cycle

A

Nitrogen moves through plants, animals, and decomposers

58
Q

Phosphorus cycle

A

Phosphorus is released from rocks and cycles through ecosystems

59
Q

Sulfur cycle

A

Sulfur moves through organisms and the atmosphere, influencing climate

60
Q

Biomes

A

Large biological communities classified by climate, temperature, precipitation

61
Q

Biodiversity

A

Number and variety of species within a biome

62
Q

Tropical rainforests

A

Warm, humid, high biodiversity

63
Q

Tropical seasonal forests

A

Warm year-round

64
Q

Tropical savannas and grasslands

A

Too dry for forests, mostly grasses and scattered trees

65
Q

Deserts

A

Hot or cold but always dry

66
Q

Temperate grasslands

A

Rich soils, moderate rainfall, supports grass but not forests

67
Q

Temperate shrublands

A

Dry summers, biologically diverse

68
Q

Tundra

A

Treeless, cold, short growing season, found at high latitudes

69
Q

Phytoplankton

A

Microscopic algae that support ocean food webs

70
Q

Wetlands

A

High productive, shallow water ecosystems

71
Q

Extinction

A

Natural process, but human activities accelerate species lost

72
Q

Invasive species

A

Non-native organisms that spread uncontrollably

73
Q

Overharvesting

A

Removing species faster than they can reproduce

Environmental science (1 decks)

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