test- ecology pt 2 Flashcards
sustainability
a balance between earth’s resources, human needs, and the needs of other species
ecological footprint
the amount of carbon emitted and its environmental impact
greenhouse effect
the normal warming when gases trap heat in the atmosphere
invasive species
non-native species introduced to an ecosystem that negatively harms it (ex. water hyacinth)
what are some human activities and their effects on the water cycle?
building, paving, and deforestation- decrease infiltration
what are some human activities and their effects on the carbon cycle?
burning of fossil fuels in combustion and realising CO2- causes an imbalance of carbon in the atmosphere
what are some human activites and their effects on the nitrogen cycle?
excessive use of fertilizers- causes and imbalance of nitrogen in the soil
what are some examples of renewable resources?
-water
-sunlight
-wind
-nuclear
what are some examples of nonrenewable resources?
-fossil fuels
-metal
-plastic
what is the goal of agricultural technology?
to increase food productivity
what is the goal of alternative energy technology?
to provide “clean’ energy to power society without negatively influencing the atmosphere
what is the goal of industrial technology?
to increase manufacturing efficeincy, transportaion, and communication
what is “clean” energy?
energy that doesn’t release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere
what is a negative consquence of using nuclear energy?
it creates radioactive waste
what is a negative consequence of using wind energy?
the blades on windmills are not biodegradable and it could interfere with animal life
what is a negative consqeuence of using solar energy?
it is expensive and not everyone’s house is in the right position for it
what is a negative consequence of using water energy?
it is expensive and could interfere with animal life
what everyday things produce CFC’s?
-foam packaging
-refrigerants
-aerosol sprays
what are CFC’s?
pollutants called chlorofluorocarbons that deplete the ozone layer
what are some key contributors to global warming?
-burning fossil fuels
-making CFC’s
what are two examples of reducing?
-using less plastic packaging
-eating at home
what are two examples of reusing?
-reusing plastic water bottles
-using reusable containers
what are two examples of recycling?
-recycling paper
-recycling glass
ecological succession
the process of ecological change in an ecosystem where one community is replaced by another over time
how do humans affect biodiversity?
-habitat destruction and fragmentation (deforestation, paving)
-pollution (burnign fossil fuels)
-introduction of invasive species
primary succession
formation of a brand new ecosystem (ex. volcanic eruption, melted glacier, eroded sand)
secondary succession
recovery of an old ecosystem (ex. fire, farming, hurricane)
pioneer species
the first organisms to grow in a new envirnonment
climax community
a mature and stable community of plants and animals (reached towards the end of succession)
stable ecosystem
an ecosystem that ramins relatively constant with predictable changes
what are some causes for primary succession?
-exposed rock
-volcanic eruptions
-glacier receeding
what are some causes for secondary succession?
-forest fires
-farming
-hurricanes
which type of succession happens faster and why?
secondary, because there is already soil left over from the previous community
what are two examples of pioneer species in primary succession?
-lichen
-mosses
what are two examples of pioneer species in secondary succession?
-weeds
-grasses
how can humans impact the process of ecological succession?
-we can deforest areas
-this can destroy communities
-this can also cause new communities to be made through secondary succession
-we can also burn/ pave things
habitat
the actual area in the ecosystem where an organism lives, including all of its abiotic and biotic resources
niche
all of the things an organism needs and does within its habitat
predator
an organism that hunts/ kills another for food
prey
the organism that is killed/ consumed by the predator
keystone species
a species that holds the ecosystem together, it is critical for the survival of the other species in the ecosystem
competitive exclusion principle
no two organisms can occupy the same niche at the same time
symbiosis
any interactino that involves a close, physical, long-term relationship between two different species (one species always benefits, always interspecific)
interspecific competition
competition between two different species
intraspecific competition
competition within the same species
if lynx hunt and eat rabbits who is the predator and who is the prey?
the lynx are the predator and the rabbits are the prey
what is an example of predation in the real world? (list who is the predator and who is the prey)
sharks (predator) hunt and eat fish (prey)
if two people were fighting over a parking spot, what kind of competition would this be?
intraspecific
if a bearded dragon and a leaopard gecko were fighting over a cricket what type of competition would this be?
interspecific
why is competition not considered a symbiotic relationship?
because competition is a short term relationship but a symbiotic relationship is always long term
what are the three types of symbiotic relationships?
-parasitism
-commensalism
-mutualism
what is parasitism? (list an example)
-when one organism benefits and the other is harmed
-the organism that benefits cannot kill the host
-ex. a tick on a dog
what is commensalism? (list an example)
-one organism benefits and the other is unaffected
-ex. barnacles on muscles
what is mutualism? (list an example)
-both organisms benefit from the relationship
-ex. clownfish and anenome
what is the difference between parasitism and predation?
-in predation one organism kills another for food
-in parasitism it is vital that the organism not kill the other because it is how it survives
what is the symbol for parasitism?
+/-
what is the symbol for commensalism?
+/o
what is the symbol for mutualism?
+/+
how does the relationship between predator and prey generate stablility over time?
-the predator and prey balance each other out
-without predators there would be too much prey
-without prey there would be too little predators
-the populations cycle in response to each other over time
-predators are often keystone species
