topic 2 Flashcards
One of the most important concepts in
biology.
Adaptation
allow a
species to survive in its environment.
Adaptation
individual
organism can respond immediately to a
changing environment
Acclimation
passed from
generation to generation and allow a
species to live more successfully in its
environment. T
Genetic traits
basic idea is
that species change over
generations because individuals
compete for scarce resources
evolution
process
of better-selected individuals
passing their traits to the next
generation
Natural Selection
changes to the
DNA coding sequence of
individuals that occurs
occasionally, and the changed
sequences are inherited by
offspring
Mutations
factors that limits a species where to live
Limiting Factors
4 limiting factors
Physiological stress
competition
predation
luck
the single factor in
shortest supply relative to demand is the
critical factor determining where a
species lives
Critical Factor
each environmental
factor has both minimum and maximum
levels, called_________,
tolerance limits
The single factor closest to these
survival limits is the critical factor that
limits where a particular organism can
live.
tolerance limits
place or set of
environmental conditions in
which a particular organism
lives
habitat
describes
both the role played by a
species in a biological
community and the set of
environmental factors that
determine its distribution
Ecological Niche
species that
tolerate a wide range of
conditions or exploit a wide
range of resources
Generalists
species that have
a narrow ecological niche.
Specialists
development of a new
species.
Speciation
occurs when
populations are geographically
separated.
Allopatric Speciation
occurs within
one geographic area
Sympatric Speciatio
when
the habitat are far enough apart
that population were
genetically isolated;
Geographic Isolation
two identical species live in
similar habitats but have
different mating calls
Behavioral Isolation
Directional Selection
shift
toward one extreme of a trait.
study of types of organisms and
their relationships.
organisms can be traced
which common ancestors they have
descended
Taxonomy
also called Scientific or Latin
Name
Taxonomy
important type of
selective pressure.
predation
type of antagonistic relationship
within a biological community
Competition
competition among
members of the same
species.
Intraspecific competition
competition between
members of different
species.
Interspecific competition
organism that feeds directly
on another living organism, whether
or not this kills the prey
Predator
powerful but
complex influence on species
populations in communities
predation
Two or more species live intimately
together, with their fates linked.
-Symbiotic relationships often
enhance the survival of one or both
partners.
symbiosis
type of
symbiosis in which both
members’ benefits.
mutualism
type of
symbiosis in which one
member clearly benefits
and the other apparently is
neither benefited nor
harmed
Commensalism
a form
predation may also be
considered symbiosis
because of the dependency
of the parasite on its host.
Parasitism
one
species living inside
another one.
Endosymbiosis
one
species living on the
surface of the other
species.
Ectosymbiosis
Thought to be the top predators
like lions, wolves, and tigers that
limited herbivore abundance and
reduced the herbivory of plant
Keystone Species
The rate of biomass production.
- An indication of the rate of solar
energy conversion to chemical
energy
Primary Productivity
expression of the
total number of organisms in a
biological community
Abundance
measure of the
number of different species,
ecological niches, or genetic
variation present.
Diversity
refers to
patterns of spatial distribution of
individuals and populations within a
community
Ecological structure
- Many biological communities tend
to remain relatively stable and
constant over time
Resilience and Stability
Three kinds of stability or resiliency
in ecosystems:
constancy
inertia
renewal
The boundary between one habitat
and its neighbors is an important
aspect of community structure.
edge
effects.
boundaries between
adjacent communities.
ecotones
a community
that is sharply divided from its
neighbors.
- Closed Community -
community
with gradual or indistinct
boundaries over which many species
cross.
Open Community
community that developed last and
lasted the longest.
Climax Community
2 kinds of succession
primary and secondary
the history
of community development. When a
succession occurs, organisms occupy
a site and change the environmental
conditions
Ecological Succession
Land that is
bare of soil (a sandbar, mudslide,
rock face, and volcanic flow) is
colonized by living organisms where
none lived before
Primary succession
When an
existing community is disturbed, a
new one develops from the
biological legacy of the old.
Secondary succession
when organisms change
the environment by modifying soil,
light levels, food supplies, and
microclimate, the change permits
new species to colonize and
eventually replace the previous
species.
Ecological development or
facilitation
the first
colonists (microbes, mosses, and
lichens) that can withstand a harsh
environment with few resources
Pioneer species
- Any force that disrupts the established
patterns of species diversity and
abundance, community structure, or
community properties
Disturbance
Continuous introduction of new
community members and the
disappearance of previously existing
species are requirements of succession.
Introduced Species
