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ESS all topic definitions and key points > TOPIC 2 > Flashcards

TOPIC 2 Flashcards

1
Q

Non-motile

A

Organism that does not move

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2
Q

Quadrat

A

A square with a defined (but variable) size that can be used to sample an area.

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3
Q

Estimating energy

A

Find amount of controlled combustion in a given area and extrapolate

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4
Q

Estimating abundance of non-motile organisms (3 methods)

A

-Use of quadrats
-Actual counts
-Measuring population density, percentage cover, and percentage frequency

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5
Q

Community respiration

A

The total respiration rate for all the populations within that system

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6
Q

Identification tools (list of 6)

A

-keys
-comparison to herbarium specimens or museum collections
-genetic profiling
-scientific exerptise
-apps for matching bird song, etc
-field guides

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7
Q

Estimating biomass

A

Find amount of dry mass in a given area and extrapolate

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8
Q

Random sampling

A

An area is divided into a grid and
coordinates are selected using a
random number generator.

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9
Q

Species

A

A group of organisms that share common characteristics and that interbreed to produce fertile offspring

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10
Q

Tricellular model

A

-model of wind currents

-Describes THREE large CONVECTION CURRENTS moving from the EQUATOR towards the POLES in each hemisphere of the earth

-explains the distribution of PRECIPITATION and TEMPERATURE that influence structure and realtive productivity of different terrestrial biomes

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11
Q

Anaerobic

A

Without oxygen (e.g., water-logged soil)

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12
Q

Gross secondary productivity (GSP) (alt name, definition, equation)

A

-is assimilation
-TOTAL energy or biomass assimilated by consumers
-food eaten - fecal loss

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13
Q

Nitrogen fixation

A

The conversion of nitrogen gas (N2) into compounds containing nitrates

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14
Q

Commensalism

A

A SYMBIOTIC relationship in which one organisms BENEFITS and the other is NEITHER HARMED NOR HELPED

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15
Q

K-strategist (definition + examples)

A

Species that tend to produce a SMALL number of offspring, whichINCREASES their SURVIVAL RATE and enables them to survive in long-term climax communities.

-e.g., whales, humans

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16
Q

Carrying capacity

A

The maximum population size that a given area can support sustainably

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17
Q

Limiting factors (definition)

A

Biotic or abiotic factors which lead to a limit in the population growth

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18
Q

Zonation (definition and contributing factors)

A

Changes in a community along an environmental gradient.

Arrangement/patterning of plant communities or ecosystems into parallel/sub-parallel bands in response to an ENVIRONMENTAL FACTOR CHANGING over DISTANCe

Due to factors such as:
-changes in altitude
-latitude
-tidal level
-distance from shore (coverage by water)
-climate

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19
Q

Pyramid of biomass (2 points)

A

-Represents the standing stock or storage of each trophic level

-Measured in units such as grams of biomass per square meter ( m-2), or Joules per square metre (J m-2)

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20
Q

Parasitism

A

A SYMBIOTIC relationship in which one species is BENEFITED and the other is ADVERSELY affected

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21
Q

Producers (3 points)

A

-also known as AUTOTROPHS

-typically plants or algae that produce their OWN food using photosynthesis

-form the FIRST TROPHIC LEVEL in a food chain

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22
Q

Density-dependent Limiting Factors (definition + example)

A

Limiting factors RELATED to how densely packed a population is

-e.g., competition

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23
Q

Stochastic

A

Having a random probability distribution

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24
Q

Species
richness

A

Number of species in a community that is useful comparative measure

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25
Q

Realised niche

A

The actual conditions
and resources in which a species
exists due to biotic interactions

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26
Q

Environmental Gradient (what is is + what it does + example))

A

-A line that joins locations A and B

-Displays a change in certain abiotic conditions

-E.g., going up a mountain leads to a change in altitude, temperature, air pressure, and UV radiation

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27
Q

Niche (definition)

A

Describes the particular set of abiotic and biotic conditions and resources to which and organisms or population responds.

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28
Q

edit prompts for drawing carbon cycle and nitrogen cycle

A
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29
Q

Species diversity

A

A function of the number of species and their relative abundance

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30
Q

Human activities impacting carbon and nitrogen cycles (list of 4)

A

-Burning fossil fuels
-deforestation
-urbanisation
-agriculture

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31
Q

matter cycling

A
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32
Q

Primary producers

A

In most ecosystems, primary producers convert light energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis

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33
Q

Extrapolation

A

Estimating or concluding something by assuming that EXISTING trends will CONTINUE

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34
Q

Percentage frequency (equation and example)

A

the number of occurences divided by the number of possible occurrences

-e.g., if a plant occurs in 5 out of 100 squares in a grid quadrat, then the percentage frequency is 5%

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35
Q

Denitrification (definition + example)

A

The conversion of nitrogen containing compounds, into Nitrogen gas

-this happens in water-logged soil by anaerobic bacterial

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36
Q

Biomagnification

A

The INCREASE IN CONCENTRATION of persistent or non-biodegradable pollutants along a food chain

-the buildup of mercury inside apex predator fish as a result of low levels of mercury accumulating in other organisms up the foodchain

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37
Q

Net Secondary Productivity (NSP) (equation)

A

Calculated by subtracted respiratory losses from Gross Secondary Productivity

NSP = GSP - R

where GSP = food eaten - fecal loss

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38
Q

Sampling strategy

A

The strategy designed to collect sufficient, appropriate data for a study that provides a valid representation of the system being
studied

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39
Q

Habitat

A

The environment in which a species noramlly lives

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40
Q

terrestrial

A

relating to the earth i.e. ecosystems occurring on land

41
Q

Chemosynthetic organisms (!!!!)

A

Produce their own food WITHOUT SUNLIGHT using the energy stored in chemical bonds

-SO FUCKING COOL !!! OFTEN DEEP SEA OCEAN CREATURES THAT LIVE ON THERMAL VENTS AND EAT THE CHEMICALS

42
Q

Density-independent Limiting Factors (definition + examples)

A

Limiting factors UNRELATED to population density.

-e.g., natural disasters, weather change

43
Q

Alternative stable state (3 points)

A

-A stable state that is the result of a series of feedback loops and random events

-These give rise to a particular set of biotic and abiotic factors

-A particular system may be able to exist under several alternative stable states, but will be the result of the random events and feedback

44
Q

Competition (definition + examples)

A

The interaction between organisms trying to attain the SAME RESOURCES.

-may be food, mates, territory, nesting sites

45
Q

Climate

A

The average of the weather over a relatively longer period of time (about thirty years of data is required to give an area’s climate)

46
Q

Precipitation (types and definition)

A

-Rain, snow, sleet, hail

-water that moves from a gaseous state, condenses, and falls to the ground

47
Q

Terrestrial abiotic factors (list of 8)

A

-temperature
-light intensity
-wind speed
-particle size
-slope
-soil moisture
-drainage
-mineral content

48
Q

Ecosystem

A

A community and the physical environment with which it interacts

49
Q

Respiration

A

The conversion of organic matter
into carbon dioxide and water in
all living organisms, releasing
energy

50
Q

Flows in nitrogen cycle (list of 7)

A

-Nitrogen fixation by bacteria and lightning
-absorption
-assimilation
-consumption (feeding)
-excretion
-death and decomposition
-denitrification by bacteria

51
Q

Decomposer

A

-The micro-organisms which secrete digestive enzymes over dead/decaying organic material, recycling nutrients and convertint it into simpler soluble organic substances

-Organisms that feed on this are known as DETRITIVORES

52
Q

Mutualism

A

A SYMBIOTIC relationship in which BOTH partners benefit

53
Q

Transect

A

A straight line along which samples can be taken

54
Q

Maximum sustainable yield

A

Equivalent to the NET PRIMARY or NET SCONDARY PRODUCTIVITY of a system

55
Q

Ecological pyramids (type + what they do)

A

-Pyramids of numbers, biomass, and productivity

-QUANTITATIVE models that are usually measured for a GIVEN AREA and TIME

56
Q

Productivity:Respiration Ratio

A

-ratio between how PRODUCTIVE a system is and HOW MUCH RESPIRATION is happening

-as a system approaches its climax community, gross productivity EQUALS respiration rates and so P:N approaches 1

57
Q

Percentage cover (definition)

A

An estimate of the area in a given frame size (quadrad) covered by the plant in question

58
Q

Productivity

A

The conversion of energy into biomass for a given period of time

59
Q

Bioaccumulation

A

The BUILD-UP of persistent or non-biodegradable pollutants within an organism or trophic level because they cannot be broken down

e.g., buildup of human hormones in fish that live in a polluted river

60
Q

S-shaped Curve

A

A population growth curve showing exponential growth FOLLOWED by SLOWED growth until a carrying capacity is REACHED

61
Q

Freshwater abiotic factors (list of 5)

A

-Turbidity
-flow velocity
-pH
-temperature
-dissolved oxygen

62
Q

J-shaped curve

A

A population growth curve showing EXPONENTIAL GROWTH with NO carrying capacity reached

63
Q

Nutrient and energy pathways (3 points)

A

-The ways that nutrient/minerals and energy move through an ecosystem

-Tend to become more complex as a system undergoes succession

-often represented by a FOOD WEB

64
Q

Net Primary Productivity (NPP) (equation)

A

Gross primary productivity minus respiration losses

GPP - R

65
Q

2 impacts of human activity on the carbon cycle

A

-Combustion of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming
-Clearing of carbon sinks (e.g., vegetation) increases carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

66
Q

Weather (definition and variables)

A

The conditions in a given place at any time.

-measure by temperature, air pressure, precipitation, wind speed, humidity

67
Q

Simpson Diversity Index (D) (equation)

A

N(N-1) / Sum of n(n-1)

-N is total number of all organisms of ALL SPECIES found
-n is the number of INDIVIDUALS of a certain species

68
Q

Predation

A

The CONSUMPTION of one species (the prey) by another (the preadtor)

69
Q

Symbiosis

A

individuals living on or in individuals of another species where ONE OR BOTH species use the
others resources.

Includes mutualism, commensalism and parasitism.

70
Q

Biome

A

A collection of ecosystems sharing similar climatic conditions

71
Q

Succession

A

the process of change over time
in an ecosystem involving pioneer, intermediate
and climax communities.

72
Q

Resource Partitioning

A

The FUNDAMENTAL NICHES of two
species overlap and through
competition a NARROWER
realized niche is developed

73
Q

Aquatic

A

Relating to water; ecosystems dominated by water

74
Q

Carbon sinks (definition + examples)

A

Stores in a system containing a lot of carbon.

-e.g., forest, peat bog (THROWS YOU INTO THE BOG TO REDUCE CLIMATE CHANGE)

75
Q

Aerobic

A

Uses oxygen

76
Q

Community

A

A group of populations living and interacting with each other in a COMMON HABITAT

77
Q

systematic sampling

A

samples are taken at regular intervals, e.g.
every 3m

78
Q

Climax community (3 points)

A

-There is no one climax community; is a set of alternative stable states for a given ecosystem

-states depend of climatic factors, properties of the local soil, and a range of random events that can occur over time

-historically is considered as the community of organisms at the end point of succession, BUT succession never ends (unless it is the cotitular TV series)

79
Q

Herbivory

A

The consumption of a plant species by an animal.

80
Q

Primary vs secondary succession

A

-PRIMARY occurs in an environment with NO PREVIOUS LIFE or in a BARREN HABITAT

-SECONDARY occurs in a PREVIOUSLY INHABITED AREA that has experienced a disturbance; there is still soil

81
Q

Abiotic factors (definition + examples)

A

The non-living, physical factors that influence the organisms and ecosystem

e.g.: temperature, sunlight, pH, salinity, precipitation

82
Q

Pyramids of numbers

A

Graphically displays the numbers of
organisms at each trophic level in
a food chain

83
Q

edit energy flows

A
84
Q

Trophic level

A

The position that an organism occupies in a food chain, or the position of a group of organisms in a community that occupy the same position in food chains

85
Q

Lincoln Index (calculation)

A

(n1 x n2) / nm

n1 is number caught in FIRST SAMPLE
n2 is number caught in SECOND SAMPLE
nm is number caught in SECOND SAMPLE that were MARKED

86
Q

Site description

A

A detailed description, giving the location of biotic and abiotic conditions of the ecosystem/community being studied.

87
Q

Photosynthesis (definition)

A

The conversion of water and CO2 in chloroplasts, using light energy, into organic matter

88
Q

Flows in carbon cycle (list of 6)

A

-consumption (feeding)
-death and decomposition)
-photosythesis
-respiration
-dissolving
-fossilisation

89
Q

Quantitative data

A

Measuring the quantity (e.g., number of species) of something

90
Q

Ecology

A

The study of interactions among and between organisms in their abiotic environment.

91
Q

Fundamental niche (definition)

A

Describes the full range of conditions and resources in which a species could survive and reproduce

92
Q

Qualitative data

A

Measured by the QUALITY (e.g., appearance or location) of something rather than quantity

93
Q

Marine abiotic factors (list of 5)

A

-Salinity
-pH
-Temperature
-dissolved oxygen
-wave action

94
Q

Pyramid of productivity

A

Flow of energy through a trophic level, indicating the rate at which that stock/storage is being generated

95
Q

Motile

A

Organism capable of movement

96
Q

r-stragetists (‘r’ is purposely not capitalised) (definition + examples)

A

-Species that produce LARGE numbers of offspring so they can COLONISE new habitates quickly and make use of short-lived resources

-e.g., bacteria, algae, rodents, frogs

97
Q

Estimating abundance of motile organisms (2 methods)

A

DIRECT methods include actual counts (e.g., by aerial photography) and sampling

INDIRECT methods include Lincoln Index (capture-mark-recapture)

98
Q

Insolation

A

The amount of solar radiation reaching a given area.

99
Q

Biotic factors (definition + examples)

A

The interactions between the organisms in an ecosystem.

-e.g.,: Predation, herbivory, parasitism, mutualism, disease, competition

ESS all topic definitions and key points (10 decks)

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