topic 2 Flashcards
definition; example
fundamental niche vs realised niche
definition:
-fundamental is the entire set of conditions a popoulation can SURVIVE and REPRODUE
-realised is set of conditions ACTUALLY used to SURVIVE and REPRODUCE due to biotic conditions
example:
in a forest, sparrows feed on berries growing on bushes
-fundamental: anywhere there is berries, including entire bush and forest floor; anywhere there is the resource
-realised niche: there is resources competition on the forest floor, so sparrows’ niche is only area on bushes
Predation example
Dingo, sheep
Herbivory example
Elephants grazing on shrubs
Parasitism example
Ticks on moose
Mutualism example
Bees pollinating flowering plants
Commensalism example
Barnacles on humpback whales
Named example of a food chain involving producers, consumers, decomposers
Grassland ecosystem foodchain: grass –> grasshopper –> rat –> snake –> fungi
2 examples
examples of bioaccumulation
-mercury building up in fish
-pesticides building up in small animals
2 examples
examples of biomagnification
-high concentration of heavy metals in apex predator fish such as tuna as a result of acccumulation along the food chain being magnified
-high concentration of DDTs in apex predator birds such as the bald eagle as a result of consuming prey (small fish) with DDTs
detailed example of how humans impact energy flows
deforestation
* trees play a role in the energy cycle, absorbing and converting sunlight
* when large areas deforested, energy that would have been absorbed/converted is instead REFLECTED, contributing to global warming
(4 points)
detailed example of impact of urbanisation on matter cycle (carbon)
-increases need for energy and thus increases use of fossil fuels, leading to increased combustion –> creates more matter (carbon) which cannot be adequately integrated into carbon cycle, leading to climate change
-decreased land covered by vegetation, reducing photosynthesis –> less matter can be cycled through vegetation for absorption and conversion, tldr global warming
-increases food requirements, leading to increased land use for agriculture
-increased requirement and transport of food leads to greater energy requirements and increased fossil fuel use –> creates more matter etc same as above
what human activities impact energy flows and matter cycling
-through large scale activities:
* deforestation
* pollution
* urbanisation
* overexplotation of resources
outline structure for how humans impact energy flows
-role thing plays in energy flow/system
-what would happen to the energy –>
-how [human activity] changes what happens to the energy
-impact
detailed example of agriculture’s impact on matter cycle (nitrogen)
-industrial agricultural techiniques of NITROGEN FIXATION –> significantly INCREASED the amount of GLOBAL NITROGEN FIXATION –> INCREASED amounts of useable nitrogen in fertilisers
-application of nitrate fertiliser to increase crop yield and save money in agriculture –> biologically available nitrogen in ecosystem INCREASES, runs off or leaches into bodies of water –> causes EUTROPHICATION and DISRUPTION to ecosystem –> eutrophophication leads to LOW OXYGEN LEVELS, changing food-web structure and resulting in habitat degradation
-nitrogen in crop biomass is transferred across locations –> this removes the matter from the cycle in one location and adds it to another –> this alters the nitrogen cycle and can cause DISRUPTION to ecosystems
-agricultural soils become waterlogged as a result of irrigation –> denitrifying bacteria INCREASES –> rate of nitrogen gas returning to the atmosphere INCREASES
4 main activities that impact carbon cycle matter cycling
-urbanisation
-deforestation
-agriculture
-fossil fuel use
outline structure for how humans impact matter cycling
human behaviour
impact
how that CHANGES CYCLING OF MATTER
4 points
detailed example of impact of deforestation on matter cycle (carbon)
-trees are removed, leading to carbon storage reduction –> matter is then released back into the atmosphere en masse
-deforestation worsens soil erosion –> flow of carbon stored in soil into the rivers, which Doesn’t Happen Like That Usually
-deforestation reduces amount of photosynthesis occurring –> matter cycle is impacted as less matter can cycle from atmosphere into trees
-deforesttion increaes respiration from decomposers feeding on decaying forest residue –> increases the amount of matter being transferred from decomposers into atmosphere
2 points
detailed example of impact of agriculture on matter cycle (carbon)
-land use is increased for agriculture and decreased for native ecosystems –> nature of carbon storage is altered
-agriculture results in the transportation of crops (a carbon storage) into new locations –> location of matter flow changes, altering carbon cycle on LOCAL and GLOBAL scale
Detailed example of impact of fossil fuel use on matter cycling (carbon)
-involves the direct burning of a carbon store locked up for millions of years in carbon deposits
-MINING and BURNING fossil fuels reduces the available storages of non-renewable resoruces, and INCREASING storage carbon in atmosphere
-increased release of greenhouse gases (.e.g, co2) and thus warmer average gobal temperature
-INCREASED co2 levels in the atmosphere can LEAD to INCREASED VEGETATION GROWTH due to increased co2 available for photosyntheis, ALTERING THE CARBON CYCLING
1
detailed example of impact of deforestation on matter cycling (nitrogen)
-trees are destroyed, leading to the loss of the nitrogen STORED in them as amino acids and protein
Zonation case study
-Mount Kinabalu, Borneo
-showcases ALTITUDINAL ZONATION in the plant communities
-zonation is caused by TEMPERATURE changes
-ranges from TROPICAL RAINFOREST at LOW LEVELS (26 degrees celcius) to ALPINE COMMUNITIES near the SUMMIT (0 degrees celcius)
what is needed to be known for zonation case study?
-location
-what kind of zonation
-what the zonation is caused by
-what this looks like along the gradient (looks like THIS at THIS FACTOR and THIS at THIS FACTOR)
Primary succession example and general progression
-retreat of GLACIERS in ALASKA has caused PRIMARY SUCCESSION because ground is made bare
-EARLY PIONEER PLANTS such as mosses and lichens COLONISE the bare rock and create SOIL when they die
Arrival of PIONEER SPECIES that require soil to survive DISPLACING original pioneer species
PIONEER SPECEIES plant growth causes environmental change, and root growth enables soil to be RETAINED; NUTRIENTS and WATER in soil INCREASE
INTERMEDIATE NITROGEN-FIXING species arrive, adding nitrates to soil, increasing SOIL DEPTH and allowing SHRUBS AND TALLER PLANTS to arrive
seral stage: taller trees begin to replace others and initially grow quicker than the deciduous taking root; however the deciduous trees grow TALLER than the other sand SHADE THEM OUT
the CLIMAX COMMUNITY of decidious trees totally replace others after 100-200 years
Secondary succession case study example
-regeneration of Australian bushland disturbed by fire, leaving empty but NOT destroyed soil
-PIONEER SPECIES grow back
-INTERMEDIATE SPECIES then LARGER TREES grow back
-CLIMAX COMMUNITY of large deciduous trees that outshade the later intermediate species dominate the ecosystem
