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ESS > Topic 2: The ecosystem > Flashcards

Topic 2: The ecosystem Flashcards

1
Q

Biotic factor

A

Living factors such as plants and animals

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2
Q

Abiotic factors

A

Non-living factors such as precipitation and soil

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3
Q

Trophic levels

A

Position of an organism or a group of organisms in a community occupies in a food chain

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4
Q

Food chain

A

Represents the flow of energy between organisms

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5
Q

Food web

A

Complex network of interlinked food chains

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6
Q

Producers

A

Produce their own food from sunlight

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7
Q

Consumers

A

Feed on producers or other animals

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8
Q

Pyramid of numbers

A

The number of species in an area

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9
Q

Pyramid of productivity

A

represents the flow of energy through the ecosystem

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10
Q

Pyramid of biomass

A

Represents the standing stock of each trophic level, measured in kg

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11
Q

Bioaccumulation

A

Concentration of a toxin increases over time

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12
Q

Biomagnification

A

Increase in concentration of toxins as it moves up through the trophic levels and the food chain

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13
Q

species

A

A particular type of organism

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14
Q

Population

A

Group of individuals of the same species living in the same place

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15
Q

habitat

A

Environment where the species lives

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16
Q

Niche

A

Responsibility of an organism/ role in an ecosystemm

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17
Q

Community

A

Group of a population living and interacting with each other in a common habitat

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18
Q

Ecosystem

A

this is a community of interdependent organisms and the abiotic factors in the environment they live in

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19
Q

Competition

A

Two or more organisms attempt to use the same resources. Resources is indirectly proportional to competition, high resources, low competition

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20
Q

parasitism

A

A type of relationship between species, one beneficiary and the other is taken advantage of

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21
Q

mutualism

A

A type of relationship between two or more species, all benefits and non suffer

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22
Q

Predation

A

One eats the other

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23
Q

Herbivory

A

animal feeds on plants

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24
Q

Limiting factors

A

Physical or biological necessities that an ecosystem needs to live. A lack of these factors will have negative effects. Temperature, salinity, pressure…

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25
Lincoln index
measure of population size using quadrats or capture-mark-release-recapture method.
26
use of quadrats for lincoln index
Marked area. Quadrats are randomly placed throughout the selected area and then one must count how many individuals are in each quadrat and calculate the mean. Good for plants but difficult for animals
27
Capture-mark-release-recapture for lincoln index
Capture as many individuals in an area mark them and release them. Recapture a random amount and count how many marked v/s unmarked. use lincoln index
28
Biome
A collection of ecosystems that share climatic conditions so therefore have similar vegetation
29
tropical rainforest
distribution: within 5 degrees north or south of the equator Climate: high rainfall, high temperatures, and little seasonal variation Structure: very high levels of biodiversity, high competition for sunlight which creates multi-story profile/ stratification, from floor to canopy Relative productivity: 40% of NPP of all terrestrial ecosystems. Fast decomposition, respiration and photosynthesis rates.
30
Dessert
Distribution: 20-30% of Earth's land, about 30 degrees North or South of the equator Climate: water limited, low precipitation Structure: Low biodiversity, high nutrients in soil. productivity: Both primary and secondary are low due to water shortage
31
temperate forest
Distribution: Between 40-60 degrees North or south of the equator Climate: Higher rainfall than evaporation, winter freezing, and high temperature ranges -30-+30 structure: fewer species than tropical rainforest, Thick leaf litter, rapid recycling of nutrients, and well-developed food chains Productivity: 2nd Highest NPP but lower in winter due to leaf fall and reduced photosynthesis and transpiration. Temperature and insulation are lower as they are further from the equator
32
Artic tundra
Distribution: Just south of the Artic ice cap and small amounts in the southern hemisphere Climate: Water is limiting, Frozen ground, cold and high winds, and little precipitation. Most of the activity is during summer when plants grow where the ice melts and animals are active Structure: no trees but low growing plants Productivity: very low
33
Decomposers
They obtain energy from dead organisms and they break down dead organic matter and return minerals
34
Photosynthesis
Light is concerted to chemical energy. Inputs: Water, Co2, chlorophyll and light Outputs: Oxygen, glucose and Water
35
Respiration
Chemical energy is converted to usable energy for an organism Inputs: Food and Oxygen Outputs: Co2, water and waste
36
Carbon cycle
This is the process where Photosynthesis, respiration, carbon is absorbed in the atmosphere
37
Nitrogen cycle
This process is when nitrogen is used to help develop the ecosystem
38
Nitrogen fixation
A process where nitrogen in the atmosphere is converted into ammonium
39
Nitrification
Biological oxidation of ammonia or ammonium to nitrate followed by the oxidation of the nitrite to nitrate
40
Hydrological cycle
Transfer of water between the atmosphere and rivers, lakes and oceans
41
Gross Productivity
total gain in energy or biomass per unit area per unit time
42
Net productivity
Gain in energy or biomass per unit area per unit time after respiration
43
Net Primary productivity (NPP)
Rate at which plants accumulate dry mass, store energy. NPP=GPP-R
44
Net secondary Productivity (NSP)
Energy in the food ingested (NSP=GSP-R)
45
Gross secondary productivity (GSP)
gain in energy/biomass per unit area per unit time by consumers
46
Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)
Total amount of energy produced by plants from sunlight
47
limiting factors
factors that limit or prevent a community, population or organism from growing larger
48
Carrying capacity
The maximum number of species that an environment can sustainably support
49
J-curve
exponential growth, rapid increase, and then sudden collapse. Often exceeds the carrying capacity before collapse
50
S-curve
Exponential growth will eventually slow down resulting in a constant size for the population. Stabilize at the carrying capacity.
51
Density-dependent factors
Factors that affect the population size based on the population density, predation, disease, resources and space
52
Density independent factors
Natural disasters
53
K-stratgists
Animals that are larger, slow reproduction rate, long lifespan, High parental care and stable population
53
R-strategist
animals that are smaller, fast reproduction rate, short lifespan, low parental care and unstable population size
54
sucession
this refers to the orderly succession of a species towards a climax community over time. Primary succession starts from bare rock, exposed rock and it will develop Secondary succession begins on soil from which a previous community was there, but has been removed
55
Pioneer community
The organisms are specialized to take advantage of the newly open environment, such as grasses
56
Climax community
n ecological community in the final stage of succession in which the species composition remains stable until a disturbance occurs.
57
Zonation
How an ecosystem changes along an environment gradient or zone like water in soil
57
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
this is a report which outlines the potential risks of development in an area, on the ecosystem
58
Hadley cell
Close to the equator Air heats up, rises, cools and condenses, forming large cumulonimbus clouds, rain clouds. Pressure is low due to air rise, high temperature and high rainfall Tropical rainforest biomes are formed
59
Ferrel cell
Approx. 30 degrees of equator. Air cools and starts to descend, descending air causes high air pressure. Loss of moisture in air, desert biomes are formed
60
Polar cells
Air either heads back to the Hadley cell at ground level or to polar cell regions as warm winds. When air reaches poles, it forms Polar cells, 60 degrees from equator. The air cools, condenses and rain falls, these creates forest biomes

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