unit 1 Flashcards
Energy conversions underlie all ecological processes. Energy cannot be created; it must come from somewhere. As energy flows through systems, at each step, more of it becomes unusable. The Earth is one interconnected system. Natural systems change over time and space. Biogeochemical systems vary in ability to recover from disturbances.
competition
interaction is detrimental to both species; intra or interspecific
predation
one species is benefits, the other is harmed; one organism consumes another
mutualism
both species are benefited
commensalism
one species benefits, the other is unaffected
intraspecific
within the same species
interspecific
between different species
fundamental niche
full potential role of an organism with NO competition
realized niche
actual role of an organism including predation and competition + resource partitioning
resource partitioning
different species in an ecosystem split resources to avoid competition (utilize realized niche)
parasitism
one species is benefits, the other is harmed; parasite takes nutrients from host
animal defenses against predation
tasting bad, defensive coloration, chemical defenses, mimicry
aposematic coloring
warning color to advertise poisonous nature
cryptic coloration
camoflage/blending in to hide from predators or ambush prey
chemical defenses
bites, stings, poisons
ecosystem
biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment
biotic components
living organisms; ex. plants, animals, bacteria
abiotic components
nonliving; ex. air, water, soil, rock
primary productivity
rate at which solar energy is converted into organic compounds via photosynthesis (kcal/m^2/yr)
gross primary productivity
total photosynthesis rate for all AUTOTROPHS
net primary productivity
GPP - energy lost due to cellular respiration
biomes with highest primary productivity
tropical and wet biomes, most biodiversity
biomes with the lowest primary productivity
dry, deserts, lacking in vegetation
primary productivity in the ocean
low, photosynthesis can only occur where light can reach in the ocean
law of entrophy/rule of 10%
only 10% of energy stored in one trophic level will be passed to the next trophic level upon consumption
positive feedback loop
increasing or amplifying change, cannot be reversed
negative feedback loop
dampening or reversal of a condition, goes up and down in cycles
