Unit 2 Flashcards
Biodiversity
The number of different species in an area
genetic diversity
the variety of genes within a given species
species diversity
Variety of different kinds of organisms that make up a community.
habitat diversity
the different kinds of habitats in a given unit area
species richness
the number of different species in a community
species evenness
the relative proportion of different species in a given area
founder effect
the reduction in genomic variability that occurs when a small group of individuals becomes separated from a larger population.
population bottleneck
an event that drastically reduces the size of a population.
generalist species
Species with a broad ecological niche. They can live in many different places, eat a variety of foods, and tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions. Examples are flies, cockroaches, mice, rats, and human beings. Compare specialist species.
specialist species
Species with a narrow ecological niche. They may be able to live in only one type of habitat, tolerate only a narrow range of climatic and other environmental conditions, or use only one type or a few types of food.
provisioning services
Goods taken directly from ecosystems or made from nat. resources (wood, paper, food)
regulating services
Nat. ecosystems regulate climate/air quality, reducing storm damage and healthcare costs (helps climate/lessens ecosystem damage)
ex: flood control, decomposition
cultural services
ecosystems provide cultural or aesthetic benefits to many people
ex: recreation and tourism, camp grounds
supporting services
Nat. ecosystems support processes we do ourselves, making them cheaper and easier (bees pollinate crops which saves us time and $).
anthropogenic activities
Anthropogenic activities are human activities that have an impact on the environment, such as deforestation, pollution, and the burning of fossil fuels.
island biogeography
- proposes that the number of species found on an undisturbed island is determined by immigration and extinction
- Distance from the mainland: closer island, higher immigration
- Size of the island: small islands have fewer species than large islands and smaller targets for immigration…higher extinction because fewer resources and diversity
endemic species
Species that is found in only one area. Such species are especially in danger to extinction.
ecological tolerance
the range of conditions, such as temperature, salinity, flow rate, and sunlight that an organism can endure before injury or death results
range
The range refers to the range of environmental conditions within which an organism can survive and reproduce.
temperature
A measure of how hot or cold something is.
salinity
the amount of salt in water
flow rate
The speed at which a fluid flows from one point to another
Volcanic disruption
A volcanic eruption is when molten rock, ash, and gas are expelled from a volcano. The type of eruption depends on factors such as the viscosity of the magma and the type of volcano. Eruptions can have both negative and positive impacts on the environment and human health.
flooding
A flood is when water overflows its normal boundaries and covers land that is usually dry. Floods can occur due to various reasons such as heavy rainfall or coastal storms. Floods can have both negative and positive impacts on the environment and human health, from property damage to replenishing soil moisture.
glaciation
A glacier is a large mass of ice that forms over time from the accumulation and compaction of snow. Glaciers can have impacts on the environment, such as shaping the landscape and influencing the climate. However, the retreat of glaciers due to climate change is a concern.
drought
A long period of dry weather
wildfire
a large fire that spreads quickly over a natural area
earthquake
The shaking that results from the movement of rock beneath Earth’s surface.
physical adaptations
Physical adaptations are changes to the physical structure of an organism that help it survive and thrive in its environment. Examples of physical adaptations include the sharp teeth of a carnivore, the webbed feet of a duck, and the thick fur of a polar bear.
physiological adaptations
Physiological adaptations, on the other hand, are changes to an organism’s internal systems that help it survive and thrive in its environment. Examples of physiological adaptations include the ability of camels to store water in their humps, the ability of some fish to regulate their buoyancy, and the ability of some animals to hibernate during the winter
primary ecological succession
Primary succession is the process of ecological succession that occurs in an area that has never been colonized before. Pioneer species, which are small and hardy, begin to colonize the area and change the environment, eventually leading to the development of a mature ecosystem. The process can take hundreds or thousands of years and can result in an ecosystem that is different from what existed before
secondary ecological succession
Secondary ecological succession is the process of ecological succession that occurs in an area that has been previously colonized by living organisms but has experienced a disturbance that has removed most of the organisms. Pioneer species colonize the area, change the environment, and larger and more complex species eventually develop, leading to the development of a mature ecosystem. The process can take decades or even centuries and can result in an ecosystem that is similar or different from what existed before.
pioneer species
The first species to populate an area
keystone species
Keystone species are species that play a critical role in maintaining the structure and function of the ecosystem, and their removal can have significant consequences for other species in the ecosystem. They can be predators, herbivores, or even plants, and they can influence the ecosystem in a variety of ways.
trophic cascade
A series of changes in the population sizes of organisms at different trophic levels in a food chain, occurring when predators at high trophic levels indirectly promote populations of organisms at low trophic levels by keeping species at intermediate trophic levels in check. Trophic cascades may become apparent when a top predator is eliminated from a system.
