Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Mrs. Unger's AP Biology > Unit 8: Ecological Interactions > Flashcards

Unit 8: Ecological Interactions Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Define

Ecology

A

The study of living organisms (biotic) and their environment (abiotic)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

List

Levels of Ecological Organization

A

Individual

Population

Community

Ecosystem

Biome OR Landscape

Biosphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Define

Population

A

A group of individuals that have gene flow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Define

Community

A

All populations living and interacting in a given area

(and also a really hilarious TV show)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Define

Ecosystem

A

The living and nonliving aspects of a particular environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

List

Abiotic factors that influence ecosystems

A

Availability of sunlight

Temperature

Availability of water

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What organisms are most important in an ecosystem?

A

Autotrophs

All other organisms depend on their ability to capture energy and make organic molecules

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Define

Biome

A

All ecosystems on Earth that share similar biotic and abiotic factors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What two factors determine terrestrial biomes?

A

Temperature and precipitation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

List

Terrestrial biomes and basic characteristics of each

A
  • Rainforest: Consistent temperature (warm) and rainfall (a lot)
  • Savanna: Hot with little precipitation
  • Desert: Dry (Subtropical = hot and dry; Arctic tundra = cold and dry)
  • Chaparral: Hot, dry summers and short rainy season
  • Grasslands: Temperature fluctuates seasonally; fairly dry
  • Temperature forests: Temperature fluctuates seasonally; consistent rainfaull
  • Boreal forests: Cold and dry winter with short periods of warmth in the summer
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

List

Major aquatic biomes

A

Marine (saltwater) - intertidal, coral reefs, oceanic zones

Freshwater - lakes, ponds, rivers, wetlands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Define

Climate

A

Long term, predictable conditions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Define

Weather

A

Short-term conditions (daily or seasonal) in an area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Define

Demography

A

Statistical descriptions of populations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How are populations described?

A

Total size (N)

Distribution

Density

Composition (age, sex, etc)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How can population size be determined?

A

Counting

Quadrats

Mark & Recapture

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Describe

Quadrat use

A

Random locations selected

Quadrat of specific size is set at random location

Individuals within the quadrat are counted

Total population extrapolated from quadrat samples

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Describe

Mark & Recapture

A

Animals are caught and tagged

Tagged animals are released

New group is caught

Number of tagged animals is compared to total number in sample

Population (N) = (Total number marked * Sample size) / (Number marked from the sample)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

List the types of

Dispersion patterns

A

Uniform

Random

Clumped

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Define

Survivorship

A

Ratio of individuals that survive over a specified time period compared to the initial population

Often given as a rate per 1000

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Define

Mortality rate

A

Ratio of individuals that die over a specified time period compared to the initial population

Often given as a rate per 1000

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Describe

Survivorship curve (generic)

A

A graph that shows the survivorship of a population by age

Values near 100 indicate a low mortality, whereas values near 0 indicate that very few survive to the specified age

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Describe

Three types of survivorship curves

A

Type 1: Most individuals that are born survive into adulthood

Type 2: Survivorship drops consistently over life expectancy

Type 3: Most individuals born do not survive into adulthood

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Define

Exponential population growth

A

Population growth with no limiting factors; J-shaped curve

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Define

Logistic population growth

A

Population growth that slows as the population size increases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Outline

Three stages of logistic growth model

A

1. Exponential phase: The population has few density-dependent factors that limit growth

2. Transition phase: The rate of increase levels off

3. Plateau / Leveling phase: The rate of increase approaches zero and the population levels off

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Define

Carrying capacity

A

The maximum number of individuals that one area can support

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Define

Density-dependent limiting factors

A

Factors that do not affect population growth for very small populations, but have large impact on large populations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

List

Density-dependent factors

A

Intraspecific competition

Disease

Build-up of toxins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Define

Intraspecific competition

A

Competition between members of one population

Examples: Food / resources, land (territoriality), mates

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Define and give examples of

Density-Independent factors

A

Factors that limit population growth that equally impact populations near zero and near K

Ex: Natural disasters

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Define

r (ecology)

A

Intrinsic rate of increase

The per capita change in population size (per capita birth minus mortality)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Define

ZPG

A

Zero population growth

r = 0

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Define

Life History

A

How a population’s evolutionary history influences their energy budget

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Relate energy acquisition of a population to energy use

A

Organisms must balance their energy intake and use.

When intake > use, excess energy can be used to grow and reproduce.

Growth, reproduction, and parental care must be balanced to maximize reproductive fitness.

36
Q

Define

Fecundity

A

Potential reproductive capacity (idealized)

37
Q

Relate

Fecundity and parental care

A

Energy budgets typically mean a population can expend energy on high fecundity but low parental care OR low fecundity with high parental care;

i.e. species typically either make a lot of offspring that mostly die or invest energy in child rearing for relatively few offspring

38
Q

Describe features of

K selected species

A

High population (N near K)

Tend to invest in long gestation and parental care for few offspring

39
Q

Describe features of

r- selected species

A

Large fluctuations in population size due to changing conditions

Tend to invest in high numbers of offspring instead of parental care

40
Q

Define

Predation

A

When animals hunt and kill other animals for food

41
Q

Define

Herbivory

A

When animals consume plant materials

42
Q

List

Defense mechanisms against predation

A

Escape tactics (speed, loose skin)

Defenses (claws, teeth, protective shells or coats, spikes, etc)

Camouflage

Chemicals (poisons, unpleasant tastes, unpleasant smells)

Behaviors (staying in groups, playing dead)

Aposematic coloration

43
Q

List

Defense mechanisms against herbivory

A

Tough tissues

Poisons / foul scents

Spikes / barbs / thorns

Alternative “offerings” or growing near more appetizing plants

44
Q

Define

Aposematic coloration

A

Warning colorings

Predators may evolve to associate certain colors with unpleasant tastes, toxins, or smells and then avoid potential prey with those colors

45
Q

Describe

Batesian mimicry

A

Evolution of a harmless species to look more like a dangerous species to avoid being preyed upon

46
Q

Describe

Müllerian mimicry

A

Convergent evolution of many dangerous prey organisms to look similar, leading to strong aversion by potential predators

47
Q

Define

Competitive Exclusion Principle

A

Two species cannot occupy the same niche

48
Q

Define

Niche

A

All aspects of a population’s role in an ecosystem

Includes all interactions between the population and other populations, and the population with its environment

49
Q

Define

Resource partitioning

A

Two populations with similar niches may divide a resource for which they are competing, and then be able to co-exist within the ecosystem

50
Q

Define and list the types of

Symbioses

A

Close and prolonged interactions between individuals of different species

-Mutualism

-Commensalism

-Parasitism

51
Q

Describe and give examples of

Mutualism

A

Symbiotic relationship in which both participating species are benefitted

Ex: Anenome and clown fish; bee and flower

52
Q

Describe and give examples of

Commensalism

A

Symbiotic relationship in which one species is benefitted and the other is unaffected

Ex: Birds (nesting) and trees

53
Q

Describe and give examples of

Parasitism

A

Symbiotic relationship in which one species is benefitted and the other is harmed

Ex: SO MANY!… basically every infection

54
Q

Define

Foundation species

A

A species in a community that is integral to the community

Often those that make the usable energy or modify the landscape in such a way that others may inhabit the area

55
Q

Define

Keystone species

A

A population in a community that has a major impact on the species richness of that community and which, if removed, would lead to dramatic changes in the composition of the community

56
Q

Define

Species richness

A

Number of unique species in a habitat or ecosystem

57
Q

Define

Invasive species

A

Non-native species that enter new ecosystems; often lack natural predators and can have rapid population growth that affects native populations in the area

58
Q

Define

Disturbance

A

Major changes to a community’s structure and/or composition

59
Q

Relate species richness and disturbances

A

Ecosystems with greater species richness are less affected by disturbances and are more able to rebound after disturbances

60
Q

Define

Succession

A

The predictable changes to a community over time

61
Q

Define

Primary succession

A

The establishment of a new community where there previously was none, and the predictable changes that happens to that community

62
Q

Describe

Primary succession

A

Rocky area that lacks soil is inhabited by pioneer species

The pioneer species (plants) break down the terrain and build layers of soil

New plant species replace the pioneers, and simple animal species enter as well

Community changes continue until equilibrium occurs

63
Q

Define

Secondary succession

A

Succession of an uninhabited area that already has established soil

64
Q

Define

Climax community

A

Answer

65
Q

Define

Term

A

Answer

66
Q

Define

Term

A

Answer

67
Q

Define

Term

A

Answer

68
Q

Define

Term

A

Answer

69
Q

Define

Term

A

Answer

70
Q

Define

Term

A

Answer

71
Q

Define

Term

A

Answer

72
Q

Define

Term

A

Answer

73
Q

Define

Term

A

Answer

74
Q

Define

Term

A

Answer

75
Q

Define

Term

A

Answer

76
Q

Define

Term

A

Answer

77
Q

Define

Term

A

Answer

78
Q

Define

Term

A

Answer

79
Q

Define

Term

A

Answer

80
Q

Define

Term

A

Answer

81
Q

Define

Term

A

Answer

82
Q

Define

Term

A

Answer

83
Q

Define

Term

A

Answer

84
Q

Define

Term

A

Answer

85
Q

Define

Term

A

Answer

86
Q

Define

Term

A

Answer

Mrs. Unger's AP Biology (16 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions