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Bio 20 > Unit B > Flashcards

Unit B Flashcards

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Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Ecology

A

The study of interactions between organisms and their living and non-living environment.

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2
Q

Biotic factors

A

Living factors that influence an organism

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3
Q

Abiotic factors

A

Non-living factors that influence an organism

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4
Q

Population

A

All members of a species that live in the same ecosystem or habitat

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5
Q

Community

A

The collection of all populations in a given habitat or ecosystem

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6
Q

Ecotones

A

A transitional area between ecosystems, typically containing greater biodiversity than either individual ecosystem

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7
Q

What is a transitional area between ecosystems called?

A

An ecotone

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8
Q

Ecological niche

A

An organism’s role in the ecosystem, including its place in the food web and the places and times where it is active.

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9
Q

What are the two main causes of species depletion and extinction?

A
  1. Habitat loss
  2. The introduction of exotic (invasive) species
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10
Q

Biome

A

A large geographical region with a particular climate, and the plants and animals adapted to that climate

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11
Q

Taiga

A

Also known as boreal forest; a biome dominated by coniferous trees, with warm, moist summers and cold, dry winters.

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12
Q

Canopy

A

The upper layer of vegetation in a forest

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13
Q

Climate

A

The average temperature and precipitation conditions of a region

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14
Q

Permafrost

A

Permanently frozen soil

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15
Q

Muskeg

A

Soil above the permafrost that is swampy or boggy in summer, due to poor drainage

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16
Q

What do decomposing conifer needles produce?

A

Acidic soil

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17
Q

Why are muskeg ecosystems fragile?

A

Low temperatures cause slow decomposition and soil formation, making damage to the ecosystem take years to repair.

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18
Q

Understorey

A

The part of the forest below the canopy, usually shrubs and smaller trees

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19
Q

Littoral Zone

A

The area from the shore of a lake or pond to the point where no more plants grow at the bottom

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20
Q

Limnetic Zone

A

The area of a lake or a pond in which there is open water and sufficient light for photosynthesis to occur

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21
Q

Profundal Zone

A

The region of a lake below the limnetic zone, where there is insufficient light for photosynthesis to occur

22
Q

Plankton

A

Autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms found in the limnetic zone of a lake or pond

23
Q

Litter

A

the upper layer of soil, composed mainly of partially decomposed leaves or grasses

24
Q

Topsoil

A

the soil layer beneath the litter, composed of small particles of rock mixed with humus

25
Q

Humus

A

decaying plant and animal matter

26
Q

Subsoil

A

the soil layer beneath the topsoil, usually containing more rock particles and less organic matter than the topsoil

27
Q

Bedrock

A

the layer beneath the soil, composed of rock

28
Q

Groundwater

A

water in the soil or rock below Earth’s surface

29
Q

What are the four abiotic factors that affect terrestrial ecosystems?

A
  1. Soil
  2. Water
  3. Temperature
  4. Sunlight
30
Q

What are the four abiotic factors that affect aquatic ecosystems?

A
  1. Chemical environment
  2. Temperature
  3. Sunlight
  4. Water pressure
31
Q

Epilimnion

A

the upper level of a lake, which warms up in summer

32
Q

Hypolimnion

A

the lower level of a lake, which remains at a low temperature year round

33
Q

Thermocline

A

the zone between the epilimnion and hypolimnion, in which temperature changes rapidly

34
Q

Biotic Potential

A

The maximum number of offspring that a species could produce with unlimited resources

35
Q

What four factors affect biotic potential?

A
  1. Birth potential
  2. Capacity for survival
  3. Breeding frequency
  4. Length of reproductive life
36
Q

Carrying Capacity

A

The maximum number of individuals of a species that can be supported by an ecosystem

37
Q

Law of the Minimum

A

States that the nutrient in the least supply is the one that limits growth

38
Q

Law of Tolerance

A

States that an organism can survive within a particular range of an abiotic factor

39
Q

Density-independent factor

A

A factor in an ecosystem that affects members of a population regardless of population density

40
Q

Density-dependent facto

A

A factor in an ecosystem that affects members of a population because of the population density

41
Q

List some examples of density-independent factors.

A
  1. Fire
  2. Flood
  3. Spraying with pesticides
  4. Change in climate or temperature
  5. Destruction of habitat
  6. Drought
42
Q

List some examples of density-dependent factors.

A
  1. Food shortage
  2. Competition for mates & breeding areas (habitat)
  3. Infectious disease
  4. Introduction of an exotic species
  5. Increased predation
  6. Competition for resources
43
Q

Slash-and-burn

A

The complete clearing of a forest by felling and burning the trees

44
Q

Clear-cutting

A

The removal of all trees in an area, typically for lumber and pulp

45
Q

Selective cutting

A

The harvesting of only certain trees from an area

46
Q

Prescribed burn

A

A controlled fire set intentionally in a designated area

47
Q

Oligotrophic

A

(Usually of a lake) Having low nutrient levels

48
Q

Eutrophic

A

(Usually of a lake) Having high nutrient levels

49
Q

Eutrophication

A

The evolution of a deep, oligotrophic lake, to a shallow, eutrophic lake, to dry land, often over hundreds or thousands of years

50
Q

Coliform bacteria

A

A type of bacteria that occurs naturally in the intestines of humans and other animals, and indicates the presence of fecal contamination in water

51
Q

Biological oxygen demand (BOD)

A

The amount of dissolved oxygen needed by decomposers to completely break down the organic matter in a water sample at 20 °C over five days. Measured in mg of O₂ per litre

52
Q

Watershed

A

The land that drains toward a lake or other body of water

Bio 20 (2 decks)

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