Unit I "Ecology" Flashcards
biosphere
global ecosystem
ecology
scientific study of all the interactions between organisms and their environments
biotic factors
living components of environment
abiotic factors + examples
nonliving components of environment
temperature, light, water, rocks, air, etc.
population
group of individuals of the same species living in a particular geographical area
community
all organisms that inhabit a particular area
biome
major terrestrial or aquatic life zone
what are terrestrial biomes characterized by?
vegetation type
what are aquatic biomes characterized by?
physical environment
what are the key factors that determine biome type and where it is located?
climate and rainfall
what biome typically has a wet climate and rich vegetation?
tropical forest
what biome is dominated by grasses and scattered trees?
savanna
what biome is the driest of all and has low/unpredictable rainfall?
desert
what biome is limited to small coastal areas, and has vegetation as a result of cool ocean currents?
chaparral
what biome is mostly treeless, and has relatively cold winter temperatures?
temperate grassland
what biome sports large trees and is generally popular in the northern hemisphere?
temperate broadleaf forest
what biome is characterized by evergreen trees such as pine, spruce and fir?
coniferous forest
what biome receives very little rain and has bitter cold winds?
tundra
what biome is present in the Southern Hemisphere and covers high latitudes?
polar ice
what does the type I survivorship curve usually refer to?
humans and other large mammals
what does the shape of the type I curve represent?
humans usually produce few offspring but take good care of them, allowing them to mature
what does the type II survivorship curve usually refer to?
lizards and rodents
what does the shape of the type II curve represent?
individuals are no more vulnerable at one stage of life than the other
what does the type III survivorship curve usually refer to?
fish, insects, invertebrates
what does the shape of the type III curve represent?
species produce large # of offspring and do not take care of them. few that survive have a high rate of survival
exponential population growth
expansion of population in an ideal, unlimited environment
logistic population growth
growth rate decreases as the population size approaches carrying capacity
carrying capacity
maximum population size that a particular environment can sustain
what is the main difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes?
prokaryotes have no nucleus, whereas eukaryotes have one or more nuclei
hypothesis
tentative answer to a question
scientific method
series of steps providing a loose guideline for scientific investigations
control group
cancels out effects of all variables other than the one being tested, things in experiment that do not change
theory
broader in scope than a hypothesis
