What Is Global Ecology Flashcards
`Concept question: What is global ecosystem ecology?
studies how biological and physical components interact on a large scale, including human influence
Concept question: Why is global ecosystem ecology important?
helps us to understand how ecosystems function, hoe energy + materials move through the environment and how human activities impact ecological balance
Concept Question: What are the major branches of ecology?
Functional ecology, population ecology, community ecology and succession
How individual organisms interact with their environment
Functional Ecology
changes in population size over time and space
Population Ecology
Species interactions within a specific area (Species diversity)
Community Ecology
how species composition changes (After disturbances)
Succession
Superorganism theory
Clements view
Describe Clements View
Communities evolve towards a stable “climax” state, with species playing independent roles
Individualistic concept
Gleason View
Describe Gleason View
Communities are collections of pieces acting independently based on their traits without a predetermined structure or climax state
Describe Tansley’s Compromise
Communities are not superorganisms but interactions among organisms and their environment are crucial
How do organisms influence non-living environmental factors?
Organisms impact light availability, soil and water chemistry and nutrient cycling.
What role do humans play in ecological systems?
Humans alter ecosystems through land use changes, industrialization, pollution and climate change.
Energy flows through food chains but declines at each level due to energy loss as heat and metabolism
Lindeman’s Trophic
Percentage of energy transferred from one trophic level to the next
Ecological Efficiency
Typically only ____ moves from one level to the next
10% energy
storage locations for elements like carbon or nitrogen (ex. atmosphere, soil, oceans)
Reservoirs (Pools/Stocks)
Movement of elements between reservoirs through processes like respiration, decomposition, and photosynthesis
Fluxes
Principle elemental inputs must equal outputs for a ecosystem to remain in steady state
Mass Balance
A chemical change in an element for example nitrogen fixation converting N2 to NH4+
Transformation
The physical movement of nutrients from one place to another ( A river flow carrying nitrates to the ocean)
Transport
Reduces change and maintains equilibrium (population regulation, Stabilizing)
Negative feedback
Increases change, leading to instability (climate change effects, Amplifying)
Positive Feedback
A proposed geological era where human activities dominate environmental processes
Anthropocene
How do human activities impact the carbon cycle?
Burning fossil fuels
Deforestation
Industrial processes
A scientist measures the size of a carbon reservoir and its inputs and outputs. How can they determine if the reservoir is in steady state?
If inputs = outputs, the reservoir is in steady state. If inputs > outputs, the reservoir is increasing. If inputs < outputs, the reservoir is decreasing.
Why do CO₂ levels fluctuate seasonally, and how does this vary by hemisphere?
Seasonal fluctuations occur because plants absorb CO₂ during spring/summer (growth season) and release it during fall/winter (decomposition). This effect is stronger in the Northern Hemisphere due to more land-based vegetation.
Why does energy flow, but matter cycles, in ecosystems?
Energy flows one way (lost as heat at each trophic level), whereas matter cycles continuously (elements like carbon and nitrogen are reused through biological and geochemical processes).
