Ecology Exam 1

abiotic factor

non-living chemical or physical component of an ecosystem

autotroph

• an organism that uses photosynthesis to convert solar energy into organic compounds

• uses chemosynthesis to convert chemical energy into organic compounds

• producers

biosphere

all the ecosystem on earth

biotic factor

living organism or product of a living organism that affects another organism or the environment

chemosynthesis

converting chemical energy into organic compounds without sunlight

community

all populations of a species living together in a particular area

ecosystem

one or more communities of living organisms interacting with their nonliving physical and chemical environment

evolution

change in the genetic composition of a population over time

heterotroph

an organism that obtains its energy from other organisms, consumers

individual

a living being; the most fundamental unit of ecology

landscape

two or more ecosystems connected by the movement of individuals, populations, matter, and energy

mixotroph

an organism that obtains its energy from more than one source of energy and carbon

natural selection

change over time in the frequence of genes in a population through differential survival and reproduction of individuals that possess certain certain phenotypes

photosynthesis

a process used by autotrophs to convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy in the form of sugar, using water and carbon dioxide as inputs and releasing oxygen as a byproduct

population

the individuals of the same species living in a particular area

species

a group of organisms that can naturally interbreed together

albedo

the fraction of solar energy reflected by an object

atmospheric current

the circulations of air between the surface of earth and the atmosphere

coriolis effect

Deflection of an object path due to the rotation of the earth

El Nino southern oscillation

The periodic changes in the winds and ocean currents in the south Pacific, causing weather changes throughout the world

Electromagnetic radiation

The emission of electromagnetic energy by the surface

Ferrel cell

Areas of air circulation that lack distinct atmosphere occurrence between -30° and -60° latitude

Greenhouse effect

The process of solar radiation, striking earth, being converted to infrared radiation and being absorbed and remitted by atmospheric gases

Greenhouse gas

Compounds in the atmosphere that observed the infrared heat energy emitted by earth and then emit some of the energy back towards

Hadley cell

The Circulation cells of air between the equator and 30° north and 30° south latitude

Infrared radiation

A type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelength longer than visible life, but shorter than microwaves, primarily experience as heat and commonly admitted by the Earth, organisms, and other warm objects

intertropical convergence zone

The area where the two hadley cells conversion and causes large amounts of precipitation

La Nina

A climate pattern marked by the cooling of surface ocean waters along the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean, which causes stronger than usual trade winds parentheses (opposite of El Niño)

Ocean current

A continuous directed movement of ocean water acting like a global configure belt that transports heat, nutritions, and oxygen around the planet.

Ocean gyre

A large scale, water circulation pattern between continents

Polar cell

Atmospheric currents that move air between a -60 and -90° latitude in the northern and southern hemisphere

Rain shadows

Region with dry conditions found on the Leeward side of a mountain range as a result of humid winds from the ocean, causing precipitation on the Winward side

Reflection of electromagnetic radiation

The process by which electromagnetic waves such as light are returned or redirected from the surface without being absorbed or transmitted

Solar equator

The latitude receiving the most direct rays of the sun

Solar radiation

Magnetic radiation emitted by the sun, including visible light, infrared, and UV light that travels to earth as energy waves

Absorbent of electromagnetic radiation

The process by which matter takes the energy from electromagnetic waves like sun rather than reflecting, or transmitting, it often converting it into other forms, such as heat

Emission of electromagnetic radiation

Forms of electromagnetic radiation energy that travels and waves with both electric and magnetic fields that are released from a source such as the sun

Thermalhaline circulation

A global pattern of surface and deep water currents that flow as a result of variations in temperature and salinity that changed the density of water

Upwelling

An upward movement of ocean water

Aerobic decomposition

Process of breaking down the material, using oxygen carried out by microbes, which releases, carbon dioxide water and nutrient

Albedo effect

The fraction of solar energy reflected by an object

Chlorofluorocarbons

Human produce chemical that act as greenhouse gases

Denitrification

The process of converting nitrate into nitrogen gas

Environmental injustice

The disproportionate exposure of poor minority and marginalized community to environmental hazards like pollution, toxic, and unsafe, living conditions

Evapotranspiration

The combine process of water evaporating from the land surface (soil lake, etc.) and transpiring from plants

Global warming

Increase in the average temperature of the planet due to an increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

Global warming potential

The amount that a molecule of a given greenhouse, gas contribute to global warming over 100 years relative the CO2

Greenhouse effect

The process of solar radiation, striking earth, being converted to infrared radiation and being absorbed and remitted by atmospheric gases

Ice core

cylinder of eyes drilled from eyes and glaciers (result of snowfall throughout millennia)

Ocean acidification

A decline in ocean pH associated with increased concentration of atmospheric CO2

Ozone hole

A seasonal thinning of earth protective ozone layer over Antarctica, and sometimes the Arctic attributed to the chemical action of chlorofluorocarbons and other atmosphere. It allows more ultraviolet radiation to raise the surface of the planet.

Permafrost

A phenomenon whereby layers of soil are permanently frozen, found mostly high latitudes and altitude

Allochthonous input

Inputs of organic matter, Such as leaves that come from outside and ecosystem

Aphotic zone

The area of a lake or ocean where the water is so deep that sunlight cannot penetrate

Autochthonous inputs

In over organic matter that are produced by algae and aquatic plants inside an ecosystem

Benthic zone

The area consisting of the sediments at the bottoms of lakes, ponds and oceans

Biome

A geographic region that contains communities composed of organism, the similar adaption

Bog

Type of freshwater wetland that forms in cool, wet climates where water log soil prevent full decomposition of plant material overtime this leads to the buildup of acidic, nutrient, poor peat

Chaparral

A biome characterized by hard dry summers and mild wet winters a combination of favored the growth of drought, all grasses and shrubs also called a Woodland/shrubland

Climate diagram

A graph that plus the average monthly temperature and precipitation of a specific location

Cold seep

A specific location on the ocean floor, where chemosynthetic organisms use chemicals, like methane and hydrogen sulfide for energy for a unique and diverse, hydrocarbon driven food web

Convergent evolution

A phenomenon in which two species descended from unrelated ancestors look similar because they have evolved under similar selective forces

Coral bleaching

loss of color and coral as a result of the coral expelling their symbiotic algae

Deciduous tree

A tree that sheds this leads seasonally due to lack of water or low temperature

epiphytes

A plant or other organism that grows non-parasitically On the surface of another plant or object, deriving moisture, and nutrients From the air, rain and debris that accumulate on the host rather than from the soil or the host itself

Estuary

An area along the coast where the mouth of a freshwater river mixes with the salt water from the ocean

Hydrothermal vents

Seafloor openings emitting hot mineral rich fluid

intertidal zone

A bio consistent of the narrow band of cosine between the levels of high tide and low tide

lentic system

Freshwater environment characterized by still or slow moving water

Limnetic zone

The open water beyond the literal zone where the dominant photosynthetic organisms are floating algae also Known as pelagic zone

Littoral zone

The shallow area around the edge of a lake or pond contains rooted vegetation

Lotic systems

A freshwater ecosystem characterized by flowing water, such as river streams

Marsh

A type of wetland characterized by soft and non-woody visitation like grasses reads and cocktails, and waterlogged or a saturated soil

Neritic zone

The ocean zone that is beyond the range of the lowest title level and extends to death of about 200 m

Photic zone

The area of the neuritic and ocean zones that contains sufficient life or photosynthesis by algae

Phytoplankton bloom

An ecological event defined by the rapid large scale, proliferation of microscopic, photosynthetic Organisms in water, body like lakes and oceans lead to a high concentration of biomass that can significantly impact water quality and food webs

Polyp

A small soft body animal with a cylindric body and a central mouth around by tentacle is coral colony is made up of many polyps That secrete calcium carbonate which builds the hard reef structure.

Profundal zone

The area in a lake that is too deep to retrieve sunlight, also known as a photic zone

Riparian zone

A band of terrestrial vegetation along side, rivers and streams that is influenced by seasonal flooding and elevated water tables

Stratification

The condition of a lake or pond when the warmer less than surface water floats on the cooler, denser water below

Thermocline

If a middle death of water in a lake or pond, that experiences is a rapid change in temperature over relatively short distance in depth

Turnover

The vertical mixing of lake water that occurs in the fallen springing assisted by winds that drive the surface currents

Zooxanthellae

Unicellar photosynthetic dinoflagellates that live in a mutualistic symbiotic relationship with the tissues of marine vertebrae, such as coral and anemones