Lions Test

Keystone species

Species that an ecosystem heavily relies on

Species

A group that breeds in the wild producing viable offspring

Biome

full of species that have adapted to similar conditions and fill similar niches

Ecosystem

all the organisms in a given area as well as the abiotic factors with which they interact

autotroph

Producers, an organism that can make their own food using abiotic factors

Heterotrophs

consumers, Organisms that get food by eating other organisms

Detritivores

Decomposers, break down and feed on dead and decaying material

Trophic level

The group of organisms within an ecosystem which occupy the same level in the food chain

1st trophic level

primary producers, energy from the sun provides for primary producers

2nd trophic level

herbivores/primary consumers

3rd, 4th, and 5th trophic levels

Carnivores and carnivores, secondary consumers, third level consumers, and apex predators

Carbon nutrients

basic building block of all organic material and all organisms on earth

Nitrogen nutrients

Most abundant gas in the atmosphere, essential to the formation of amino acids, proteins, and nucleic acids

Water nutrients

All organisms need this resources, structure of the body, temperature regulation, chemical reactions

Phosphorus nutrients

Essential for the formation of cell membranes, ATP, and nucleic acids

Water cycle

The worlds water moves between different bodies of water constantly as a solid liquid or gas

Nitrogen cycle

• Nitrogen forms a triple bond with itself to make N2 a very nonreactive compound

• For nitrogen to be used nitrogen fixation must occur

• Microorganisms can take atmospheric nitrogen and convert it to ammonia and ammonium, which is he converted into nitrates and nitrites which can be used by plants

Carbon cycle

• Through photosynthesis carbon dioxide is pulled from the air to produce food made from carbon for plant growth

• This carbon moves into the animals that eat the plant s

• When animals and plants die the CO2 goes into the ground and turns into fossil fuels

Phosphorus Cycle

• The most biologically important form of phosphorus is phosphate which plants absorbed and use in synthesis

• Weathering of rocks leaks PO43- into soil, groundwater, surface water, and eventually the sea

• taken up by producers and incorporated into biological molecules that may be eaten by consumers

• Phosphate is returned to soil or water by decomposition or excretion by consumers

• Only small amounts move through atmosphere

Competition

Interaction between organisms where both require a resource that is in limited supply

Intraspecific competition

Different individuals and groups of the same species will compete with each other for the same resources

Interspecific competition

Individuals and groups of different species compete for resources

Interference competition

direct form of competition where organisms enter inro direct conflict for resources

indirect competition

Animals live in the same area but dont interact with each other

Exploitation competition

Indirect competition between individuals for a common limiting resource, use of resource by one individual reduces availability of that resource for others

Apparent competition

indirect, prey species compete fo survival against a shared predator

Type 1 survivorship curve

Most individuals will survive until old age, tend to be k-selected

Type 2 survivorship curve

Constant loss, individuals die at all ages, can be k and r selected

Type 3 survivorship curve

we see a massive die off in young age, tend to be R-selected

K-selected

These animals produce fewer offspring and provide more long-term care for said offspring, usually defined by a more stable environment

R-selection

Produce large numbers of offspring and provide little to no long term care after birth, usually defined by unstable/fluctuating environments

specialists

have a narrow niche with incredibly specific needs in order to survive

Niche

the specific set of environmental conditions required by an organism or the functions it performs in nature

Main causes of endangered/extinct species HIPPO

Habitat loss

Invasive species

Pollution

human Population

Overexploitation

Generalist

a species with a broad niche that is easily adaptable to many environmental conditions

Poor competitors 3 options

1. shift strategies

2. move

3. go extinct