Botany 110 (Week 1: Ecology, Water Cycle, and Succession)

Ecology

The relationships of to each other and their environment.

Ecology (Population)

A group of individuals of the same species

Ecology (Plant Communities)

A composition of all of the plant species occurring in a given area.

Ecology (Biotic Community)

A unit composed of all of the living organisms within a given area.

Ecology (Ecosystem)

Communities and their physical environments, which interact and are interconnected by physical, chemical, and biological processes.

Producers

Photosynthesize and store produced energy (Plants, and Algae)

Primary Consumers

Feed on producers (Cows and Caterpillars)

Secondary Consumers

Feed on primary consumers (Tigers and Toads)

Trophic Efficiency

Percentage of available energy actually transferred from one trophic level to the next.

Allelopthy

Production of chemicals that inhibit growth of other plants

Phytoalexins

Chemicals that kill or inhibit disease fungi or bacteria produced by plants

Herbivores and Plants are involved in co-evolution

true

Mycorrhizal Fungi

Plants have a mutualistic relationship with this because it helps to enhance nutrient uptake.

Water Cycle

98% of water is found in oceans, rivers, and lakes the rest is in living organisms, glaciers, polar ice caps and soil

Rainfall percolates into the water table, while water evaporates from bodies of water and is transpired by plants; then water vapor rises into the atmosphere, condenses, and falls back down.

The Carbon Cycle

CO2=0.040% of atmosphere

C3 plants increase growth with increased CO2 levels, but C4 plants do not. May give C3 plants a competitive advantage and affect C4 crops.

Nitrogen Cycle

Most nitrogen in living organisms is in the protoplasm of cells. Nitrogen in air is unavaiable by plants and animals. Most of the nitrogen supply of plants derived from soil is in the form of inorganic compounds and ions taken up by roots.

Nitrogen Losses

Large amounts of nitrogen leach out of the soil by erosion of the topsoil. Lost in crop harvest

Phosphorus Cycle

A slow biogeochemical process, the breakdown of rocks, releases phosphate ions into the water and soil. Decomposers break down dead material and waste, returning it to inorganic phosphate.

Succession

No life: living organisms appear and alter the environment as they carry on metabolism and reproduction. The accumulation of waste alters the environment so that other plants can grow.

Primary Succession

Involves the formation of soil in the beginning stages: on bare rocks and lava

Secondary Succesion

May take place if soil is already present and there are surviving species in the vicinity. On burned or logged land.