Ecology Exam 1 terms

Ecology

scientific study of the abundance and distribution of organisms in relation to other organisms and environmental conditions

Albedo

dark surfaces absorb more heat and energy

Haldey cells

between 30 degress north/south: when going down, feral cells

Ferrell cells

cool dry air from hadley cells turn warm and goes up again around 60 degrees latitude -> more precipitation in this latitude

Polar cells

rising air masses and deflected back towards equator or polar

Coriolis Effect

deflection of an objects path due to rotation of a sphere

Gyre

large water circulation pattern between continents

Upwelling

movement of nutrient-rich water from depth toward the surface

El-nino

Southeast trade winds in a normal years stops or even reverse, being warm water to South America coast, causing monsoons in South America, dry conditions in Australia and South Pacific, Global impacts overall

Atmosphere

mixture of gasses about 600 km thick that blankets the planet

more greenhouse gas - more warmth on earth

natural !

Rain shadows

drop precipitation in first side of mountain, dried and pulls moisture out of land, so the other side is very airy and dry

Slope direction

second side of mountain, less sunlight, less vegetation growth

Biome

A geographic region that contains communities composed of organisms with similar adaptations

Soil layers

Top - humus, decomposed organic material with mineral soil

layer leached of its minerals

chemical composition resembling underlying parent material, clay, mineral, oxided aluminium and iron

large rocks of broken parent material - sea horizon

bottom - form of bedrock

Ways plants have access and retain water

Osmotic potential

Xylem (more transpiration)

root depth

leaf traits

Loops of Henle

uses osmotic potential to conservative water. Bigger the kidney, bigger the loop, more water can be conserved

Evaporation

transformation of water from a liquid to a gaseous state with the input of heat energy

Convection

transfer of heat by the movement of liquids and gases

Conduction

transfer of heat between substances that are touching

Radiation

heat energy emitted by a surface

Stream

a shallow narrow channel of fast-flowing fresh water

River

a wide channel of slow-flowing fresh water

Allochthonous

organic matter comes mainly from outside of the system (low order streams) - streams

Autochthonous

organic matter produced mainly by algae and aquatic plants inside (mid order streams) - rivers

Bioindicator of stream quality

EPT

Isozymes

different forms of an enzyme that function optimally at different temperatures (helps organisms stay at homeostasis

Hyperosmotic

higher solute concentration in its tissues

Hyposmotic

lower solute concentration in its tissues

Smoltification

the physiological process salmon go through to switch from a fresh to salt environment

Phenotypic plasticity

the ability of a single genotype to produce multiple phenotypes based on environmental cues

Levels of ecological organization

individual < population < community < ecosystem < landscape < biosphere

biotic processes

living components affecting ecosystems (predation, competition, etc)

Abiotic processes

non-living organisms affecting ecosystems (sunlight, soil, climate)

Population

group of individuals of same species in particular area that have potential to interbreed

Community

group of species living together at same place and time

Ecosystem

communities of organisms interacting with physical and chemical environment

Landscape

land area composed of interacting ecosystems repeating in a similar form throughout

Climate

long-term average of weather patterns categorized primarily by temperature and precipitation

5 major factors determining climate

1. Sunlight

2. Latitude

3. Air currents

4. Ocean Currents

5. Topography

Homeotherms

consistent temp

Pokilotherms

fluctuating temp

Endotherm

create heat from themselves - homeotherms

Ectotherm

Creating heat from resources around them - pokilotherms

Carry-over effect

situation where an organism’s environment and experiences in a previous and distinct life phase strongly influence their current state, especially with regard to fitness