Finals Bio

Epilimnion

The upper layer of water in a stratified lake.

FPOM

Fine particulate organic matter.

Fundamental niche

The full potential range of physical, chemical, and biological conditions and resources an organism could theoretically use if there were no competition from other species.

CPOM

Coarse particulate organic matter.

Realized niche

The set of conditions that can exist when competitors are present.

Hypolimnion

The lower layer of water in a stratified lake.

Semelparous

Reproduction occurs once and then parents die, producing many offspring.

Littoral zone

The shallow, sloped area where the land and water meet in a lake, river, or sea.

Intraguild predation

Two predators that compete for the same food and also eat each other.

Iteroparous

Reproduction occurs multiple times over several years, producing few offspring.

Limnetic zone

The highest level of water where the most light hits and the most photosynthesis occurs.

r-selected species

Species characterized by many small offspring, early reproductive age, generalist, and low ability to compete.

Type I, II, and III survival curve

Refers to three different patterns observed in how organisms within a population survive throughout their lifespan.

Profundal zone

The middle level of lakes that has some light, but no photosynthesis.

k-selected species

Species characterized by fewer large offspring, later reproductive age, specialists, and stable population size.

Marxist views of population growth

Poverty is the result of unequal distribution of wealth; the world has enough resources.

Cornucopian views of population growth

Technology can raise carrying capacity; humans are the ultimate resource.

Malthusian views of population growth

There is a finite amount of resources on the planet, and many have already been depleted.

Benthic Zone (Benthos)

The bottom of a lake.

Logistic growth

A type of population growth where the growth rate is influenced by the population size.

Consumption overpopulation

When the collective consumption of resources by humans exceeds the Earth's capacity to replenish them.

Euphotic zone

The upper zone of the ocean that receives enough sunlight to support the growth of phytoplankton and algae.

Exponential growth

A population increase where the growth rate is proportional to the current population size.

Elaisome

A fleshy structure found on the surface of many plant seeds that attracts ants to help disperse the seeds.

Bathyal zone

The part of the open ocean that extends from a depth of 1,000 to 4,000 m below the ocean surface.

Negative density-dependent regulation

Negative effect proportionality greater when the population is high.

Phoresy

A temporary relationship when an organism attaches itself to a host organism solely for travel.

Abyssal zone

The part of the ocean that extends from 3,000 to 6,500 meters below the surface.

Negative density-independent regulation

A negative effect that is the same regardless of population density.

Constitutive plant defense

Defenses that are always present.

Pelagic zone

The open, free waters away from the shore, where marine life can swim freely.

Positive density-dependent regulation (Allee Effect)

Increasing anti-predator benefits with herd size.

Inducible plant defense

Defenses that are made when a plant is attacked.

Intertidal zone

The area between the high and low tide marks where the land and ocean meet.

Island Biogeography Theory

Islands further from the mainland receive fewer species than closer ones.

Physical plant defense

Structures that are always present helping defend the plant.

Estuary

Where freshwater and saltwater meet.

Epiphyte

Plants that grow on other plants.

Qualitative plant chemical defenses

Defenses that poison herbivores or modify their behavior.

Quantitative plant chemical defenses

Defenses that impede digestion and possibly cause constipation.

Myrmecophile

A species that lives among ant populations.

Biotic plant defense

When species such as ants or spiders protect a plant.

Stream linkage number

A unique number assigned to each segment of a channel between junctions.

Batesian mimicry

A harmless species resembles a dangerous one.

Masting

Synchronized overproduction within a population.

Stream order number

A numerical system that classifies streams and rivers based on their position in a stream network.

Mullerian mimicry

When multiple dangerous species resemble each other.

Positive feedback loop

When the product of a reaction leads to an increase in that reaction.

Watershed

An area of land that channels rainfall, snowmelt, and runoff into a common body of water.

Aposematic coloration

A defense mechanism that animals use to warn predators that they are toxic or harmful.

Negative feedback loop

A normal biological response in which the effects of a reaction slow or stop that reaction.

Endorheic lake

A body of water that does not flow into an ocean or sea and has no apparent outlet.

Gilbertian mimicry

Where prey imitates its predator.

10% rule with respect to trophic transfer

Only 10% of the energy available at one trophic level is passed on to the next.

Lake turnover

When a lake's water mixes from top to bottom.

Vavilovian mimicry

Where a weed evolves to share characteristics with a crop plant.

Energy pyramids

Shows how much energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next.

Number pyramids

Represents the total mass of living organisms at each trophic level.

Biomass pyramids

Shows the number of individual organisms at each trophic level.

Eutrophic lake

An old lake characterized by murky shallow water.

Aggressive mimicry

Appearing harmless, while actually dangerous.

Gross primary production

The total amount of carbon that plants absorb through photosynthesis.

Mesotrophic lake

A lake that is in between oligotrophic and eutrophic lakes with moderate signs of age.

Wassmanian mimicry

A type of mimicry where one organism evolves to look like another in order to live with it.

Net primary production

The rate at which plants convert carbon dioxide and water into energy-rich carbon compounds.

Oligotrophic lake

A young lake that is typically very clear and deep.

Parasitism

A relationship where one organism benefits while the other is harmed.

Ecotone

A region of transition between two biological communities.

River continuum concept

Describes the entire river system as a continuously integrating series of physical gradients.

Parasitoidism

A relationship where one organism benefits while the other is eventually killed.

Autotroph

An organism that can convert abiotic sources of energy into energy stored in organic compounds.

Shredder

Organisms that cut or chew pieces of living or dead plant material.

Commensalism

A relationship where one organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Obligate Commensalism

A relationship where one organism completely depends on another for survival.

Facultative Commensalism

A relationship where one organism benefits but is not essential for survival.

Species rarefaction curve

A graph that shows the number of species in a community as a function of the number of samples taken.

Collector

Organisms that feed on fine particulate organic matter or other small particles.

Mutualism

A relationship where both individuals benefit.

Obligate mutualism

A relationship that is necessary for both organisms to survive.

Facultative Mutualism

A relationship where both benefit but can survive independently.

Primary consumers

Organisms that consume primary producers (plants).

Secondary consumers

Organisms that eat primary consumers.

Tertiary consumers

Organisms that occupy the highest level in a food chain, feeding primarily on secondary consumers.

Keystone species

Species that have a disproportionately large influence on community structure and species diversity.

Robert Paine

Coined the keystone species concept to explain the importance of these species in ecosystems.

Endoparasitism

A parasite that lives inside its host.

Mesoparasitism

A parasite partially embedded in its host.

Ectoparasitism

A parasite that lives on the outside of its host.

Pro-natalist policies

Policies that encourage families to have children.

Trophic cascade

When predators in a food web suppress the abundance or alter the behavior of their prey.

Competitive exclusion principle

Two species cannot coexist if they compete for the same limited resources.

Dependency load

A ratio measuring the pressure on the working-age population to support those who are not in the labor force.

Demographic transition

A theory describing the historical shift from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates.