limiting resource
a resource that a population cannot live without and which occurs in quantities lower than the population would require to increase in size
resource partitioning
where two species divide a resource based on differences in the species' behavior or morphology
predation
refers to the use of one species as a resource by another species
true predators
typically kill their prey and consume most of what they kill
herbivores
consumes plants as prey
parasites
live on or in the organisms they consume
parasitoids
organisms that lay eggs inside other organims
mutualism
benefits two interacting species by increasing both species' chances of survival or reproduction
commensalism
a type of relationship in which one species benefits but the other is neither harmed nor helped
symbiotic relationship
the relationship of two species that live in close association with each other
keystone species
a species that plays a role in its community
predator-mediated competition
competition in which a predator is instrumental in reducing the abundance of a superior competitor, allowing inferior competitors to persist
ecosystem engineers
species that create or maintain habitat for other species
Aquifers
Permeable layers of rock and sediment that contain groundwater in many small spaces.
Unconfined Aquifer
Water can flow easily in and out of the aquifer. Porous rock covered by soil
Confined Aquifer
Aquifers covered by an impermeable and confining layer impeding water flow in or out.
Water Table
Uppermost aquifer layer where water fully saturates the rock or soil.
Groundwater Recharge
Water from precipitation percolates through soil and into aquifer. If confined, can't recharge.
Springs
Water from some aquifers naturally comes up, natural source of freshwater
Artesian Wells
Drilled hole in a confined aquifer releases pressure and pushes water up.
Cone of Depression
Area where there's no longer any groundwater, caused by well overuse, eventually will go dry.
Floodplain
Land adjacent to river where excess water spreads onto.
Oligotrophic
Lakes with low productivity because of little nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen.
Impermeable Surfaces
Pavement, buildings, etc. Doesn't allow water penetration, water then runs into sewers and streams. Excess water causes floods. Dry ground, especially when plants are not present, behaves this way.
Levee
Enlarged bank on each side of river to prevent flooding
Dikes
Similar to levees but to prevent ocean waters from flooding coasts that are under sea level.
Dam
Barrier that runs across a river/stream to control water flow
Reservoir
Large body of water stored behind a dam. Held for consumption, generating electricity, flood control, or recreation.
Aqueducts
Canals or ditches used to carry water between locations. Transports water to dry areas.
biogeochemical cycle
The circulation of matter through the biosphere.
Water Cycle
The continual movement of water between Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and land surface through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
Carbon Cycle
The series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment. This involves the incorporation of carbon dioxide into living tissue by photosynthesis and its return to the atmosphere through respiration, the decay of dead organisms, and the burning of fossil fuels.
Nitrogen Cycle
The transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil, to living organisms, and back to the atmosphere. Lightning, and nitrogen fixing bacteria transform inorganic nitrogen to organic forms of nitrogen.
Phosphorous Cycle
the cyclic movement of phosphorus in different chemical forms from the environment to organisms and then back to the environment. This cycle does not have an atmospheric component.
Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria
found on legume roots, turn nitrogen into a usable form, nitrate.
Denitrifying Bacteria
Bacteria that convert the nitrates in soil or water to gaseous nitrogen and release it back into the atmosphere.
Evaporation
The change of a substance from a liquid to a gas. When liquid water is heated to become a vapor.
Condensation
The change of state from a gas to a liquid. Water in the vapor form is cooled, and condenses, so the molecules of gas get closer, and form liquid.
Precipitation
Any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth's surface.
Transpiration
Evaporation of water from the leaves of a plant.
Runoff
Part of the water cycle where an excess of water runs down and does not sink into the soil and eventually makes it to the rivers, lakes, and oceans.
climate
the average weather that occurs in a given region over a long period - typically several decades
troposhpere
the layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth's surface
stratosphere
layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere
Chemosythesis
process in which bacteria deep in the ocean use the bonds of methane and hydrogen sulfide to generate energy
ecosystem
a particular location on Earth distinguished by its particular mix of interacting biotic and abiotic components
producers; autotrophs
organisms that use the suns's energy to produce usable forms of energy
photosynthesis
the process in which producers use solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose, a form of potential energy that can be used by a wide range of organisms
consumers; heterotrophs
are incapable of photosynthesis and must obtain their energy by consuming other organisms
primary consumers
heterotrophs that consume producers
secondary consumers
carnivores that eat primary consumers
tertiary consumers
carnivores that eat secondary consumers; are pretty rare
trophic levels
successive levels of organisms consuming one another is called this
food chains
the sequence of consumption from producers through tertiary consumers
food web
take into account the complexity of nature, and they illustrate one of the most important concepts of ecology
scavengers
are carnivores, such as vultures, that consume dead animals
detritovores
organisms, such as dung beetles, that specialize in breaking down dead tissues and waste products (referred to as detritus) into smaller particles
decomposers
the fungi and bacteria that complete the breakdown process by recycling the nutrients from dead tissues and wastes back into the ecosystem
gross primary productivity; GPP
the process in which scientists look at the total amount of solar energy that the producers in an ecosystem capture via photosynthesis over a given amount of time
net primary productivity; NPP
the energy captured minus the energy respired by producers
biomass
the total mass of all living matter in a specific area
ecological efficiency
the proportion of consumed energy that can be passed from one trophic level to another
trophic pyramid
represents the distribution of biomass along trophic levels
biosphere
the region of our planet where life resides
biogeochemical cycles
the movement of matter within and between ecosystems
hydroglogic cycle
the movement of water through the bioshpere
transpiration
a process in which plants release water from their leaves into the atmosphere
evaptranspiration
the combined amount of evaporation and traspiration
runoff
water can move as this across the surface of the land and into streams/rivers eventually reaching the ocean
macronutrients
six key elements that organisms need in relatively large amounts
limiting nutrient
a nutrient an organism needs because a lack of it results in constrained growth
nitrogen fixation
a process in which Nitrogen gas in the atmosphere (N2) is converted directly into ammonia (NH3)
leaching
a process in which nitrates are readily transported through the soil with water
disturbance
an event caused by a physical, chemical, or biological agents that result in changes in population size or community composition
watershed
all of the land in a given landscape that drains into a particular stream, river, lake, or wetland
resistance
a measure of how much a disturbance can affect the flows of energy and matter
resilience
the rate at which an ecosystem returns to its original state after a disturbance
kingdoms
six major groups of species
Nuclear Fusion
A reaction that occurs when lighter nuclei are forced together to produce heavier nuclei - energy is released
Nonpoint Source Pollution
Diffuse areas that pollute. Farming region, suburban community with many lawns and septic systems, or storm runoff from parking lots.
Water Pollution
Contamination of streams, lakes, oceans, or groundwater with substances produced by humans.
Point source pollution
Distinct locations of pollution like a factory, or a sewage treatment plant.
Eutrophication
Run off carries fertilizers and decomposition of waste water provides an overabundance of fertility (too much nitrogen and phosphorus) to a water body.
trophic level
each of several hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, comprising organisms that share the same function in the food chain and the same nutritional relationship to the primary sources of energy.
nuclear fission energy
comes from changes to the atom's nucleus: when the nucleus of an atom divides - energy is released. We use this to produce Nuclear Energy.
Nitrification (nitrogen cycle)
the biological oxidation of ammonia or ammonium to nitrite followed by the oxidation of the nitrite to nitrate. The transformation of ammonia to nitrite is usually the rate limiting step of nitrification. Nitrification is an important step in the nitrogen cycle in soil
Denitrification
process by which bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
Source: auto exhaust and using inorganic fertilizers Effects: acidification of lakes, respiratory irritation, leads to smog & ozone Equation for acid formation: NO + O2 = NO2 + H2O = HNO3 Reduction: catalytic converter
pyramid of energy flow
90% of energy lost with each transfer Less chemical energy for higher trophic levels
aerobic respiration
Respiration that requires oxygen glucose + oxygen -> carbon dioxide + water + energy
anaerobic respiration
Respiration that does not require oxygen. Also known as fermentation.