Ecology test 1

Jet streams

Strong high-altitude westerlies that affect climate variation and form at transitions in temperature and pressure.

Natural selection

Differential survival and reproduction among individuals with different phenotypes in a population.

Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium

Conditions under which allele frequencies remain constant: random mating, no mutations, large population size, no immigration, equal fitness among genotypes.

Mutation

Changes in the nucleotide sequence of a gene that can create new alleles, resulting in genetic variation.

Allele frequency

Proportion of a specific allele among all allele copies in a population.

Adaptive evolution

Rapid changes in allele frequencies due to selection pressures, often in response to environmental changes.

Directional selection

Type of natural selection that favors individuals at one extreme of a trait distribution.

Disruptive selection

Natural selection that favors both extremes of a trait over intermediate values.

Stabilizing selection

Natural selection that favors intermediate trait values, reducing extremes.

Bottleneck effect

Loss of genetic diversity due to a drastic reduction in population size.

Founder effect

Genetic drift that occurs when a small number of individuals establish a new population.

Gene flow

Migration of individuals or alleles between populations that increases genetic diversity and may decrease local adaptation.

Adaptations

Traits that enhance an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.

Phenotypic variation

Differences in observable traits among individuals in a population.

Qualitative traits

Discrete traits that fall into distinct categories.

Quantitative traits

Traits that vary continuously and are often influenced by multiple genes.

Phenotypic Variation

Variation in traits among individuals in a population resulting from genetic and environmental differences.

Gene

A section of DNA that encodes for a protein, affecting an organism’s traits.

Alleles

Different versions of a gene that arise from mutation.

Locus

A specific location in the genome or on a chromosome where a gene is found.

Phenotypic Plasticity

The capacity of a genotype to express more than one phenotype in response to environmental conditions.

Experimental Design

The structure of an experiment that includes test hypotheses and methods for comparison.

Genotypic Variation

Differences in the genetic makeup of individuals within a population.

Environmental Variation

Differences in traits due to differing environmental conditions experienced by individuals.

Reciprocal Transplant Experiment

An experimental method to test how different genotypes perform in varying environments.

Test of Phenotypic Plasticity

An experimental setup to assess how environmental factors influence the expression of traits within the same genotype.

Lakes

Basins in the landscape that collect water.

Littoral Zone

Shallow margins of a lake, often containing rooted vascular plants, known as macrophytes.

Pelagic Zone

Open deep water of a lake, which is thermally stratified.

Eutrophication

The process where lakes receive excessive nutrient runoff, leading to high algae growth and oxygen depletion.

Thermal Stratification

Separation of water layers in a lake by temperature, impacting oxygen distribution.

Algal Bloom

Rapid increase in algae in water bodies, often associated with high nutrient levels.

Benthic Habitat

The ecological region at the lowest level of a water body, consisting of sediments.

Wetlands

Areas of land whose soil is saturated with moisture, supporting vegetation adapted to hydric conditions.

Water-Quality Protection Service

Wetlands slow and filter water moving down the landscape, reducing flooding and pollution of surface waters.

The Killer Squeeze

A scenario in eutrophic lakes where oxygen depletion due to algae growth squeezes out fish habitat.

Phytoplankton

Single-celled, chlorophyll-containing organisms that are primary producers in the open ocean.

Stratification

The process where layers in bodies of water form, often influenced by temperature and salinity.

Epipelagic Zone

The upper layer of the ocean, extending from the surface down to about 200 meters.

Coral Reefs

Diverse underwater ecosystems composed of coral structures that provide habitat for many marine species.

Kelp Forests

Underwater ecosystems formed by large brown algae that provide habitat and food for various marine organisms.

Benthic Habitat

The ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water, including the sediment surface and sub-surface layers.

Mangrove Forests

Coastal ecosystems inhabited by salt-tolerant trees and shrubs found in tropical and subtropical climates.

Estuary

The area where freshwater from rivers meets and mixes with saltwater from the ocean.

Zonation

The occurrence of distinct layers of life forms in an ecosystem, often based on physical or biological factors.

Riparian Zone

The interface between land and a river or stream, important for ecology and biodiversity.

Epipelagic Zone

The upper layer of the ocean, where sunlight penetrates and photosynthesis occurs, typically extending to a depth of about 200 meters.

Thermocline

A layer in a body of water characterized by a rapid change in temperature with depth.

Benthic habitat

The ecological zone at the bottom of a body of water, including the sediment surface and sub-surface layers.

Pelagic habitat

The open ocean environment, excluding the ocean floor.

Phytoplankton

Microscopic organisms that live in aquatic environments and are a key part of the marine food web.

Estuaries

Coastal areas where freshwater from rivers meets and mixes with saltwater from the ocean, often experiencing stratification.

Biological zonation

The distribution of different biological communities within intertidal zones, influenced by factors like tidal action and light availability.

Macrophytes

Large aquatic plants, such as seagrasses and kelp, that play crucial roles in aquatic ecosystems.

Periphyton

A complex mixture of algae, cyanobacteria, detritus, and microorganisms attached to submerged surfaces in aquatic ecosystems.

Climate zones

Regions of Earth defined by distinct climatic conditions that influence coastal and intertidal habitat types.

Tropical Dry Forest

A biome occurring between 10˚ and 25˚ latitude, characterized by highly seasonal environments with low temperature variability and highly variable rainfall.

Savanna

A biome primarily consisting of grasslands located within 10˚ to 20˚ of the equator, featuring distinct wet and dry seasons.

Mediterranean Biome

A biome characterized by woody vegetation, mostly scrubby shrubs, with a seasonal climate of drought in summer and rain in winter.

Aquifer

An underground reserve of groundwater that can recharge through surface water seeping down.

Temperate Grasslands

A biome that is dominated by herbaceous vegetation, primarily grasses and forbs, with deep, fertile soils that were extensively converted to agriculture.

Boreal Forest

A biome typically dominated by evergreen conifers, characterized by low-fertility, acidic soils and slow decomposition.

Tundra

A cold and dry biome encircling the globe north of boreal forests, characterized by low precipitation and soil development.

Mycorrhizae

A mutualistic relationship between plant roots and fungi that help access nutrients locked in detritus.

Ecological Variation

Differences in climate, soil, vegetation, and animals across different biomes.

Biomes

Large areas characterized by specific climates, plants, and animals.

Coriolis Effect

The deflection of air currents caused by the Earth's rotation.

Solar Radiation

The energy emitted by the sun, which is unevenly distributed across the Earth's surface.

Precipitation

Any form of water that falls from clouds, including rain, snow, sleet, and hail.

Soil Profile

A vertical section of soil that showcases different soil horizons.

Soil Horizons

Layers of soil that differ in composition, texture, and color; includes O, A, E, B, and C horizons.

Desert Biome

A biome characterized by low rainfall, typically occurring at 30° N and S latitude.

Jet Streams

High-altitude winds that flow from west to east, influencing climate and weather patterns.

Rain Shadow Effect

The dry area on the leeward side of a mountain range where moist air loses its moisture.

Nutrient Recycling

The process by which nutrients are reused and returned to the ecosystem, particularly in tropical rainforests.

Tropical Rainforest

A biome found near the equator characterized by high rainfall and biodiversity.

Topography

The arrangement of the natural and artificial physical features of an area, which affects climate.

Soil Composition

The mixture of organic and inorganic materials that make up soil, affecting its properties.

Atmospheric Circulation

The large-scale movement of air masses that distributes heat and moisture around the globe.

Terrestrial Biomes

Land-based biomes defined by their climates, soils, and the life forms they support.

Algae

Simple non-flowering plants of a large group that includes the seaweeds and many single-celled forms.

Phosphorus availability

The presence and quantity of phosphorus in an environment, which can influence biological productivity.

Comparative approach

An ecological research method that compares different ecosystems or situations to understand relationships.

Manipulative experimental approach

A research strategy where specific variables are manipulated to test hypotheses and observe effects.

Food chain structure

The organization of producers, consumers, and decomposers in an ecosystem that affects the flow of energy and nutrients.

Ecological models

Simplifications of ecological systems that represent certain aspects to aid understanding or predictions.

Mesocosms

Controlled outdoor experiments that simulate natural environments to study ecological processes.

Zooplanktivores

Organisms, typically fish, that feed on zooplankton, influencing the population dynamics of algae.

Nutrient recycling

The process by which nutrients are reused in an ecosystem, for instance, through decomposition or excretion.

Ecosystem manipulation

The intentional alteration of an ecosystem to study ecological principles and interactions.