Apes locked in

population

composed of all individuals that belong to the same species and live in a given area at a particular time

community

incorporates all of the populations of organisms within a given area

population ecology

the study of factors that cause populations to increase or decrease

population size

the total number of individuals within a defined area at a given time

population density

the number of individuals per unit area (or volume for aquatic organisms) at a given time

population distriution

a description of how individuals are distributed with respect to one another

sex ration

the ratio of males to females

age structure

a description of how many individuals fit into particular age categories

density-dependent factors

influences an individual's probability of survival and reproduction in a manner that depends on the size of the population

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

carrying capacity; k

population growth slowed as population size increased because there was a limit to how many individuals the food supply could sustain

Density-independent factors

have the same effect on an individuals probability of survival and amount of reproduction at any population size

growth rate

the number of offspring an individual can produce in a given time period, minus the deaths of the individual or offspring during the same period

intrinsic growth rate; r

under ideal conditions, with unlimited resources available, every population has a particular maximum potential for growth

exponential growth model

tells us that, under ideal conditions, the future size of the population depends on the current size of the population, the intrinsic rate of the population, and the amount of time over which the population grows

logistic growth model

describes a population whose growth is initially exponential, but slows as the population approaches the carrying capacity of the environment

overshoot

when the population becomes larger than the spring carrying capacity

Die-off

population crash usually experienced after the overshoot of the carrying capacity

k-selected species

species that have a low intrinsic growth rate, which causes their populations to increase slowly until they reach the carrying capacity of the environment

r-selected species

species that have a high intrinsic growth rate because they reproduce often and produce large numbers of offspring

survivorship curves

graphs of distinct patterns of survival over time

corridors

strips of habitat that connect separated populations that the animal travels across

metapopulations

a group of spatially distinct populations that are connected by occasional movements of individuals between them

community ecology

the study of species interactions, which determine the survival of a species in a habitat

competition

the struggle of individuals to obtain a limiting resource

competitive exclusion principle

states that two species competing for the same limiting resource cannot coexist

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

ecological succession

the predictable replacement of one group of species by another group of species over time

primary succession

occurs on surfaces that are intially devoid of soil

secondary succession

occurs in areas that have been disturbed but have not lost their soil

pioneer species

organisms that have the ability to colonize new areas rapidly and grow well in full sunshine

theory of island biogeography

demonstrates the dual importance of habitat size and distance in determining species richness

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.

Saltwater intrusion

Lessened pressure from over-pumping so salt water infiltrates and makes well water salty.

Floodplain

Land adjacent to river where excess water spreads onto.

Oligotrophic

Lakes with low productivity because of little nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen.

Mesotrophic

Lakes with moderate levels of productivity

Eutrophic

Lakes with high levels of productivity

Impermeable Surfaces

Pavement, buildings, etc. Doesn't allow water penetration, water then runs into sewers and streams. Excess water causes floods.

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.

Fish Ladders

Sets of stairs with water flowing over them to have fish migrate despite dams.

Aqueducts

Canals or ditches used to carry water between locations. Transports water to dry areas.

Desalination

Removes salt from salt water to make fresh water.

Distillation

Desalination method. Seawater flows in, heated to create steam, cool seawater in condensing coil causes steam to condense. Brine and fresh water then flows out.

Reverse Osmosis

Desalination method. Seawater flows in, pressure applied, water goes through semipermeable membrane, salt can't. Water and brine flows out.

Hydroponic Agriculture

Cultivation under greenhouse conditions with roots in nutrient rich solution, and not soil.

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

albedo

the percentage of incoming sunlight that is reflected from a surface

saturation point

the maximum amount of water vapor that can be in the air at a given temperature

adiabatic cooling

the process in which the decrease of atmospheric pressure allows rising air to expand in volume and lower it's temperature

adiabatic heating

the process in which the increase of atmospheric pressure allows sinking air to decrease in volume and raise it's temperature

Hadley Cell

the convection currents that cycle between the equator and 30 degrees N and S

intertropical convergence zone

where the ascending branches of the two Hadley cells converge

polar cells

similar to Hadley cells; circulates beween 60 degrees N and S and the poles

Coriolis Effect

the deflection of an objects path due to Earth's rotation

gyres

large-scale patterns of water circulation

upwelling

upward movement of water toward the surface

thermohaline circulation

drives the mixing of surface water and deep water

el Nino; ENSO

periodic changes in winds and ocean currents

rain shadow

warm, dry air produces arid conditions on the leeward side of a mountain range

biomes

terrestrial geographic regions that have a particular combination of average annual temperature and annual precipitation and contain distinctive plant growth forms that are adapted to that climate

tundra

a biome that is cold and treeless, with low-growing vegetation

permafrost

an impermeable, permanently frozen layer that prevents water from draining and roots from penetrating

boreal forest

a biome; are forests made up primarily of coniferous (cone-bearing) evergreen trees that can tolerate cold winters and short growing seasons

temperate rainforest

a biome; moderate temperatures and high precipitation typify this biome