APES Complete Vocab Review

abiotic

related to factors or things that are separate and independent from living

10% Rule

the rule that in a food chain, only about 10% of the energy is transferred from one level to the next

abyssal zone

the deepest region of the ocean, marked by extremely cold temperatures and low levels of dissolved oxygen, but high levels of nutrients because of the decomposition of organic matter, especially through the action of bacteria

ammonification

the production of ammonia or ammonium compounds in the environment

anaerobic

without oxygen

aquatic life zones

ecosystems in aqueous environments

assimilation

the process in which plants absorb ammonium (NH4), ammonia ions (NH3), and nitrate ions (NO3) through their roots

autotrophs

producers; organisms that can produce their own organic compounds from inorganic compounds; they use energy from the Sun or from the oxidation of inorganic substances

barrier island

a long, relatively narrow island running parallel to the mainland, built up by the action of waves and currents and serving to protect the coast from erosion by surf

bathyal zone

the middle region of the ocean, characterized by less density of organisms because it does not receive enough light to support photosynthesis

benthic zone

the surface and sub

biodiversity

the number and variety of organisms found within a specified geographic region, or ecosystem, or the variability among living organisms, including the variability within and between species and ecosystems

biogeochemical cycles

the complex cycles through which nutrients such as carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and water move through the environment

biological extinction

true extermination of a species; no individuals of this species are left on the planet

biomes

ecosystems based on land

biotic

living or derived from living things

chaparral

scrub forest or shrubland; a biome characterized by moderate precipitation, shallow or infertile soil, small trees with large, hard evergreen leaves, and spiny shrubs

chemotrophs

autotrophic bacteria that use chemosynthesis to produce energy in anaerobic environments

climax community

a stable, mature community in a successive series that has reached equilibrium after having evolved through stages and adapted to its environment

coastal zone

ocean zone consisting of the ocean water closest to land, usually defined as between the shore and the end of the continental shelf (the edge of the tectonic plate); characterized by abundant sunlight and oxygen

commensalism

symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor hurt

commercial (economic) extinction

a few individuals exist but the effort needed to locate and harvest them is not worth the expense

community

formed from populations of different species occupying the same geographic area

competition

the relationship that exists when two individuals of the same species or of different species compete for resources in the same environment

competitive exclusion

the process that occurs when two different species in a region compete and the better adapted species wins

coniferous forest (taiga)

a biome characterized by moderate precipitation, acidic soil, and coniferous trees

consumers

organisms that must obtain food energy from secondary sources, for example, by eating plant or animal matter

coral reef

an erosion

cultural services

use of nature for science and education, therapeutic and recreational uses, and spiritual and cultural uses

deciduous forest

a biome characterized by adequate precipitation, rich soil with high organic content, and hardwood trees

decomposers

organisms that consume dead plant and animal material

denitrification

the process by which specialized bacteria (mostly anaerobic bacteria) convert ammonia to NO, NO2, and N2, which are released back into the atmosphere

deserts

biomes characterized by extremely low precipitation, coarse sandy soil, and cactus and other low

detritivores

organisms that derive energy from consuming nonliving organic matter, such as dead animals or fallen leaves

mutualism

a symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit

microevolution

small

natural selection

the process by which, according to Darwin's Theory of Evolution, only the organisms best adapted to their environment tend to survive and transmit their genetic characteristics in increasing numbers to succeeding generations, while those less adapted tend to be eliminated

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

the amount of energy that plants pass on to the community minus the amount of energy the plants need for growth, maintenance, repair, and reproduction

niche

the total sum of a species' use of the biotic and abiotic resources in its environment

nitrification

the process in which soil bacteria convert ammonium (NH4) to a form that can be used by plants: nitrate, or NO3

nitrogen fixation

the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into compounds, such as ammonia, by natural agencies or various industrial processes

parasitism

a symbiotic relationship in which one member is helped by the association and the other is harmed

phosphorus cycle

the cycle through which phosphorus moves through the environment in different forms

photosynthesis

the process in green plants and certain other organisms by which carbohydrates are synthesized from carbon dioxide and water using light as an energy source

phylogenetic tree

a branching diagram used to model evolution and describe the evolutionary relationships between species

pioneer species

the organisms that take root and adapt to the conditions of a habitat in the first stages of ecological succession

population

a group of organisms of the same species that live in the same area

precipitation

water that condenses in the atmosphere and falls to the Earth's surface in liquid or solid form

predation

when one species feeds on another

predator

a species that feeds on another species

prey

a species that's subject to predation by another species

primary consumers

organisms that consume producers (plants and algae)

primary succession

when ecological succession begins in a virtually lifeless area, such as the area behind a moving glacier

producer

an organism that is capable of converting radiant energy or chemical energy into carbohydrates

symbiotic relationships

close, prolonged associations between two or more different organisms of different species that may, but do not necessarily, benefit the members

taiga

see coniferous forest

terrestrial cycle

the portion of a biogeochemical cycle that takes place on land

temperate rainforest

a biome characterized by abundant rain, moderately rich soil, and isolated communities

theory of island biogeography

a field that studies species richness and diversification in isolated ecosystems

tertiary consumers

organisms that consume secondary consumers or other tertiary consumers

thermocline

a layer in a large body of water, such as a lake, that sharply separates regions differing in temperature, so that the temperature gradient across the layer is abrupt

transpiration

the act or process of transpiring, or releasing water vapor, especially through the stomata of plant tissue or the pores of the skin

trophic level

one of the feeding levels in a food chain

tropical rainforest

a biome characterized by abundant rain, poor quality soil, and tall trees with few lower limbs, vines, epiphytes, and plants adapted to low light intensity

tundra

a biome characterized by very low precipitation, permafrost, and herbaceous plants

upwelling

a process in which cold, often nutrient

wetlands

lowland areas, such as marshes or swamps, that are saturated with moisture

Actual Growth Rate

a simple formula to calculate population change over time (excluding the effects of immigration and emigration): (birth rate

age

structure diagrams

age

structure pyramids

biotic potential

the amount that the population would grow if there were unlimited resources in its environment

boom

and

carrying capacity (K)

the maximum population size that can be supported by the available resources in a region

clumped

the most common dispersion pattern for populations, in which individuals flock together in clumps

profundal zone

the depths of ocean water that is too deep for sunlight to penetrate

aphotic zone

a place where light cannot reach, preventing photosynthesizing plants and animals from living in this region.

provisioning services

services provided to humans by functioning ecosystems, including water, food, medicinal resources, raw materials, energy, and ornaments.

realized niche

the compromised niche a species occupies, which is smaller than the niche it would occupy in the absence of competition.

red tide

a bloom of dinoflagellates that causes reddish discoloration of coastal ocean waters; certain dinoflagellates of the genus Gonyamlax produce toxins that kill fish and contaminate shellfish.

regulating services

services that include disease control, regulation of prey populations through predation, and carbon sequestration.

reservoir

a place where a large quantity of a resource sits for a long period of time.

residency time

the amount of time a resource spends in a reservoir or an exchange pool.

resource partitioning

when different species rely on the same resource but use slightly different parts of the habitat to avoid direct competition.

respiration

the process by which animals (and plants!) breathe and give off carbon dioxide from cellular metabolism.

runoff

that portion of rainfall that runs into streams as surface water rather than being absorbed into groundwater or evaporating.

saprotrophs

decomposers that use enzymes to break down dead organisms and absorb the nutrients.

savanna

a biome characterized by low rainfall, porous soil with only a thin layer of humus, and grasses with widely spaced trees.

secondary consumers

organisms that consume primary consumers.

secondary succession

ecological succession that takes place where an existing community has been cleared by disturbance events, but the soil has been left intact.

selective pressure

any cause that reduces reproductive success (fitness) in a portion of the population, driving natural selection.

specialist

a species that has a narrow niche and can only live in a certain habitat.

speciation

formation of new species through evolution.

species

a group of organisms that are capable of breeding with one another and incapable of breeding with other species.

species richness

the number of different species found in an ecosystem.

sulfur cycle

the cycle through which sulfur moves through the environment in different forms.

supporting services

services that include primary production, nutrient recycling, soil formation, and pollination, making other ecosystem services possible.

abiotic

related to factors or things that are separate and independent from living

10% Rule

the rule that in a food chain, only about 10% of the energy is transferred from one level to the next

abyssal zone

the deepest region of the ocean, marked by extremely cold temperatures and low levels of dissolved oxygen, but high levels of nutrients because of the decomposition of organic matter, especially through the action of bacteria

ammonification

the production of ammonia or ammonium compounds in the environment