Ecology Flashcards

Law of tolerance

Organisms can survive and breed only in a certain range of extremes in the environment.

Biomes

Classification of terrestrial ecosystems by the dominant plant form.

Biome complexity

As biome complexity increases, it typically provides a greater variety of habitats and resources, supporting higher levels of animal biodiversity.

Nutrient cycling

The continuous movement and exchange of organic and inorganic matter back into the production of living matter.

Photic zone

Topmost layer in aquatic ecosystems where sunlight penetrates and promotes photosynthesis.

Aphotic zone

Deep or murky waters where sunlight is insufficient for photosynthesis.

Benthic Zone

The entire bottom surface of an aquatic ecosystem.

Littoral Zone

Shallow area near the shore where sunlight reaches the bottom; rich in plants and biodiversity.

Limnetic Zone

Open, well-lit surface water of a lake or pond, situated away from shore and dominated by plankton and fish.

Pelagic Zone

All open water, ranging from the surface to the deep, but not near the shore or bottom.

Wetlands

Land areas saturated or covered with water—either permanently or seasonally—supporting specialized aquatic plants and hydric soils.

Freshwater ecosystems

Low salt aquatic habitats high in biodiversity that can include rivers, lakes, and ponds.

Marine ecosystems

Vast, dynamic aquatic systems covering most of Earth, characterized by high salinity, complex food webs, and varying depth zones.

Most productive ecosystems

Rainforests and wetlands due to abundant water and sunlight and rapid nutrient cycling.

Least productive ecosystems

Deserts and open oceans due to limited availability of sunlight (ocean), water (deserts), and therefore nutrients.

Moderate productivity ecosystems

Grasslands and temperate forests, where seasonal variations influence growth rates and biodiversity.

Adaptive behaviors

Behaviors that arise when benefits outweigh costs, enhancing individual fitness and survival.

Learned behaviors

Behaviors that are passed down generation to generation, leading to population evolution.

Costs & Benefits

Concepts used to explain the evolution of behaviors by assessing the trade-offs between energy expenditure and rewards.

Evolutionary Stable Strategy (ESS)

A strategy that depends on the actions of others; individuals may conform or differ based on population dynamics

Associative learning

The process of establishing a positive or negative association between a stimulus and a response.

Classical conditioning

A learning process where an involuntary response becomes associated with a stimulus that did not originally elicit the response.

Operant conditioning

A learning process where an animal's behavior is reinforced or diminished by consequences.

Behavior Function Experiment Design

An experiment designed to determine the function of a behavior by manipulating variables and observing changes.