Bio_11_4_Ecology_2024

Ecology

Ecology

study of the relationships of organisms to their environment and to other organisms

Habitat

all living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) characteristics of an area in which the animal lives

Tolerance Range

range of values for any abiotic factor that is compatible with life for an animal

Range of Optimum

range of values that defines the conditions under which the animals is most successful

Limiting Factor

any one of a combination of abiotic factors that is outside the tolerance range for that factor

Heterotrophic

organisms that supply energy needs by ingesting other organisms; animals

Autotrophic

organisms that carry on photosynthesis/ other carbon fixing activities to supply food

Energy Budget

an accounting of an animal’s total energy intake & a description of how energy is used and lost

Temperature

influences rates of chemical reactions in animals

Heat Loss

infrared & heat radiation to surroundings; convection to air; evaporative heat

Heat Gain

solar radiation infrared & heat radiation from surroundings; metabolic activity

Torpor

brief daily periods; bats & hummingbirds

Hibernation

weeks/months; hibernator’s thermostat drops to about 2 degrees Celsius; rodents, shrews, bats

Winter Sleep

weeks/months; body temperature drops, but less than in hibernation—-animals are easily aroused; black bears

Aestivation

extended periods of drying, usually within burrows; invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians

Abiotic Factors

moisture, light, geology & soils

Populations

groups/individuals of the same species that occupy a given area at the same time& have unique attributes

Survivorship

populations change over times as a result of birth, death and dispersal

Survivorship graph

Type I populations, Type II populations, Type III populations

Exponential growth

potential to increase by a constant ratio per unit time

Environmental Resistance

constraints placed n growth by climate, food, space, & other factors

Carrying Capacity (K)

population size of a particular environment can support

Logistic population growth

s-shaped growth curve because population reaches environment’s carrying capacity

Density-independent factors

factors that limit regardless of population size: extreme cold & deforestation

Density-dependent factors

factors that are more severe when population density is high; resource competition, disease, predation, parasitism

Intraspecific Competition

competition for resources among members of the same species

Interspecific Interactions

herbivory & predation; interspecific competition

Interspecific competition

competition by members of different species for resources

Coevolution

evolution of ecologically related species; predator/prey coevolution; flowering plant/pollinator coevolution

Symbiosis

two different species living in continuing, intimate associations

Parasitism

one member (parasite) lives at expense of the others (host)

Commensalism

one member benefits & second member is neither helped nor harmed

mutualism

both members benefit

Camouflage

color patterns help hide an animal

Countershading

contrasting coloration that helps conceal an animal

Aposematic coloration

conspicuous color patterns & warning to predators

Mimicry

a species resembles one/more other species; protection from resemblance

Communities

all populations living an area

Community (species) diversity

the variety of organisms in a community

Ecological Niche

All attributes of an animal’s lifestyle

Succession

dominant members of a community change the community in predictable ways

Pioneer community

first community to become established

Seral stage

a successional stage—-life forms make area less fit for themselves

Sere

entire successional sequence of a community

Climax community

final community; stable —- can tolerate own reactions

ecosystems

communities & their physical environment

Ecosystems

communities & their physical environment

Primary production

energy converted to living tissues per unit time

Biomass

total mass of all organisms in an ecosystem

Food chain

sequence of organisms through which energy moves

Food web

complexly interconnected food chains

Trophic levels

groupings of organisms based on form of energy used

Producers

autotrophs

Consumers

heterotrophs

Biogeochemical Cycles

matter is constantly recycled within ecosystems; cycling of matter from nonliving reservoirs, through living systems, & back to nonliving reservoirs

Gaseous Cycles

oxygen carbon nitrogen & hydrogen; atmosphere/ocean reservoirs

Sedimentary Cycles

sulfur, phosphorus, calcium; earth reservoir

Human population growth

root of virtually all environmental problems

Earth’s carrying capacity

current population is 7.3 billion; too high

Age pyramid

shows proportion of population in age classes: prereproductive, reproductive, postreproductive

John Rockstrom

stockholm resilience center; identified set of environmental processes that could interfere with the ability of Earth to sustain our population

Biodiversity

variety of living organisms in an ecosystem

Biodiversity services

pollination; soil fertility; food crops, fibers, medicines, & more

Threats

Habitat destruction, tropical rainforests, coastal wetlands, coral reefs, & others

Biodiversity Challenge

making conservation attractive economically & culturally

Nitrogen & Phosphorus

promote algal growth in lakes, rivers & oceans

Global temperature

increased 0.74 degree Celsius in last century; burning fossil fuels

Ocean acidification

pH now averages 8.0 ((natural ocean pH of 8.2); decreases availability of calcium carbonate for shells & skeletons

Reducing CO2 pollution

alternative fuels; carbon capture & sequestering