Ecology Lecture Notes Flashcards

Flashcards of key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture notes.

b

Per capita birth rate.

birthspermain

Births per main.

d

Per capita death rate.

r

The per capita rate of increase.

r > 0

Population increasing.

r < 0

Population decreasing.

r = 0

Zero population growth/constant population size.

Logistic Growth Model

Increasing population size over time that levels off at K.

Niche

The combination of abiotic and biotic factors used by an organism.

Fundamental Niche

Physiological niche/ideal conditions.

Realized Niche

Where a species is found.

Competition

When 2 species require the same resource which is in limited supply.

Competitive Exclusion Principle

Tradeoff between notolysin drying out and competitive ability.

Character Displacement

Trait differs between 2 species when found in sympatry but similar when species are isolated.

Predator Mediated Coexistence

Competition and predation.

Ecological Succession

A predictable change in community over time, associated with disturbance.

Primary Succession

Occurs in a "lifeless" area with no soil due to disturbance.

Secondary Succession

Community is disturbed and returns to an earlier stage in successional sequence.

r-selected traits

Species that show up early, smaller size, colonize quickly, not very competitive.

K-selected traits

Species that show up later, larger size, colonize slower, grow slowly, very competitive.

Early and Late Succession Stages

Lowest species diversity.

Intermediate Succession Stages

Highest species diversity.

Energy Flow

Energy flows through ecosystems.

Autotrophs

At the very base of energy, plants, green algae, and cyanobacteria.

Trophic Structure

Describes the feeding relationships of organisms.

Producers

Terrestrial system plants.

Producers in aquatic system

Aquatic system phytoplankton.

Consumers

Herbivores eat producers/plants, Carnivores eat other consumers/animal flesh, Omnivores eat producers and consumers.

Detritivores/Decomposers

Feed on dead/decaying matter called detritus.

Food Chain

Linear sequence of feeding relationships describing energy transfer.

Food Web

A network of food chains.

Energy Transfer

Energy is lost between trophic levels (respiration, waste). The rest of the energy makes the transition and is used in secondary production (new biomass).

Energy Pyramids

90% reduction in energy at each trophic level.

Chemical Cycling

Chemical elements are available only in a limited amount and are recycled through biogeochemical cycles.

Biogeochemical cycles

Nutrient cycles that have both living and nonliving/abiotic components.

Inorganic Compounds

Overall reservoirs.

Organic

Living material from current or recent organisms that must contain carbon.

Inorganic

Non-living components that may or may not contain carbon.

Available

Accessed directly by an organism through eating or uptaking from water/air.

Unavailable

Not accessed directly and requires weathering.

Carbon Cycle

CO2 used in photosynthesis by plants.

Carbon

Forms the framework for essential organic molecules.

Nitrogen Cycle

Part of amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids, DNA, and is often a limiting plant nutrient.

Nitrogen-fixation

Bacteria use enzymes to convert N2 to ammonia.

Phosphorus Cycle

Part of ATP, nucleic acids, RNA, and DNA.

Diversity of Living Organisms

Unity of life: all organisms have the same 20 a.a, ATP, DNA, and homologies in bone structure.
Diversity of life: many different species that exist are driven by evolution + natural selections causing new traits.

Unity of Life

Structure, movement/response to environment, grow/develop, metabolism, evolutionary adaptation to survive, and regulate internal environment.

Prokaryotes

Most abundant life form on Earth, small, single-celled, no nucleus, asexual reproduction, rapid evolution, and some use flagella for movement.

Peptidoglycan

Rigid envelope for protection in bacteria cell walls.

Mutation

Change in DNA sequence.

Prokaryotes Ecology

Critical role in chemical cycling, nitrogen cycle, and carbon cycle.

Protists

Eukaryotes meaning they have membrane-bound organelles, typically unicellular, varied modes of reproduction, and high-level of variation.

Fungi

Heterotrophs with cell walls of chitin that get nutrients from outside themselves and reproduce asexually and sexually through spores.

Lichen

Relationship between fungus, bacteria, and photosynthetic protist.

Mycorrhizae

Fungi and plant roots.