Week 6: Succession, Climate, Biomes, and Ecosystems

A set of 30 vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the lectures on succession, climate, biomes, and ecosystems.

Succession

The orderly replacement of populations of plants and animals in an area following a disturbance.

Climax Community

The stable community at the end of succession, characterized by the largest population and species diversity.

r-selected species

Species that produce many offspring with less investment in each.

K-selected species

Species that produce fewer offspring but invest more resources in their care.

Primary Succession

Occurs in an area with no soil, such as newly formed volcanic islands.

Secondary Succession

Begins in an area where soil remains after a disturbance, like after a forest fire.

Lichens

Pioneer species that break down rock and facilitate soil formation in early stages of succession.

Indicator Species

Species sensitive to pollution, such as lichens, that can signal air quality issues.

Climate

Long-term prevailing weather conditions in a region that influence the distribution of organisms.

Biomes

Major types of ecosystems occupying broad geographic areas, characterized by vegetation type and climate.

Grassland Biome

Dominated by grasses and characterized by low precipitation.

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Biome dominated by deciduous trees, found in regions with moderate climate.

Freshwater Biomes

Classified by features such as water movement, depth, temperature, and salinity.

Eutrophication

The process when excessive nutrients lead to algal blooms and ecological impacts.

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

Total primary production in an ecosystem.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

GPP minus the energy used for respiration by primary producers.

Limiting Nutrients

Elements required for production that are found in short supply, such as nitrogen and phosphorus.

Water Cycle

Movement of water through evaporation, transpiration, condensation, and precipitation.

Carbon Cycle

Involves processes like photosynthesis and respiration, crucial for organic molecules.

Nitrogen Cycle

The cycle in which nitrogen is converted by bacteria to forms available to plants.

Phosphorus Cycle

Involves phosphate as the primary inorganic form; major reservoirs are marine sedimentary rocks.

Human Impact on Nutrient Cycling

Activities disrupting ecosystems, affecting trophic structures and nutrient cycles.

Greenhouse Effect

Phenomenon regulating Earth's temperature, influenced by greenhouse gases like CO2.

Nutrient Enrichment

The addition of fertilizers that leads to environmental pollution and altered ecosystems.

Trophic Structures

The feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem.

Ecotone

A transition area between different ecosystems or habitats.

Ecosystem Productivity

The efficiency with which energy is converted into biomass in an ecosystem.

Tropical Rain Forest Biome

Characterized by high biodiversity and high annual rainfall.

Open Ocean Biome

Marine biome covering large areas, usually characterized by lower productivity per unit area.

Estuaries

Transition areas between river and sea, highly productive ecosystems.

Aquatic Ecosystems Limiting Factors

Factors like light and nutrients that affect productivity in aquatic environments.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

A key greenhouse gas involved in the carbon cycle and essential for photosynthesis.

Biodiversity Changes

Impacts on diversity caused by human-induced climate changes.

Climate Change Implications

Effects of climate change including rising temperatures and shifting species distributions.

Ecosystem Dynamics

The interrelated activities and interactions within ecosystems that drive succession and productivity.