Ecology Exam 1 Flashcards

Hierarchy of Social Organization

Individuals > Population > Community > Ecosystem > Landscape > Biosphere

Natural Experiment

An empirical study that takes advantage of natural phenomena that are outside the control of investigators to create levels for comparison. Such as before and after a natural disaster.

Modeling

Creation/analysis of representations of data or ideas to provide insight/make predictions

Conceptual Models

Describe systems in pictures/diagrams

Quantitative Models

Mathematical

Biome

A major division of the terrestrial environment distinguished primarily by its predominant plants. Plants are

Natural History

A study of how organisms in an area are affected by multiple factors over time

Primary influence on biome

Climate

Functional traits

Particular characteristics that allow a species to survive

Primary Producers

Photosynthesizing organisms

Primary Productions

Biomass per unit time

Secondary Producers

Consumers

Air at the equator

Heats and Rises

Northeast Trade (coming in from the northeast)

Wind pattern in the Northern Hemisphere.

Southeast Trades (coming in from the southeast)

Wind pattern in the Southern Hemisphere

Temperate Westerlies

Wind patterns blowing in from the West between 30 to 60 degrees latitude

Polar Easterlies

Wind patterns blowing in from the East in the polar regions

O Horizon

Topmost layer. Fresh organic matter, roots.

A Horizon

Minerals, clay, silt, sand, roots (nutrient-rich)

B Horizon

Clay, humus, materials leeched from A horizon, some roots.

C Horizon

Bottom-most layer. Weathered plant material.

Factors influencing soil development

parent material, climate, topography/aspect, biotic inputs, time

0 degrees latitude generalization

wet. (doldrums and rainforests)

30 degrees latitude generalization

dry (horse latitudes, often deserts)

60 degrees latitude generalization

moist (often cold forests)

90 degrees latitude generalization

dry cold (polar deserts)

Rain Shadow Effect

Tendency for the leeward (east) side of mountains to be drier than the windward (west) side at given elevations

Desert precipitation generalization

< 30 cm (12 in)

Grasslands precipitation generalization

30 - 100 cm

Forests precipitation generalization

>65 cm

Tundra precipitation generalization

< 25 cm

Arctic/Antarctic Tundra

Occurs at very high/low latitudes

Alpine Tundra

Occurs at high elevation

Factors Affecting Microclimate

Elevation

Aspect (orientation of slopes)

Ground Color

Heat Capacity of Surface Material

Warm day temperature gradient

Warmest near the surface

Night temperature gradient

Coolest near surface

Wind affect on microclimate

Wind is slowest when its closer to the ground

Water affect on microclimate

higher specific heat than air

greater thermal stability

leads to “moderated” temps

Acclimation

A short-term and usually reversible adaptation made by an organism. Desert pops. can acclimate to changing temps better than temperate pops.

Ecotherms

Organisms that rely on external energy sources for heat (fish, amphibians, reptiles, etc.)

Endotherms

Rely on internal metabolic heat (birds, mammals).

Homeotherms

Maintain a consistent internal body temp.

Thermal Neutral Zone

temperature range over which the metabolic rate of homeotherms does not change. Greater in arctic vs. tropical

Hr

Solar radiation. Can be mitigated by pigment or orientation.

Hcd

Conduction

* heat moves from hot to cold
* greater difference in temp, quicker Hcd change

Hcv

Convection: Heat gained/lost from moving fluids (air)

Thicker boundary lair

less convection

Greater wind speed

decreases boundary layer thickness, increases Hcv

He

Evapotranspiration

* affected by pore/stomate closure

Hr

Radiated heat

* amount of sunlight received
* amount of sunlight absorbed

Transpiration

He loss from plants

Evaporation

He from animals

Dew point

temperature which you need to cool air to saturate it without changing water concentration.

As dew point decreases

Vapor pressure decreases

Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD)

Difference between VP at saturation and actual VP. Greater VPD, greater water loss

Relative humidity

Actual water content of air at that temperature

Vapor Pressure

Pressure exerted by vapor in the air

CAM

* Calvin AND C3
* Stomates open at night
* Highest WUE
* No photorespiration

How do scorpions conserve water?

Staying underground during the day

How do Cicadas be active in the heat

drink a lot of water from trees, high trasnpiration

Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR)

* visible light
* 400 - 700 nm

Calvin Cycle

CO2 joins with RuBP to form 2 PGA (3C Acid)

Makes sugars

C3 Photosynthesis

* most plants
* calvin cycle
* rubisco
* Lowest WUE
* Photorespiration

Rubisco

* C3 enzyme
* equal affinity for CO2 and O2

Photorespiration

* O2 fixation, competes with photosynthesis
* Favored in high temps
* C3

C4 Photosynthesis

* no photorespiration
* PEP combines with CO2
* Bundle sheath cells (mesophyll)
* Still has calvin cycle

C4 Enzyme

PEP Carboxylase

Bundle Sheath Cells

* mutated mesophyll cells
* where calvin cycle occurs in C4

Water Use Efficiency (WUE)

Carbon fixed per unit water transpired

Ecological Stoichiometry

Ratio of elements in organisms

Silica Defenses in Grasses

Wear down herbivore teeth

Ligands + Cellulose Defenses

Hard for herbivores to digest

Mimicry among noxious organisms

Mullerian Mimicry

Non-toxic organisms mimicking toxic ones

Batesian Mimicry

Shade plants photosynthesis response

saturate at low light levels

Sun plants photosynthetic response

higher light saturation needs