Final Exam "Do you have what it takes to be a ecologist?"

Viscosity

is the thickness of a fluid that causes objects to encounter resistance as they move through it.

Ions

are atoms or molecules with an electric charge.

Saturation

is the upper limit of solubility in water for a given mineral.

Acidity

is the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution.

pH

is a measure of its acidity and is defined as the negative logarithm of hydrogen ion concentration.

Acid Deposition

the deposition of acids from the atmosphere as rain, snow, or other forms of precipitation. It is a result of emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, which are converted to sulfuric acid and nitric acid in the atmosphere and transported downwind.

Solute

A solute is a substance that is dissolved in a solution, typically a liquid, such as water.

Semipermeable membrane

is a membrane that allows certain molecules and ions to pass through it, while blocking the passage of other molecules and ions.

Passive transport

is the process by which molecules move through a membrane without the need for energy.

Active transport

is the process by which molecules move against a concentration gradient, from an area of lower concentration to an area of higher concentration, with the help of energy.

Osmosis

is the process by which molecules move across a semi-permeable membrane in order to equalize the concentrations of the solution on either side.

Osmotic potential

is the measure of the ability of a solution to cause water to move across a semi-permeable membrane.

Osmoregulation

is the process by which an organism maintains the concentration of its internal fluids, such as blood and intracellular fluids, within a normal range.

Hyperosmotic

solutions are solutions that have a higher solute concentration than the solution they are being compared with.

Hyposmotic

solutions are solutions that have a lower solute concentration than the solution they are being compared with.

Sample standard deviation

is a measure of the variation of a sample of data from the mean.

Standard error of the mean

is a measure of the variability of the mean of a sample of data from the true mean of the population.

Bicarbonate ion (HCO3 − )

A negatively charged ion composed of one hydrogen atom, one carbon atom, and three oxygen atoms.

Carbonate ion (CO3 2−)

A negatively charged ion composed of one carbon atom and three oxygen atoms.

Boundary layer

A thin layer of air that is in contact with the surface of the Earth and that affects the exchange of energy and momentum between the atmosphere and surface.

Countercurrent circulation

A type of circulation where two fluids with different properties flow in opposite directions to each other.

Concurrent circulation

A type of circulation where two fluids with different properties flow in the same direction. Anaerobic

Q10

is a measure of its rate of change in response to a 10°C increase in temperature.

Thermophilic

organisms are organisms that thrive in high temperatures.

Thermal pollution

is the introduction of heat into a body of water, resulting in an increase in the water temperature that can adversely affect aquatic life.

Glycerol

is a type of alcohol that is used in many different biological processes. It is a key component in the formation of lipids and is also used in the formation of glycoproteins.

Glycoproteins

are proteins that contain carbohydrates (sugars). They are important components of cell membranes and are involved in many cellular processes.

Supercooling

is the process by which a liquid can remain liquid at temperatures below its freezing point.

Optimum

is the point at which a particular environmental factor is most favorable for an organism or process.

Thermal Optimum

is the point at which the temperature is most favorable for an organism or process. Isozymes

Coral Bleaching

is a phenomenon in which corals lose their color due to environmental stress. This can be caused by increased temperatures, pollution, and other factors.

Water Potential

The potential energy generated by the attractive forces between water molecules and the environment, including gravity, pressure, osmotic potential, and matric potential.

Matric Potential

The potential energy generated by the attractive forces between water molecules and soil particles.

Field Capacity

The maximum amount of water that soil can hold against the force of gravity.

Wilting Point

The lowest water potential at which most plants can obtain water from the soil.

Salinization

The process of increasing the salt content of soil and ground water.

Cohesion

The strong attractive forces between molecules of the same type, such as water molecules.

Root Pressure

The pressure generated by osmotic potential in the roots of a plant that draws in water from the soil and forces it into the xylem elements.

Transpiration

The process of water loss from a plant leaf to the atmosphere.

Cohesion–Tension Theory

The mechanism of water movement from roots to leaves due to water cohesion and water tension.

Stomata

Specialized cells found on the surface of a leaf that regulate the exchange of gases between the leaf and the atmosphere.

Electromagnetic radiation

Electromagnetic radiation is a type of energy that is made up of electric and magnetic fields and travels in waves.

Visible light

Visible light is a type of electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye.

Photosynthetically active region

The photosynthetically active region is the range of wavelengths of light that can be used for photosynthesis.

Chloroplasts

Chloroplasts are organelles found in photosynthetic organisms that contain the pigment chlorophyll and are responsible for photosynthesis.

RuBP carboxylase-oxidase

RuBP carboxylase-oxidase is an enzyme found in plants that catalyzes the first step of the Calvin cycle, a series of reactions that converts carbon dioxide into a sugar molecule.

C3 photosynthesis

C3 photosynthesis is a process by which carbon dioxide is used to produce sugar molecules.

Photorespiration

Photorespiration is a process that occurs in some plants when the availability of oxygen is greater than the availability of carbon dioxide.

C4 photosynthesis

C4 photosynthesis is a specialized form of photosynthesis that allows plants to use carbon dioxide more efficiently in high-temperature and high-light environments.

Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM)

Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) is a type of photosynthesis found in some plants that allows them to conserve water and use carbon dioxide more efficiently in hot or dry conditions.

Homeostasis

Homeostasis is the process of maintaining a stable internal environment in response to changing external conditions.

Negative Feedback

Negative feedback is a type of self-regulating system in which the body's response to a stimulus works to reduce the effect of the stimulus.

Independent Variable

An independent variable is an input or factor that is used to explain the behavior of a system.

Dependent Variable

A dependent variable is a variable that is affected by changes in the independent variable.

Continuous Variable

A continuous variable is a type of variable that can take on any value within a given range.

Categorical Variable

A categorical variable is a type of variable that takes on discrete values that can be grouped into categories.

Radiation

The process of energy being emitted in the form of electromagnetic waves.

Conduction

The transfer of heat energy between two objects that are in direct contact.

Convection

The transfer of heat energy through the movement of a liquid or gas.

Evaporation

The process of liquid turning into a gas.

Thermal inertia

The ability of a material to resist changes in its temperature.

Thermoregulation

The ability of an organism to regulate its body temperature.

Homeotherm

An organism that is able to maintain a constant body temperature.

Poikilotherm

An organism whose body temperature changes with its environment.

Ectotherm

An organism whose body temperature depends on the temperature of its environment.

Endotherm

An organism that generates its own heat.

Blood shunting

The process of redirecting blood from one area of the body to another.

Temporal environmental variation

The description of how environmental conditions change over time.

Weather

The state of the atmosphere at a particular time and place, with respect to temperature, humidity, cloudiness, and other variables.

Climate

The typical atmospheric conditions that occur throughout the year, measured over many years.

Phenotypic trade-off

A situation in which a given phenotype experiences higher fitness in one environment, whereas other phenotypes experience higher fitness in other environments.

Phenotypic plasticity

The ability of a single genotype to produce multiple phenotypes.

Acclimation

An environmentally induced change in an individual's physiology.

Hermaphrodite

A hermaphrodite is an organism that has both male and female reproductive organs.

Inbreeding Depression

Inbreeding depression is a decrease in fitness that can occur when closely related individuals mate and produce offspring with low genetic diversity.

Microhabitat

is a small, specific area within a larger environment that contains distinct resources and conditions for a particular species or group of organisms. It is the smallest scale of environmental organization and is often a very localized, discrete area with its own set of environmental factors, including temperature, humidity, soil type, and available resources.

Migration

Migration is the movement of an organism from one area to another.

Dormancy

Dormancy is a state of inactivity or suspended animation in an organism in response to environmental cues.

Diapause

Diapause is a period of suspended development in organisms, usually in response to an environmental cue.

Hibernation

Hibernation is a state of inactivity in which an animal slows its metabolism and heart rate to conserve energy in response to an environmental cue.

Torpor

Torpor is a state of inactivity in which an animal reduces its body temperature and slows its metabolism in order to conserve energy.

Correlation

Correlation is a statistical measure of how two variables are related to one another.

Aestivation

Aestivation is a state of inactivity in which an animal enters a dormant state in order to survive extreme temperatures and drought.

Optimal foraging theory

Optimal foraging theory is a theory that explains how animals make decisions when choosing which prey to consume and how long they should spend searching for food. This theory is based on the idea that animals will choose prey that provides the most energy and nutrition, while expending as little energy as possible in the process.

Central place foraging

Central place foraging is an animal behavior in which an animal collects resources from its environment and returns to a central location to consume them. The central location may be a nest, den, or other area where the animal feels safe to eat. Central place foraging allows an animal to maximize its energy intake by minimizing its travel distance.

Risk-sensitive foraging

Risk-sensitive foraging is a behavior in which an animal takes into account the risks associated with a particular food source when choosing what to eat. This means that they will avoid food items that pose a greater risk of harm, such as those that are toxic or that might attract predators.

Handling time

Handling time is the amount of time an animal spends processing a food item before it can be consumed. This includes activities such as gathering, killing, and preparing the food for consumption. It is an important factor in an animal's foraging behavior, as it affects the amount of energy that can be gained from a particular food source.

Atmosphere

The atmosphere is the layer of gases and particles that surround the Earth and make up its environment.

Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect is a process in which certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat and cause the planet to become warmer.

Albedo

The fraction of solar energy reflected by an object.

Solar Equator

The latitude receiving the most direct rays of the Sun.

Regression

A statistical tool used to determine how one variable changes in relation to another.

Atmospheric Convection Currents

Air movements between the surface of the Earth and the atmosphere.

Saturation Point

The maximum amount of water vapor that can be held in a given volume of air at a given temperature and pressure.

Latent Heat Release

The process by which water vapor is converted back to liquid, releasing energy in the form of heat.

Adiabatic Cooling

The cooling effect of reduced pressure on air as it rises higher in the atmosphere and expands.

Adiabatic Heating

The heating effect of increased pressure on air as it sinks toward the surface of Earth and decreases in volume.

Hadley Cells

Two circulation cells of air between the equator and 30° N and 30° S latitudes.

Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)

The area where the two Hadley cells converge and cause large amounts of precipitation.

Polar Cells

Circulation cells of air between the polar regions and the middle latitudes.