gen eco : chap 2

ecosystem

• a population of living organisms that interact with one another in a certain habitat

• an assortment of interactions between living & non-living entities.

decomposers

organisms that breakdown dead plants, animals, wastes.

biotic

2 component/factor of ecosystem

• living components; plants, animals, microorganisms

producers

roles of biotic factor

• makes their own food

consumers

roles of biotic factor

• eat other organisms for energy

decomposers

roles of biotic factor

• breakdown dead organisms and recycle nutrients; detritivores

herbivores

classification of animals based on food habits

• only eat plants

carnivores

classification of animals based on food habits

• only eat animals

omnivores

classification of animals based on food habits

• eat both plants and animals

insectivores

classification of animals based on food habits

• eats insects, small invertebrates

frugivores

classification of animals based on food habits

• only eat fruits

granivores

classification of animals based on food habits

• eats seeds and grains

nectarivores

classification of animals based on food habits

• only eats nectar

piscivores

classification of animals based on food habits

• only eat fish

detritivores

classification of animals based on food habits

• only eat dead organic matters

abiotic

2 component/factor of ecosystem

• non-living components

physical factors in abiotic

temperature, light, water, humidity, wind, pressure

chemical factors

pH, oxygen, CO2, minerals, nutrients, salinity

diurnal

classification of animals based on time of activity

• day; humans, chicken, butterflies

nocturnal

classification of animals based on time of activity

• night; bats, owls, rats

crepuscular

classification of animals based on time of activity

• dawn/dusk; rabbits, deer, some insects

short-day plants

types of plants based on photoperiodism

• flower when the night is longer; chrysanthemum

long-day plants

classification of animals based on time of activity

• flower when the night is shorter; spinach, wheat

day-neutral

classification of animals based on time of activity

• not controlled by day length; tomato, sunflower

xerophytes

types of plant adaptations

• dry environments

hydrophytes

types of plant adaptations

• aquatic environments

halophytes

types of plant adaptations

• salty

mesophytes

types of plant adaptations

• moderate water

structural or morphological adaptations

3 categories of plant adaptations

• physical features of the plant; cactus spine, prop roots

physiological adaptations

3 categories of plant adaptations

• internal functions; cacti opening stomata. plants closing stomata

behavioral / phenological adaptations

3 categories of plant adaptations

• flowering at particular times of the year

ectothermic

• “cold-blooded”

• body heat comes from outside (environment)

• ex: reptiles, fish, amphibians

endothermic

• “warm blooded”

• body makes its own heat through metabolism

• ex: humans, birds, mammals

organic

soil horizon

• O horizon

• topmost layer

• organic material

• dead leaves, twigs, dead animals/plants

• animal wastes

• decomposing organic matter

topsoil

soil horizon

• A horizon

• topmost layer of mineral soil

• most biological activity occurs

• mineral particles

• organic matter

• humus

• plant roots

• many soil organisms

• dark-colored

• important layer for plant growth

subsoil

soil horizon

• B horizon

• abundant in clay & minerals

• iron & aluminum

• less organic matter

substratum

soil horizon

• C horizon

• consists mainly of weathered parent material

• not biologically active

• large pieces of weathered rock

• material from the upper soil horizons developed

• mineral, sediments

bedrock

soil horizon

• R horizon

• solid rock beneath soil profile

• hard, consolidated bedrock

• weathering contribute to form of parent material

• limestone, granite, sandstone

surface fire

types of forest fire

• burns on/near the ground surface “forest floor”

• dry leaves, grass, pine needles, small branches

ground fire

types of forest fire

• burns below the forest floor, burns slowly & w/o flames

• peat, decomposing leaves, humus, roots, organic matter

crown fire

types of forest fire

• upper portion of trees “treetops”

• branches, twigs, leaves

justus von liebig

• german scientist

• made the observation that plants require essential components

victor shelford

• made the “shelford’s law of tolerance”

• the wider the tolerance = most likely to survive