B4.1 Habitats (SL)

30 vocabulary flashcards covering definitions and key terms related to habitats, limiting factors, coral reefs, biomes, and organism adaptations from the lecture notes.

Habitat

The physical (abiotic) environment in which a community, species, population or organism normally lives.

Population

A group of individuals belonging to the same species living in the same area.

Community

All the different populations that live together in a defined area.

Ecosystem

A functional system comprising a community and its abiotic environment (habitat + community).

Limiting Factor

An abiotic variable that restricts a population’s distribution, size or productivity (e.g., light, temperature, soil pH).

Edaphic Factors

Soil characteristics such as pH and mineral content that influence nutrient uptake by organisms.

Range of Tolerance

The span of an abiotic factor over which a species can survive, grow and reproduce.

Zone of Intolerance

Portion of a tolerance curve where an organism cannot survive because the abiotic factor is too extreme.

Transect

A straight line along an environmental gradient from which population data are collected to study species distribution.

Kite Graph

Graphical output from transect data showing species abundance along a gradient; the kite width represents abundance.

Zooxanthellae

Photosynthetic algae living symbiotically within coral polyps, supplying them with energy.

Coral Bleaching

Loss of zooxanthellae from coral polyps due to unfavorable abiotic conditions, leading to coral starvation and death.

Biome

A group of ecosystems sharing similar climate conditions and communities formed via convergent evolution.

Convergent Evolution

Independent evolution of similar traits in species facing similar environmental pressures.

Climograph

Diagram plotting average temperature (X-axis) against annual precipitation (Y-axis) to predict terrestrial biomes.

Hot Desert Biome

Extremely hot, very low rainfall; productivity and biodiversity both very low.

Grassland (Savannah) Biome

Moderate temperatures, fluctuating rainfall; low productivity and biodiversity.

Temperate Forest Biome

Seasonal temperatures, high rainfall; high but seasonal productivity and biodiversity.

Tropical Rainforest Biome

Warm temperatures, very high rainfall; high productivity and very high biodiversity.

Taiga (Boreal Forest) Biome

Cold temperatures, low (snow) precipitation; low productivity and biodiversity.

Tundra Biome

Very low temperatures, low (snow) precipitation; very low productivity and biodiversity.

Xerophyte

Plant adapted to arid environments by reducing water loss (e.g., reduced leaves, thick waxy cuticle).

Marram Grass Adaptations

Rhizomes, extensive roots, curled leaves and sunken stomata enabling survival on nutrient-poor sand dunes.

Mangrove Adaptations

Aerial roots for oxygen, salt sequestration/exclusion, salt-rich leaf abscission and deep tap roots for life in swamps.

Loop of Henle (Desert Animals)

Elongated nephron loop enhancing water reabsorption to conserve water in arid environments (e.g., kangaroo rat).

Brachiation

Form of arboreal locomotion using the arms to swing between branches; common in rainforest primates like spider monkeys.

Halophyte

Plant adapted to saline conditions by tolerating or excluding excess salt (e.g., mangroves).

Rhizome

Horizontal underground stem that anchors plants like marram grass and aids dune stabilization.

FACE Experiments

Free-Air CO2 Enrichment studies examining the impact of elevated atmospheric CO2 on natural habitats.