Environmental Science Lecture Notes

Flashcards of vocabulary words and definitions from the lecture notes.

Ecosystem

A community of living (biotic) organisms interacting with the non-living (abiotic) components of their environment as a system through various nutrients and energy cycles.

Organism

A living thing that can function on its own.

Species

Organisms that resemble each other; are similar in genetic makeup, chemistry, and behavior; and are able to interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Interspecific

Means between different species.

Population

Organisms of the same species that interact with each other and occupy a specific area.

Community

Population of different species.

Ecological Niche

A particular area within a habitat occupied by an organism, as well as the function of that organism within its ecological community.

Opportunistic predators

kill and eat almost anything.

Symbiosis

A term used to describe any type of %%close and long-term biological interaction between two different biological organisms of the same or different species%%.

Amensalism

The interaction between two species whereby %%one species suffers and the other species is not affected%%

Commensalism

The interaction between two species whereby %%one organism benefits and the other species is not affected%%.

Intraspecific

Competition between members of the same species.

Interspecific

Competition between members of different species.

Mutualism

The interaction between %%two species whereby both species benefit%%.

Parasitism

The interaction between %%two species whereby one species is benefited, and the other species is harmed%%.

Saprottrophism

Saprotrophs obtain their nutrients from %%dead or decaying plants or animals through the absorption%% of soluble organic compounds.

Law of Tolerance

It states that the existence, abundance, and distribution of species depend on the tolerance level of each species to both physical and chemical factors.

Limiting Factor

Any abiotic factor that limits or prevents the growth of a population.

Morphological partitioning

It occurs when two species share the %%same resource but have evolved slightly different structures to utilize the same resource%%.

Spatial partitioning

It occurs when competing species use the %%same resource by occupying different areas or habitats within the range of occurrence of the resource%%.

Temporal partitioning

It occurs when two species %%eliminate direct competition by utilizing the same resource at different times%%

Biomes

These are major regional or global biotic communities characterized by dominant forms of plant life and the prevailing climates

Deserts

Defined in terms of the amount of rainfall they receive, not temperature.

Succulents

Plants that have fleshy leaves or stems that store water.

Aestivation

A summer hibernation.

Forests

Ecozones like boreal forests near the poles and tropical forests near the equator are %%formed by forests at different latitudes and elevations%%.

Overstory

The uppermost trees in a forest.

Understory

Layer made up of young trees, short species of trees, shrubs, and soft-stemmed plants.

Taiga

Largest terrestrial biome; found in northern Eurasia, North America, Scandinavia, and two-thirds of Siberia.

Southern Taiga

Also known as boreal forest, consists primarily of cold-tolerant evergreen conifers with needle-like leaves, such as pines, spruces, and larches.

Savannas

Grasslands with scattered individual trees and cover almost half the surface of Africa and large areas of Australia, South America, and India.

Temperate Grasslands

Here grasses are the dominant vegetation, while trees and large shrubs are absent.

Tundra

It has extremely low temperatures, large repetitive population changes, limited soil nutrients, little precipitation, low biotic diversity, poor drainage, short growing and reproductive seasons, and simple vegetation structure.

Arctic tundra

It circles the North Pole and extends south to the taiga, is cold, dry, and desert-like.

Permafrost

A layer of permanently frozen subsoil.

Alpine tundra

It is located on mountains throughout the world at high altitudes where trees cannot grow.

Antarctic

Antarctica has the %%coldest climate on Earth%%.

Littoral Zone

Also known as the intertidal zone, it is the part of the ocean that is closest to the shore.

Neretic Zone

Also known as the sublittoral zone, this zone extends to the edge of the continental shelf.

Photic Zone

The uppermost layer of water in a lake or ocean that is exposed to sunlight down to the depth where 1% of surface sunlight is available. also the layer just above the depth where the rate of carbon dioxide uptake by plants is equal to the rate of carbon dioxide production by animals.

Polyps

Small, sac-like animals with a set of tentacles surrounding a central mouth opening and an exoskeleton made of calcium carbonate at the base.

Corals

Most corals obtain the majority of their energy and nutrients from %%photosynthetic unicellular%% dinoflagellates, commonly known as zooxanthellae, that live within their tissues.

Fringing reefs

They grow near the coastline around islands and continents and are separated from the shore by narrow, shallow lagoons. They are the most common type of reef.

Barrier reefs

These are also parallel to the coastline but are separated by deeper, wider lagoons. At their shallowest point, they can reach the waterʼs surface, forming a “barrier” to navigation.

Atolls

These are rings of coral that create protected lagoons and are usually located in the middle of the sea. They usually form when islands, often the tops of underwater volcanoes, surrounded by fringing reefs, sink into the sea, or the sea level rises around them.

Lakes

These are large natural bodies of standing freshwater formed when precipitation, runoff, or groundwater seepage fills depressions in Earthʼs surface.

Lakes

The depth to which light can reach in lakes depends on %%turbidity or the amount and type of suspended particles in the water%%.

Benthic Zone

The bottom of lake, organisms can tolerate cool temperatures and low oxygen levels.

Limnetic Zone

A well-lit, open surface water, farther from shore, extends to a depth penetrated by light, occupied by phytoplankton, zooplankton, and higher animals; produces food and oxygen that supports most of a lakeʼs consumers

Littoral Zone

It is shallow, close to shore, extends to depth penetrated by light; rooted and floating plants flourish

Profundal Zone

It is deep, no-light regions, too dark for photosynthesis; low oxygen levels; inhabited by fish adapted to cool, dark waters

Mesotrophic (Middle-Aged Lake)

Moderate nutrient content and moderate amounts of phytoplankton; reasonably productive.

Eutrophic (Old Lake)

Shallow, warm, large surface area relative to depth; Nutrient-rich, phytoplankton more plentiful and productive; Waters often murky; High organic matter content in benthos, which leads to high decomposition rates and potentially low oxygen.

Lake Stratification

Density of water increases as temperature decreases until it reaches its maximum density

Lake Stratification

Deep water is %%insulated from the sun and stays cool and denser%%

Wetlands

Areas that are covered with water at some point in the year and that support aquatic plants.

Primary Productivity

Create food through the process of photosynthesis

Primary Productivity

Form other organic compounds

Ecosystem Productivity

3% of Earth's sunlight for land plants and 1% for aquatic plants

Open oceans

highest net primary productivity

Characteristics of Generalists

Generalists possess a broad range of knowledge and skills across multiple fields, adapt quickly to new situations, excel in problem-solving, communicate effectively with diverse groups, and often work well in collaborative environments.

Characteristics of Specialists

Specialists have in-depth knowledge and expertise in a specific area, focus on detailed aspects of their field, are considered authorities within their niche, often contribute to advanced innovations, and may conduct research that leads to new discoveries.

Nitrogen Cycle

The nitrogen cycle refers to the process by which nitrogen is converted between its various chemical forms, involving processes such as nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification, and ammonification. It is crucial for maintaining ecosystem balance.

Oxygen Cycle

The oxygen cycle describes the movement of oxygen within and between its three main reservoirs: the atmosphere, the biosphere, and the lithosphere. It is vital for respiration in living organisms and is produced through photosynthesis.

Carbon Cycle

The carbon cycle is the process through which carbon is exchanged between the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms. It is essential for regulating Earth's climate and supporting life through photosynthesis and respiration.

Water Cycle

The water cycle is the continuous movement of water between the Earth's surface and the atmosphere, consisting of stages such as evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and infiltration.