Ecology and Basic Chemistry: Competition, Resource Partitioning, and Atomic Structure

Competition

The struggle between organisms to survive in a habitat with limited resources

Resource Partitioning

Different species use the same resources in different ways. ways to reduce competition

Temporal Partitioning

Using resources at different times

Spatial Partitioning

Using different areas of shared habitat

Morphological Partitioning

Using resources based on different body features

Interspecific Comp.

Between 2 different species

Intraspecific Comp.

Between 2 members of the same species

Dependent variable

measurable factor/data collected

Independent variable

Manipulated factor in an experiment.

pH Scale

scale with values from 0 to 14, used to measure the concentration of H+ ions in a solution; a pH of 0 to 7 is acidic, a pH of 7 is neutral, and a pH of 7 to 14 is basic

What do pH Numbers increase by

Increases by 10x per number

Energy

Capacity to do work and/or to transfer heat

Renewable E-Types

Wind, Water, Sun

Non-renewable E-Types

Natural gas, oil, coal, nuclear

First Law of Thermodynamics

-The Total E in the universe is constant

-E can neither be created nor destroyed

Second Law of Thermodynamics

-E conversion leads to an increase in disorder

-E conversions are never fully efficient

-Goes from more useful to less useful

System

a set of components that interact in a regular way

Inputs

from envio (E, matter)

Flows

the pathways by which those resources move from one state variable to another

Stores

storage areas

Outputs

to envio (heat, waste)

Feedback loops

any process that increases or decreases a change to a system

Positive feedback loops

System changes further in the same direction

Ex. Pregnancy/contractions

Negative/corrective feedback loop

System Change in the opposite direction

Ex. Thermostat

High-quality matter

Concentrated

Low-quality Matter

diluted

Which type of matter is more useful

High-quality

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons

Ions

Have different electrons

Atomic number equivalent

The atomic number is equal to the number of protons and electrons

Neutrons

-no charge

-Mass#-Protons/Electrons

Protons

Positively charged particles

Electrons

Negatively charged particles