Ecology part 2 (community and population)

Relative abundance

how common a species is compared to another

species richness

number of different species

Keystone species

A species that plays a role in its community

Example of a keystone species

yellow stone wolves

What is another name for a photoautotroph

Producers

What are some types of algae and bacteria that rely on the energy stored in inorganic chemical compounds

Chemoautrophs

prime example of land photoautotrophs

plants

prime example of photoautotrophs in freshwater

algae

prime example of photoautotrophs in saltwater

plankton

definition of heterotrophs

can’t make your own food

Herbivore

Only eats plants

def of Carnivore

eat animals

def of Omnivore

plants + animals

Definition of scavengers

consume dead/ dying organisms

def of detrivors

physically break down (eat) decaying organic matter (earthworms, millipedes)

Def of decomposers

chemically break down organic matter li,ke bacteria and fungi

what is Competition

negative, negative because both are losing energy

Inter-specific competition

between DIFFERENT species competing for the same food

what is Intra-specific competition

competition with the SAME species

What is predation

positive, negative - when a predator eats prey

What are defensive adaptations

Ways prey adapt to survive against predators

What is cryptic coloration

camoflage

What is aposematic or warning coloration

bright color of poisonous or harmful species

What is batesian mimicry

Harmless species mimic color of harmful species

What is mullerian mimicry

2 bad-tasting species mimic each other meaning both are avoided

what is herbivory

plants use chemical toxins, spines, and thorns as defense

What is mutalism

positive, positive- a type of interspecific interaction where both species benefit

What is commensalism

positive, unaffected - a type of relationship in which one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped

What is parasitism

positive, negative - a relationship where the parasite benefits but the host is harmed (ex: ticks)

only two ways population increases

birth / immigration

only two ways population decreases

death / emigration

Primary succession

things that cause a whole population to be disrupted and takes the soil

Examples of things that are primary succession

Volcanoes, glaciers retreating / melting

secondary succession

Things that disrupt a population and leaves soil

Ex of secondary succession

forest fire

3 ways you can determine population density

count every individual, random sampling, mark - recapture method

what are the three types of population distribution patterns

Random, uniform, clumped distribution

Examples of random population distribution

plants and wind-spread things

Examples of uniform population distribution

territorial animals, birds/ penguins

Examples of clumped distribution (most common)

schooling fish, herding animals, flocking birds

which form of population distribution is the most common and why

Clumped distribution is the most common because animals stay together for protection

What are density-dependent factors

population size influences survival

What are density-independent factors

population size has no effect on survival

Examples of Density-dependent factors

competition, overcrowding, parasitism

Examples of density-independent factors

Natural disasters, sunlight, temperature, human activities

description of a exponential growth model

J shaped curve, density-independent factors control the model

description of a logistic growth model

Slows as the population approaches carrying capacity, density-dependent factors control it

What does GMO mean

Genetically modified organisms are altered genes for a specific purpose