Population Ecology, Ecosystems and Communities, & Biomes

Water cycle

continuous movement of water above, on, and below the Earth’s surface, driven by solar energy and gravity

Nitrogen cycle

nitrogen moves between living organisms and the environment, constantly converting between various chemical forms.

Carbon cycle

continuous, biogeochemical process where carbon atoms circulate between the atmosphere, ocean, soil, rocks, and living organisms

biological magnification

an increase in concentration of toxins in tissues of organisms as they move up the food chain

What is a niche?

specific functional role, position, and set of environmental conditions a species requires to survive, grow, and reproduce within an ecosystem

What are some adaptations to predation?

fleeing or running, living in groups (herding/flocking), camouflage, warning coloration, mimicry, chemical defenses, mechanical defenses like shell of turtles

Commensalism

(+/0), benefits one species and does not affect the other

Mutualism

(+/+), benefits both species

Predation

(+/-), consumption of one species by another

Parasitic

(+/ -), lives on or in a host and usually do not kill it

Tundra

treeless biome in the north, permafrost, low species diversity, harsh, very cold environment, winter-like, low precipitation

Boreal Forests

Coniferous forests in the northern hemisphere, low precipitation, more precip. in the summer, moderately harsh, below 20 degrees celsius

Temperature Evergreen Forest

coniferous biome, high species richness, heavily logged, like the movie twilight, rainy, cool temperature year round

Temperature Deciduous Forest

seasonality, distinct, most of the biome has been regenerated after farming and timber harvest

carrying capacity

k, the number of individuals the environment can support of that particular species

Grassland

90% lost to farmland, soil has thick, organic material, rich organic horizon

Chaparral

frequent fires, temperature is the same year round, precipitation is normal with about 14 inches

Deserts

dry, harsh environment, warm temperatures all year round, nocturnal animals, low biodiversity, less precipitation; 10 inches or less, increase in biomes because of humans

Tropical Savanna

warm to hot year round, dry, precipitation in wet season, high bio diversity, grasses with few trees

Tropical Rainforest

very productive biome, most species rich, ancient, weathered, nutrient-poor soil; tied up in vegetation, not soil

Tropical Seasonal Forest

decent precipitation, warm year round, high bio diversity, unlike tropical rainforest, occurs along equator

Individuals

individual organisms

Populations

groups of individual organisms that interbreed with each other

Communities

Populations of different species that interact with each other within a locale

Ecosystems

All living organisms, as well as non-living elements, that interact in a particular area

what is the order of the energy flow within an ecosystem?

primary producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers

Ecology

the study of interactions between organisms and their environments

Interspecific competition

(-/-), hurts both species

Logistic growth

describes population growth that is gradually reduced as the population nears the environment’s carrying capacity

Exponential growth

occurs when each individual produces more than the single offspring necessary to replace itself

density dependent limiting factors

intensifies as the population increases in size. Including disease, loss of food and water, habitat/shelter, predation

density independent limiting factors

unrelated to population size. Including natural disasters like flood, fire

Biome

a large, relatively distinct terrestrial region with a similar climate soil, plants, and animals, regardless of where it occurs in the world

type I survivorship curve

high survivorship until old age, then rapidly decreasing survivorship

type II survivorship curve

survivorship decreases at a steady, regular pace

type III survivorship curve

high mortality early in life, but those that survive early years live long lives

Big-bang reproduction

reaches sexual maturity at 1-year, mates intensely over a 3-week period, males die shortly after mating period, females usually die after weaning their first litter

Slow, gradual reproductive investment

reaches sexual maturity at 1-year, produces about 1 offspring per year

Fast, intensive reproductive investment

reaches sexual maturity at 1-month, produces litters of 6 to 10 offspring every month

Populations increase due to…

births, immigration (individuals coming into population)

Populations decrease due to..

death, emigration (individuals leave the population)