Ecology Exam I Lecture Recap

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering fundamental concepts in ecology, biomes, aquatic zones, evolutionary mechanisms, aquatic adaptations, and thermal regulation based on lecture recap notes.

Ecology

The scientific study of interactions and relationships among organisms and their environment.

Ecological Hierarchy

The levels of organization in ecology, consisting of individual, population, community, ecosystem, landscape, and biosphere.

Abiotic

Nonliving components of an ecosystem.

Biotic

Living components of an ecosystem.

Greenhouse Effect

The reflection and absorption of solar energy by the atmosphere, clouds, and Earth's surface, resulting in temperature changes.

Atmospheric Currents

Circulation patterns driven by solar heating where warm moist air rises, cools, and condenses into precipitation, while cool dry air sinks and picks up moisture.

Coridis Effect

An apparent curving of the path of objects, wind, and water traveling long distances over the Earth's surface, caused by the planet's rotation.

Climate

Weather patterns measured over a long period of time.

Rainshadow

A dry area formed on the leeward side of a mountain when warm moist air ascends the windward side, cools, and loses its moisture as rain or snow before crossing the peak.

Windward Side

The side of a mountain that faces incoming warm moist air and receives high precipitation.

Leeward Side

The dry side of a mountain opposite to the windward side, located within a rainshadow.

Biomes

Geographical regions that contain communities composed of organisms with similar adaptations and climates.

Convergant Evolution

The independent development of similar traits or features in unrelated or distantly related species facing similar environmental pressures.

Littoral Zone

Shallow, highly productive water zone near the shore.

Limnetic Zone

Open water zone extending as deep as sunlight penetrates.

Profundal Zone

Deep water zone located below the depth of light penetration.

Benthic Zone

The bottom substrate layer of an aquatic ecosystem.

Epilimnion

The warm upper layer of water in a thermally stratified lake or aquatic body.

Hypolimnion

The cold lower layer of water in a thermally stratified lake or aquatic body.

Allochthonous

Energy or organic matter that originates from outside an ecosystem.

Autochthonous

Energy or organic matter that originates from within an ecosystem.

Tannia

A naturally occurring plant often found in bogs that aids in defense.

Swamp

A wetland dominated by trees.

Marsh

A wetland that lacks trees.

Neritic Zone

Coastal ocean zone where light penetrates to the ocean floor, supporting abundant marine life, coral reefs, and kelp forests.

Pelagic Zone

The open ocean zone extending beyond the neritic zone.

Evolution

A change in allele frequency in a population over time, or descent with modification.

Artificial Selection

A human-directed process of selective breeding to pass down specific desired traits or genes in plants or animals.

Natural Selection

Process in which organisms possessing traits best suited to their environment survive and reproduce at higher rates.

Stabilizing Selection

Mode of natural selection in which intermediate or average trait values are favored over extremes.

Directional Selection

Mode of natural selection where one extreme trait is consistently favored over others in a given environment.

Disruptive Selection

Mode of natural selection in which extreme traits are favored over intermediate values.

Genetic Bottleneck

A significant reduction in genetic variation due to a sudden drop in population size.

Founder Effect

Loss of genetic variation that occurs when a small subgroup of individuals establishes a new population separated from the main population.

Sexual Selection

Form of natural selection where individuals develop specific physical traits to better attract or compete for mates.

Genetic Mutation

A completely random change in the genetic code or allele structure of an organism.

Allopatric Speciation

The formation of new species due to geographical separation by a physical barrier.

Sympatric Speciation

The formation of new species within the same geographical location without a physical barrier.

Genetic Drift

Random fluctuations in allele frequencies that have a significantly larger impact in small populations.

Adaptation

An inherited characteristic or change that improves an organism's fitness and ability to survive in its environment.

Osmosis

Diffusion of water molecules across a membrane from a region of low solute concentration to high solute concentration.

Isotonic

Condition where a solution has the same concentration of dissolved solutes as another solution.

Counter Current Exchange

An arrangement where two fluids flow in opposite directions past each other to maximize diffusion of substances such as oxygen across membranes.

Thermal Regulation

The mechanisms by which an organism regulates heat exchange with its environment to maintain core body temperature.

Endotherm

An organism that relies primarily on internal physiological mechanisms to generate body heat.

Ectotherm

An organism that relies on external environmental sources to regulate its body temperature.

Homeotherm

An organism that maintains a constant and stable internal body temperature.

Poikilotherm

An organism whose internal body temperature varies significantly in response to its environment.