Environmental Science Exam 2

Salas Class

Asian Carp Example

Asian carp are invasive fish that were brought to the U.S. in the 1960s to clean fish farms, but they escaped into rivers, spread quickly, and now threaten to disrupt ecosystems like the Great Lakes.

Species Interactions

Mutualism , Predation/Parasitism / Herbivory , Competition

Competition

organisms that seek the same resources have a relationships

Intra vs inter species

Intra - takes place between members of the same species

Inter - takes between members of different species

Competitive exclusion

if one species is a stronger competition , it may excluded other species from than resources

Species coexistence

if no single competitor excludes others, species live side by side.

Resource partitioning

over many generations natural selection may favor , where individuals use shared resources in different ways.

Character Displacement

where competing species diverge and develop different characteristics

Predation

is the process by which individuals of one species (predators) capture , kill and consume individuals of another (prey). 

Parasitism

is a relationship where one organism depends on the other for nourishment.

Herbivory

animals feed on the tissues of plants

Mutualism

is a relationship where two or more species benefit each other

Ecological Communities

community 

trophic levels

Community

is an assemblage of populations of organisms living in the same area at the same time

Trophic level

Species in a community
are given a rank within
the feeding hierarchy

producers, primary , secondary , tertiary , detritivores , decomposers

Producers

use photosynthesis or chemosynthesis to make their own sugars.

Primary Consumers

consume producers

Secondary Consumers

prey on primary consumers

Tertiary Consumers

prey on secondary consumers

Detritivores

scavenger waste and dead bodies

Decomposers

break down non-living matter into smaller molecules that cycle back into soil

Food chain vs Food web

food chain - The flow of energy and feeding relationships from lower to
higher trophic levels is depicted 

Food webs -  incorporate all of the interlinking food chains
within an entire community, showing the map of energy
flow.

Keystone species

A species that has an impact far greater than its
abundance . 

‘‘ Ecosystem Engineers’’

Keystone species - examples

beavers , otters and wolves 

Keystone species - Trophic cascade

If top predators are
lost, primary
consumers will
overconsume
producers and alter
the entire ecosystem

Ecological Disturbance

is any event that has rapid and drastic effects on the community and ecosystem

Resistance

A community that resists change and remains stable

Resilience

A community that is changed by a disturbance but returns
to its original state

Succession

Severe disturbances may eliminate all or most of the species in a community, initiating a series of changes

Pioneer Species

Succession begins with the colonization

such as grasses and forbs, spread
over long distances easily and are adapted for growing
quickly

Climax Community

pioneers are overtaken by longer-living

such as hardwood trees 

Primary Succession

occurs when a disturbance removes all plants or soil life

• lichens secrete acids that break down rock , beginning the process of soil formation

Secondary Succession

begins with a disturbance that alters the community
but leaves the soil life intact.
– Farming, fires, storms, and landslides are examples.

Introduced species

are non-native arrivals in a community brought by people

Invasive Species

Most fail to establish populations, but the ones that thrive

Eradication vs Control vs Prevention

Eradication - the total elimination of a population, is very difficult and expensive

Ecological restoration

Earth’s Biomes

Biome

Climate determines biomes

Temperature -

Precipitation -

Climate diagrams / Climatographs -

Temperature deciduous forest

Temperate grassland

Temperature rainforest

tropical rainforest

tropical dry forest

savanna

desert

tundra

boreal forest

chaparral

Chesapeake Bay watershed example 

Environmental Systems

Positive and Negative feedback loop 

Positive Feedback

Negative Feedback 

Describe the process of eutrophication

impacts of run- off

significance of high concentration of nutrients (N&P)

Resulting hypoxia 

describe how energy and matter flow through an ecosystem

Production

primary

gross

net production 

why do difference ecosystems have different levels of productivity 

What does it mean that nitrogen and phosphorus are limiting nutrients

relating to dead zones

biogeochemical cycling

biogeochemical cycling - sources

biogeochemical cycling - sinks

the water cycle

Evaporation

Transpiration

precipitations

the carbon cycle

the carbon cycle - explain how carbon cycle through the environment

the carbon cycle - why is this cycle significant for climate change 

nitrogen cycle

nitrogen cycle - explain how nitrogen cycle through the environment

nitrogen cycle - the significance of nitrogen fixation

nitrogen cycle - significance nitrogen fixing bacteria

haber - bosch process 

haber - bosch process  - implications of this process on population