APES Unit 2 Cumulative Review

Biodiversity

The diversity of life in an area.

Genetic Diversity

The difference in genes of a population (same species).

Species Diversity

The number of different species in an ecosystem and the balance/evenness of the population sizes of all species in the ecosystem.

Habitat Diversity

The number of different habitats available in an area.

Species Richness

The total number of different species found in an ecosystem; High species richness indicates good ecosystem health.

Species Evenness

How all of the individual organisms in an ecosystem are balanced between species; More species evenness = More biodiversity = Good health.

Population Bottleneck

An environmental disturbance that drastically reduces population size and kills organisms regardless of their genome; Reduces genetic diversity.

Inbreeding

When organisms mate with closely related family members; More likely to have genetic mutations.

Generalist Species

A species that can live in different types of environments and have varied diets (e.g., raccoons, humans, dogs, cats).

Specialist Species

Species that require unique resources and have limited diets; They need a specific habitat (e.g., Giant Panda Bear).

Ecosystem Services

Benefits that come from natural resources or service functions that ecosystems carry out that have measurable economic/financial value to humans.

Provisioning Services

Goods taken directly from ecosystems or made from natural resources (e.g., wood, food, water). Disrupted by over harvesting, water pollution, land clearance.

Regulating Services

Benefits provided by ecosystems that moderate environmental conditions (e.g., climate, air quality). Disrupted by deforestation.

Cultural Services

Revenue/profits from recreational activities (e.g., fisherman pay for licenses, camping fees). Disrupted by deforestation, pollution, or urbanization.

Supporting Services

Natural ecosystems support our processes (e.g., bees pollinate crops, wetlands filter water). Disrupted by pollinator habitat loss and wetland filling.

Disruptions to Provisioning Services

Overharvesting, Water Pollution, and Land Clearance

Disruptions to Regulating Services

Deforestation

Disruptions to Cultural Services

Deforestation, Pollution, and Urbanization

Disruptions to Supporting Services

Pollinator Habitat Loss and Filling of Wetlands

Island Biogeography

The study of the ecological relationships and distribution of organisms on islands and the community's structure.

Island Size and Species

Larger islands support more total species due to greater diversity, more food habitats, and more niches.

Island Proximity and Species

Islands closer to the mainland support more species because it is easier for colonizing organisms to reach them, leading to more genetic diversity.

Island Evolution

Unique conditions that lead species to adapt to narrower niches.

Niche

The role a species plays in an ecosystem, including its habitat, resources, and interactions.

Adaptive Radiation

When a single species rapidly evolves into several new species to use different resources and reduce competition.

Ecological Tolerance

The range of conditions (temperature, salinity, pH, sunlight) an organism can endure before injury or death.

Optimal Range

Where organisms survive, grow, and reproduce with a high population.

Zone of Physiological Stress

Range where organisms survive, but experience stress such as reduced fertility, lack of growth, or decreased activity.

Zone of Intolerance

Where organisms die due to factors like starvation, lack of oxygen, or thermal shock.

Natural Disruption

A natural event that disrupts the structure and/or function of an ecosystem.

Periodic Disruption

Occurs with regular/consistent frequencies.

Episodic Disruption

Occasional events with irregular frequencies.

Random Disruption

No regular frequency.

Genetic Diversity

Variability in genes of individuals within a population.

Adaptation

A new trait that increases an organism's fitness (ability to survive and reproduce).

Natural Selection

Organisms that are better adapted to their environment will be able to survive and reproduce more offspring.

Selective Pressure/Force

The environmental condition that kills individuals without the adaptation.

Short-Term Adaptations

Developments in response to temporary changes in the environment; DNA does not change.

Long-Term Adaptations

May induce DNA changing over long time periods in response to natural selection, including conditioning processes.

Ecological Succession

A series of predictable stages of growth that an ecosystem goes through.

Primary Succession

Starts from bare rock in an area with no previous soil formation; moss and lichen break down rock to soil.

Secondary Succession

Starts from already established soil in an area where a disturbance cleared out plant life (seeds dispersed by wind/animals).

Pioneer/Early Successional Species

Appears first when ground is bare rock or soil after a disturbance; adapts to conditions, possibly creating new soil.

Mid Successional Species

Appears after pioneer species, helped develop deeper soil with more nutrients.

Late Successional Species

Appears last, after soil is deepened and enriched with nutrients by earlier successional species.

Keystone Species

Species with a crucial role in an ecosystem.

Indicator Species

Organisms that reflect an ecosystem's environment and health.

Effects of Succession in a Disturbed Ecosystem

Changes in biomass, species richness, and net productivity.