Ecosystem Dynamics: Energy Transfer and Population Dynamics

These flashcards cover essential concepts in Ecosystem Dynamics related to energy transfer, food chains, and population dynamics, facilitating review and exam preparation.

What is the primary role of producers in a food chain?

Producers convert inorganic materials into organic matter using solar energy.

What is the difference between Gross Primary Production (GPP) and Net Primary Production (NPP)?

GPP is the total organic matter produced via photosynthesis, while NPP is the energy that remains after accounting for energy lost in respiration.

What is a keystone species?

A species that has a unique and critical role in maintaining the structure and balance of its ecosystem.

How do decomposers contribute to ecosystems?

Decomposers break down organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

What is meant by 'trophic levels' in an ecosystem?

Trophic levels represent feeding positions in a food chain.

What is the significance of biomasses in ecological studies?

Biomass represents the total dry mass of organisms at each level, used to assess energy flow.

What is the impact of environmental temperature on productivity?

Environmental temperature affects the rate of photosynthesis, influencing productivity levels.

What is the formula to calculate Net Primary Production (NPP)?

NPP = GPP - respiration.

What factors influence population density?

Accessibility of habitats, levels of competition, presence of predators, and availability of resources.

Define ecological succession.

The gradual evolution of an ecosystem over time, resulting from changes in biotic and abiotic factors.

What are pioneer species?

Species that first colonize previously uninhabited or disrupted ecosystems.

What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?

Primary succession occurs in areas with no soil, while secondary succession happens where a community has been removed but soil remains.

What are density-dependent factors?

Factors that influence population growth based on population density, such as food availability and competition.

What is a J-shaped growth curve indicative of?

A rapid population growth followed by a sharp decline due to resource depletion.

How does pollution affect biodiversity?

Pollution negatively impacts biodiversity by harming ecosystems and the organisms that inhabit them.

What is the role of nitrifying bacteria in the nitrogen cycle?

Nitrifying bacteria convert ammonia to nitrites and then to nitrates, which plants can absorb.

What determines the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?

The maximum population size that an ecosystem can sustain indefinitely with available resources.

What kind of relationship do the carbon and oxygen cycles have?

They are interconnected; photosynthesis incorporates carbon and releases oxygen, while respiration does the opposite.

What is the fundamental niche of an organism?

The full range of environmental conditions that an organism can potentially occupy.

What does a biomass pyramid represent?

It shows the total biomass at each trophic level within an ecosystem.

What is the competitive exclusion principle?

Two species cannot coexist indefinitely if they occupy the same niche; one will outcompete the other.

What are some examples of density-independent factors?

Volcanic eruptions, temperature changes, storms, and floods.

How do seasonal and latitudinal variations affect productivity?

They influence the rate of photosynthesis and therefore the overall productivity of ecosystems.

What measures are used to analyze changes in species diversity?

Changes in strata layers of rock indicate biotic change; variations across strata suggest abiotic factor changes.

What is the role of human activities in biodiversity reduction?

Human actions such as overexploitation, habitat destruction, monocultures, and pollution can decrease biodiversity.

What is a clumped distribution pattern?

A common population distribution pattern where individuals are grouped together due to favoring certain environmental conditions.

Define environmental resistance.

Factors that limit population growth and prevent it from exceeding the carrying capacity.

What influences the speed at which a population size can change?

Factors such as birth rates, death rates, immigration, and emigration.

What is habitat destruction?

The process by which a natural habitat is destroyed, making it unable to support the organisms that live there.

What is the formula to calculate population growth rate?

r = (b + i) - (d + e), where b = births, i = immigrants, d = deaths, and e = emigrants.

What is the significance of the 'climax community' in ecological succession?

It represents a stable and mature ecosystem that has reached its final stage of succession.

What is the primary role of producers in a food chain?

Producers convert inorganic materials into organic matter using solar energy.

What is the difference between Gross Primary Production (GPP) and Net Primary Production (NPP)?

GPP is the total organic matter produced via photosynthesis, while NPP is the energy that remains after accounting for energy lost in respiration.

What is a keystone species?

A species that has a unique and critical role in maintaining the structure and balance of its ecosystem.

How do decomposers contribute to ecosystems?

Decomposers break down organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

What is meant by 'trophic levels' in an ecosystem?

Trophic levels represent feeding positions in a food chain.

What is the significance of biomasses in ecological studies?

Biomass represents the total dry mass of organisms at each level, used to assess energy flow.

What is the impact of environmental temperature on productivity?

Environmental temperature affects the rate of photosynthesis, influencing productivity levels.

What is the formula to calculate Net Primary Production (NPP)?

NPP = GPP - respiration.

What factors influence population density?

Accessibility of habitats, levels of competition, presence of predators, and availability of resources.

Define ecological succession.

The gradual evolution of an ecosystem over time, resulting from changes in biotic and abiotic factors.

What are pioneer species?

Species that first colonize previously uninhabited or disrupted ecosystems.

What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?

Primary succession occurs in areas with no soil, while secondary succession happens where a community has been removed but soil remains.

What are density-dependent factors?

Factors that influence population growth based on population density, such as food availability and competition.

What is a J-shaped growth curve indicative of?

A rapid population growth followed by a sharp decline due to resource depletion.

How does pollution affect biodiversity?

Pollution negatively impacts biodiversity by harming ecosystems and the organisms that inhabit them.

What is the role of nitrifying bacteria in the nitrogen cycle?

Nitrifying bacteria convert ammonia to nitrites and then to nitrates, which plants can absorb.

What determines the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?

The maximum population size that an ecosystem can sustain indefinitely with available resources.

What kind of relationship do the carbon and oxygen cycles have?

They are interconnected; photosynthesis incorporates carbon and releases oxygen, while respiration does the opposite.

What is the fundamental niche of an organism?

The full range of environmental conditions that an organism can potentially occupy.

What does a biomass pyramid represent?

It shows the total biomass at each trophic level within an ecosystem.

What is the competitive exclusion principle?

Two species cannot coexist indefinitely if they occupy the same niche; one will outcompete the other.

What are some examples of density-independent factors?

Volcanic eruptions, temperature changes, storms, and floods.

How do seasonal and latitudinal variations affect productivity?

They influence the rate of photosynthesis and therefore the overall productivity of ecosystems.

What measures are used to analyze changes in species diversity?

Changes in strata layers of rock indicate biotic change; variations across strata suggest abiotic factor changes.

What is the role of human activities in biodiversity reduction?

Human actions such as overexploitation, habitat destruction, monocultures, and pollution can decrease biodiversity.

What is a clumped distribution pattern?

A common population distribution pattern where individuals are grouped together due to favoring certain environmental conditions.

Define environmental resistance.

Factors that limit population growth and prevent it from exceeding the carrying capacity.

What influences the speed at which a population size can change?

Factors such as birth rates, death rates, immigration, and emigration.

What is habitat destruction?

The process by which a natural habitat is destroyed, making it unable to support the organisms that live there.

What is the formula to calculate population growth rate?

r = (b + i) - (d + e), where b = births, i = immigrants, d = deaths, and e = emigrants.

What is the significance of the 'climax community' in ecological succession?

It represents a stable and mature ecosystem that has reached its final stage of succession.

What is the primary role of producers in a food chain?

Producers convert inorganic materials into organic matter using solar energy.

What is the difference between Gross Primary Production (GPP) and Net Primary Production (NPP)?

GPP is the total organic matter produced via photosynthesis, while NPP is the energy that remains after accounting for energy lost in respiration.

What is a keystone species?

A species that has a unique and critical role in maintaining the structure and balance of its ecosystem.

How do decomposers contribute to ecosystems?

Decomposers break down organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

What is meant by 'trophic levels' in an ecosystem?

Trophic levels represent feeding positions in a food chain.

What is the significance of biomasses in ecological studies?

Biomass represents the total dry mass of organisms at each level, used to assess energy flow.

What is the impact of environmental temperature on productivity?

Environmental temperature affects the rate of photosynthesis, influencing productivity levels.

What is the formula to calculate Net Primary Production (NPP)?

NPP = GPP - respiration.

What factors influence population density?

Accessibility of habitats, levels of competition, presence of predators, and availability of resources.

Define ecological succession.

The gradual evolution of an ecosystem over time, resulting from changes in biotic and abiotic factors.

What are pioneer species?

Species that first colonize previously uninhabited or disrupted ecosystems.

What are the characteristics of pioneer species?

Pioneer species are typically characterized by their ability to tolerate harsh environmental conditions, rapid reproductive rates, effective dispersal mechanisms, and their capacity to improve soil quality, paving the way for later successional species.

What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?

Primary succession occurs in areas with no soil, while secondary succession happens where a community has been removed but soil remains.

What are density-dependent factors?

Factors that influence population growth based on population density, such as food availability and competition.

What is a J-shaped growth curve indicative of?

A rapid population growth followed by a sharp decline due to resource depletion.

How does pollution affect biodiversity?

Pollution negatively impacts biodiversity by harming ecosystems and the organisms that inhabit them.

What is the role of nitrifying bacteria in the nitrogen cycle?

Nitrifying bacteria convert ammonia to nitrites and then to nitrates, which plants can absorb.

What determines the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?

The maximum population size that an ecosystem can sustain indefinitely with available resources.

What kind of relationship do the carbon and oxygen cycles have?

They are interconnected; photosynthesis incorporates carbon and releases oxygen, while respiration does the opposite.

What is the fundamental niche of an organism?

The full range of environmental conditions that an organism can potentially occupy.

What does a biomass pyramid represent?

It shows the total biomass at each trophic level within an ecosystem.

What is the competitive exclusion principle?

Two species cannot coexist indefinitely if they occupy the same niche; one will outcompete the other.

What are some examples of density-independent factors?

Volcanic eruptions, temperature changes, storms, and floods.

How do seasonal and latitudinal variations affect productivity?

They influence the rate of photosynthesis and therefore the overall productivity of ecosystems.

What measures are used to analyze changes in species diversity?

Changes in strata layers of rock indicate biotic change; variations across strata suggest abiotic factor changes.

What is the role of human activities in biodiversity reduction?

Human actions such as overexploitation, habitat destruction, monocultures, and pollution can decrease biodiversity.

What is a clumped distribution pattern?

A common population distribution pattern where individuals are grouped together due to favoring certain environmental conditions.

Define environmental resistance.

Factors that limit population growth and prevent it from exceeding the carrying capacity.

What influences the speed at which a population size can change?

Factors such as birth rates, death rates, immigration, and emigration.

What is the formula to calculate population growth rate?

r = (b + i) - (d + e), where b = births, i =