CH 3 Environmental Factors and Ecological Relationships

Vocabulary flashcards covering factors influencing organism distribution (temperature and water) and ecological community interactions.

Endotherms (temperature)

Organisms that generate most of their body heat internally through metabolic processes.

Maintain a relatively stable body temperature even when environmental temperature changes.

• Ex: mammals, birds, humans.

• Ex: polar bear survive Arctic cold through internal heat production, thick fur, and body fat.

= heat from WITHIN (known as warm-blooded)

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Internal heat production; relatively stable body temperature; generally higher energy requirements.

Hibernation (temperature)

A state of greatly reduced metabolic activity that helps animals survive prolonged cold conditions and limited food.

• Ex: some bats, ground squirrels, marmots, rodents

• Purpose: conserve energy during unfavorable cold conditions.

= survival mode during cold conditions.

Ectotherms (temperatures)

Organisms that depends heavily on environmental heat to regulate body temperature.

Their distribution is strongly influenced by environmental temperature.

• Ex: lizard active in warm conditions but become less active in cold conditions

• Ex: lizards, snakes, frogs, fish, and many insects. (reptiles)

They may bask in sunlight or move into shade to cool down.

= heat from OUTSIDE (known as cold-blooded)

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Environmental heat; body temperature changes more with surroundings; generally lower metabolic energy requirements.

Estivation (temperature)

A state of reduced metabolic activity that helps animals survive periods of high temperature and drought.

May become inactive, stay underground, reduce water

• Ex: African lungfish, some frogs, snails, certain reptiles and amphibians

• Purpose: Conserve water and energy until conditions improve.

= survival mode during heat and drought

Xerophytes (water)

Plants adapted to survive in dry environments with little available water by conserving and storing moisture.

Ex: cactus, agave, aloe vera, desert shrubs

(cactus stores water in its stem)

= plants adapted to DRY conditions (conserve)

Phreatophytes (water)

Plants with deep root systems that obtain water from deep underground sources, such as groundwater or the water table.

Often develop deep root systems to reach water unavailable.

Ex: mesquite, tamarisk, cottonwood

= plants that REACH underground water

Perennial Plants (water)

Plants that live for more than two years, surviving unfavorable seasons and resuming growth when conditions improve.

Ex: mango, coconut

= plants that SURVIVE for many years

Ephemeral Plants (water)

Plants with very short life cycles that rapidly complete growth, flowering, and seed production during brief periods of water availability.

Common in deserts and with unpredictable rainfall. Seeds remain dormant until another favorable period.

= plants that HURRY when water becomes available.

Primary Production

The formation of organic matter by producers such as plants, algae, and some bacteria.

Gross Primary Production (GPP)

The total amount of energy or organic matter captured by producers through photosynthesis before plant respiration is subtracted.

Plants use captured energy for respiration, growth

• Total energy captured through photosynthesis

Net Primary Production (NPP)

The energy or organic matter remaining after plant respiration, calculated using the formula $NPP = GPP - R$.

This represents as a new plant biomas and available to consumers through the food web.

• energy remaining after plant respiration

Water

A major limiting factor for primary productivity in many ecosystems.

Competition

Two organisms compete for the same limited resource, like food or space.

Symbiosis

Two different species live closely together, such as mutualism, commensalism, and paratism.

Pollination

A direct interaction where a pollinator visits a flower for nectar, causing pollen from an anther to attach to the pollinator and transfer to a stigma.

Dispersal Mutualism

A direct mutualistic interaction in which one organism assists in spreading the seeds or reproductive units of another species.

ex: birds and fruiting plants - birds eat the fruits and disperse seeds through their droppings

Cleaning Mutualism

A mutualistic relationship in which one organism removes pests, parasites, or dead tissue from another organism.

ex: fish and larger fish

Defense Mutualism

A direct mutualistic interaction where one organism provides protection to another in exchange for shelter, food, or other resources.

ex: ants and acacia plants - ants protect the plant from herbivores, while the ants get food/shelter

Mutualism

An ecological relationship where both interacting species benefit, which may originally get its start as parasitic.

This is widely considered the most important ecological relationship.

ex: bees and flowers

Commensalism

A community interaction in which one species benefits while the other species is unharmed.

ex: barnacles and whales - barnacles get transport and access to food, while the whale is mostly unaffected.

Parasitism

A community interaction in which one species benefits while the other species is harmed.

ex: tick and dog