Ecology and Biosphere Study Guide for Exam 4

Organismal ecology

Study of individual organisms in their environment.

Population ecology

Study of population dynamics and growth factors.

Community

Populations of different species interacting together.

Ecosystem

Communities and abiotic factors interacting.

Biogeography

Distribution of organisms influenced by abiotic factors.

Latitude

Geographical coordinate affecting climate and biodiversity.

Rain Shadow

Area with reduced rainfall due to mountains.

Terrestrial Biomes

Regions defined by climate and predominant vegetation.

Tropical Forest

Biome with high biodiversity and rainfall.

Desert

Dry biome with minimal precipitation.

Savana

Grassland biome with scattered trees.

Chaparral

Biome with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters.

Northern Coniferous Forest

Forest biome dominated by conifer trees.

Tundra

Cold biome with permafrost and low vegetation.

Littoral zone

Nearshore area of aquatic biomes.

Limnetic zone

Open water area in lakes.

Photic zone

Light-penetrated layer of aquatic ecosystems.

Aphotic zone

Deep water layer with no light.

Benthic zone

Bottom layer of aquatic ecosystems.

Pelagic zone

Open ocean area away from the coast.

Intertidal zone

Area between high and low tide.

Population

Group of individuals of the same species.

Demography

Statistical study of population dynamics.

Population density

Number of individuals per unit area.

Damuth's law

Larger species have lower population densities.

Survival curves

Graph showing survival rates at different ages.

Exponential growth

Population growth without resource limitations.

Carrying capacity

Maximum sustainable population size in an environment.

Ecological footprint

Land area required to support an individual.

Competitive Exclusion Principle

Two species cannot occupy the same niche.

Keystone species

Species crucial for maintaining ecosystem balance.

Invasive species

Non-native species threatening local ecosystems.

Ecosystem Equilibrium

Balance of organisms and environment.

Trophic Level

Position in a food chain.

Food web

Complex network of feeding relationships.

Trophic Efficiency

Energy transfer efficiency between trophic levels.

Biodiversity

Variety of life forms in an ecosystem.

Genetic diversity

Variation in genetic characteristics within a species.

Species diversity

Variety of different species in an ecosystem.

Ecosystem diversity

Variety of ecosystems in a region.

Soil Horizons

Layers of soil with distinct characteristics.

Sustainable agriculture

Farming practices that maintain environmental health.