Ecology Midterm

ecology

the scientific study of the relationships between animals and their environment

ecosystem

includes biotic and abiotic components, interacting as a system

individual, population, community, ecosystem, landscape, biome, biosphere

ecosystem hierarchy

individual

any living thing or organism

population

group of individuals of the same species living in a given area and time

community

a group of interacting plants/animals cohabiting a given area

landscape

an area of land/water composed of a patchwork of communities and ecosystems

biome

global scaled communities of plants/animals defined by their climate and dominant vegetation

biosphere

thin layer surrounding earth that supports life

climate

longterm average pattern of weather

incoming radiation

solar radiation with shorter wavelength and higher frequency (more energy)

outgoing radiation

terrestrial radiation with longer wavelength and lower frequencies (less energy)

albedo

measurement of surface reflectivity

greenhouse gas

includes water vapor, CO2, methane, nitrous oxides, and ozone

greenhouse effect

selective energy absorbtion by CO2 in th atmosphere, which allows short wavelegnth energy to pass through by absorbs longer wavelegths and reflects head back to earth

net radiation

(incoming short wavelength - reflected short wavelength) - (emitted long wavelength - downward long wavelength)

coriolis effect

as a result of the earth’s rotation, a moving object veers to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere relative to the earth’s surface

continentality

land areas farther from the coast experience a greater seasonal variation in temperature than coastal areas

rain shadow

a dry region on the leeward side of a mountain range due to precipitation on the windward side

microclimate

climate on a very local scale, which differs from the general climate of the area; influences the presence and distribution of organisms

low albedo

low reflectivity, high absorbance (concrete)

high albedo

high reflectivity, low absorbance (ice)

evapotranspiration

the process by which water is transferred from land to atmosphere by evaporation from the soil and other surfaces and by transpiration from plants

urban heat island

heat effect that occurs in cities with little to no vegetation, and only has absorbent surfaces

water cycle

movement of water between atmosphere and earth by way of precipitation and evaporation

brackish water

water that is more saline than freshwater but less saline than true marine environments

estuary

a partially enclosed embankment where freshwater and seawater meet and mix

lotic

flowing water

lentic

standing water

source

release more than absorb

sink

absorbs more than releases

ocean acidification

a reduction in the pH of the ocean over an extended period of time caused primarily by uptake of CO2 from the atmosphere

intertidal zone

area lying between high and low tide

physical properties of terrestrial environments

water balance and soil

water balance

matintence of the balance of water between organisms and their surrounding environment

desiccation

the removal of water

soil

the foundation upon which all terrestrial life depends; mineral and organic matter; a living system with biotic and abiotic interactions

sandy, silt, clay, loamy

soil textures

soil profile

distinctive layering of horizons in the soil

horizons

major zone of layer of soil with its own particular structure and characteristics

O horizon

organic layer dominated by organic material consisting of partially decomposed plant materials such as leaves, needles, twigs, mosses, and lichens

A horizon

topsoil largely mineral soil developed from parent material; organic matter leached from above gives this horizon a dark color

B horizon

sub soil accumulation of mineral particles, such as clay and salts leached from topsoil

C horizon

unconsolidated material derived from the og parent material

soil fertility

measures nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium

soil erosion

the denudation or weaving away of the upper layer of soil; slil degradation

mutualism

an interaction between members of two species that serves to benefit both parties involved

pollination

mutualism that involves the transfer of nutrients/gametes

natural selection

the differential success of individuals within the population that results from thier interaction with thier enviroment

conditions of natural selection

1. variation is heritabl

evolution

change in gene frequency through time resulting from natural selection and producing cumulative changes in characteristics of a population

adaptations

a genetically determines characteristics that improves an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce under prevailing environmental conditions

autotroph

organisms that produce organic material from in organic chemicals and some source of energy

hetereotroph

organisms that are unable to manufacture thier own food from inorganic materials and thus rely on other organisms, living and dead as a source of energy/nutrients

photosynthesis

the use of light energy by plants to convert CO2 and water into simple sugars

cellular respiration

chemical process where plants cells break down sugars and oxygen to release usable energy for growth, repair, and daily life functions

transpiration

loss of water vapor from a plant to the outside atmopshere

individual organism

a living thing that can function independently and is made up of cells

modular organism

an organism that grows by repeated iteration of parts - at times it can appear as an individual or population

population distribution

the pattern of how organisms are spread across a geographic area

ubiquitous

widespread distribution

endemic

restricted distribution

subpopulations

within populations, groups occupy suitable habitat patches of various shapes and sizes within the larger landscape

metapopulation

the collective of local subpopulations

population density

the number of individuals per unit area

abundance

the number of individuals in the population

dispersal

organisms moving (this affects distribution)

passive dispersal

organisms moving naturally through gravity, wind, water, animals

migration

intentional, directional, usually seasonal movement of animals between two regions or habitats; involves departure and return of the same individual; a round trip movement

immigration

arrival of new individuals into a habitat or population

emigration

movement of part of a population permanently out of an area

native species

indigenous to a given region or ecosystem

introduced/non native species

species brought to an area through human influence purposefully or accidently

invasive species

species introduced to an ecosystem and thrives so well that it negatively affects native species

population growth

the number of individuals in a population increasing or decreasing over time

factors of population growth

immigration, emigration, births, deaths

type one population

relatively stable numbers and produce few offspring, but lots of parental care

type two population

populations with constant proportion of individuals dying at each age interval

type three population

populations that are often found in unstable environments and produce many offspring with little parental care

exponential population growth

instantaneous rate of population growth, expressed as proportional increase per unit of time

population regulation

no population continues to grow indefinitely

carrying capacity

max population size that can be sustained

density dependent regulation

as a population grows, resources decrease, slows population growth

density independent regulation

population growth influences that don’t depend on population activity (natural disasters, etc)

intraspecific

interactions between same species

interspecific

interactions between different species

mutualism

relationship between two species in which both benefit

parasitism

relationship that is beneficial to one and harmful/neutral to other

commensalism

relationship that is beneficial to one, but neutral or of no benefit to the other

competition

relationship that is detrimental to the populations of both species

amensalism

relationship that is negative to individuals of one species, but neutral to the other

predation

relationship in which one living organism serves as a food source for another

parasitoidism

relationship between insect larva that kills its host by consuming host’s soft tissues before pupation or metamorphosis into an adult

coevolution

joint evolution of two or more species that have a close ecological relationship

constitutive defenses

permanent features that aid in defense

induced defenses

response brought about/induced by presence/action of predator

chemical defense

use of bitter, distasteful or toxic secretions for defense

cryptic coloration

coloration of organisms that makes them resemble/blend into habitat

object resemblance

prey species assumes appearance of some feature in the environment as a defense

flashing coloration

hidden markings that animals flash to startle/divert predators