Unit 8.2 Ecology II

hydrologic cycle

nutrient cycle of H20

evaporation

hydrologic; conversion from liquid to gas

transpiration

hydrologic; evaporation from plant tissue

condensation

hydrologic; conversion from gas to liquid

precipitation

hydrologic; condensation from clouds

percolation

hydrologic; water moves through soil to ground water

carbon cycle

nutrient cycle of CO2

photosynthesis

carbonic; CO2 passed from air to soil by plants; carbon fixation

cellular respiration

carbonic; CO2 passed from organic compounds to air by organisms

consumption

carbonic; CO2 passed by being eaten

decomposition

carbonic; CO2 released by breakdown of dead matter

weathering

carbonic; CO2 released from soil by erosion

ocean-atmosphere co2 exchange

carbonic; CO2 passed between ocean and atmosphere based on the relative concentrations

positive flux

carbonic; CO2 passed from ocean to atmosphere

negative flux

carbonic; CO2 passed from atmosphere to ocean

combustion

carbonic; CO2 released into air by the burning of fossil fuels or plants in forest fires

nitrogen cycle

nutrient cycle of N2, NH3, NO2-, NO3-, and HNO3

nitrogen fixation

nitric; nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3) by bacteria or lightning

nitrification

nitric; ammonia (NH3) into nitrite (NO2-) and nitrate (NO3-) by bacteria

assimilation

nitric; uptake of nitrate (NO3-) from soil by plant

consumption

nitric; nitrogen passed by being eaten

weathering

nitric; nitrogen released from soil by erosion

excretion (urination)

nitric; excess nitrogen released from animals

decomposition

nitric; nitrogen released by breakdown of dead matter

denitrification

nitric; nitrate (NO3-) into nitrogen gas (N2) by bacteria or human activity

acid rain

nitric; precipitation of nitric acid (HNO3) from rainfall; from volcanic or human activity

phosphorus cycle

nutrient cycle of PO43-

assimilation

phosphorus; uptake of phosphate (PO43-) from soil by plant

consumptions

phosphorus; phosphate (PO43-) passed by being eaten

decomposition

phosphorus; phosphate (PO43-) released by breakdown of dead matter

weathering

phosphorus; phosphorus released from soil by erosion

biotic

living or once living organism in an ecosystem

abiotic – nonliving factors in an ecosystem

intraspecific competition

competition within species

interspecific competition

competition between species

organism

individual organism

population

group of organisms of the same species

community

all organisms living in a particular area

ecosystem

all organisms and the environment they live in

biome

ecosystem with similar biotic and abiotic characteristics

biosphere

everywhere on earth where life lives

niche

position of a species in an ecosystem;ecological role, tolerable factors

interspecific interactions

competition,

intraspecific competition

competition within a species

interspecific competition

-/-; competition between species; competitive exclusion principle

competitive exclusion principle

species can’t share all of niche and stably coexist

resource partitioning

species share some of niche and divide limited resources

interspecific predation

+/-; predator eats body of prey

herbivory

predator/prey; animal/plant

carnivorous

predator/prey; animal/animal

evolutionary arms race

type of coevolution; back-and-forth adaptations b/w predator and prey

interspecific symbiosis

long-term intimate association b/w two species

mutualism

+/+ symbiosis; both partners benefit from interactions

commensalism

+/0 symbiosis; one partner benefits, other is mostly unaffected

parasitism

+/- symbiosis; one partner benefits, other is harmed

parasite evolution

coevolve and speciate with specific host

symbiosis evolution

parasitism > commensalism > mutualism; need hosts to survive > adapt

species diversity

measure of community complexity; more complex, more stable

species richness

number of species in a community

species evenness

relative abundance of each species in a community; distribution

simpsons diversity index

tool to approximate species diversity; better if higher

n

the total number of organisms of a particular species

N

total number of organisms of all species

biodiversity factors

climate patterns, environment heterogeneity, disturbance frequency, interactions between organisms

climate

more diverse in equator areas; high rainfall + little seasonal change

environment heterogeneity

more habitats, more niches

disturbance frequency

too high, species go extinct; too low, competitive organism push out other species

intermediate disturbance hypothesis

level of disturbance for greater species diversity

interactions between organisms

maintain distribution balance; food webs, trophic cascades

keystone species

species; large effect on its environment relative to its abundance

foundation species

dominant species; large abundance and defines environment

ecosystem engineers

species; create and change the environment

ecosystem disruption

ecosystems will adapt, move, or disappear in response to disruptions

ecosystem stability

achieved by biodiversity + population diversity; gives more resistance to habitat disruptions

biodiversity

ecosystems with more biodiversity are more resistant to disruptions

population diversity

species with more genetic diversity are better able to adapt to ecosystem disruptions

succession

series of progressive changes in which the species that makes up a community changes overtime

primary succession

when a newly formed area is colonized for the first time

pioneer species

inhabit new areas and pave the way for other species

secondary succession

disturbance occurs; fast growing opportunistic plants inhabit available areas; dominant plants take over

climax community

mature + dominant community from secondary succession

invasive species

species that has been introduced to new area; may outcompete native species

invasive humans

land-use change, pollution, introduce new species, resource exploitation, climate change