Animal Behavior & Physiology, Ecological Interactions, Plant Biology, Ecology Basics, Food Chains & Energy, Populations & Growth, Ecological Succession, Environmental Issues

Flashcards covering key vocabulary from animal behavior to environmental issues.

Endotherm

Warm-blooded animal; regulates body temperature internally.

Ectotherm

Cold-blooded animal; body temperature depends on the environment.

Instinct

Inborn, automatic behavior.

Imprinting

Early-life learning that is permanent.

Habituation

Getting used to a repeated, harmless stimulus.

Pheromones

Chemicals used for animal communication.

Altruistic Behavior

Helping others at a cost to yourself.

Mutualism

Both species benefit.

Commensalism

One benefits, the other is unaffected.

Parasitism

One benefits, the other is harmed.

Photoperiodism

Plant response to day length.

Phototropism

Growth toward light.

Gravitropism

Growth in response to gravity.

Auxins

Hormones for stem growth and phototropism.

Gibberellins

Hormones for seed germination and growth.

Cytokinins

Hormones for cell division.

Abscisic Acid

Hormone that slows growth; helps in stress.

Ecology

Study of interactions between organisms and their environment.

Biosphere

All life on Earth and where it lives.

Ecosystem

Community + environment.

Community

All living things in an area.

Population

Members of one species in an area.

Biomes

Large areas with similar climate and organisms.

Biotic Factors

Living parts of the environment.

Abiotic Factors

Non-living parts (like water, temperature).

Niche

Role an organism plays in its environment.

Producers (Autotrophs)

Make their own food (like plants).

Biomass

Total living matter.

Consumers (Heterotrophs)

Eat other organisms.

Herbivores

Eat only plants.

Decomposers

Break down dead matter (fungi, bacteria).

Keystone Species

Species that greatly affects ecosystem balance.

Bioaccumulation

Toxins build up in one organism.

Biomagnification

Toxins increase up the food chain.

Carrying Capacity

Max population the environment can support.

Population Density

Number of individuals per area.

r-strategists

Reproduce quickly, many offspring, low survival.

k-strategists

Fewer offspring, high survival, stable environments.

Pioneer Organisms

First to colonize an area (e.g., lichens).

Climax Community

Stable, final stage of succession.

Greenhouse Effect

Trapping of heat by Earth's atmosphere.

Ozone Depletion

Thinning of the ozone layer by chemicals.

Desertification

Fertile land becomes desert.

Deforestation

Loss of forests.

Pollution

Harmful substances in the environment.

behavior

how an animal acts in response to a stimulus

learning

a change in behavior based on experience

critical period

limited time when imprinting can happen

circadian rhythms

daily cycles of activity based on a 24hr clock

agonistic behavior

fighting or threatening behavior between animals

dominance hierarchy

social ranking in a group

territoriality

defending an area against others

symbiotic relationship

close interaction between species

tropism

Growth response to a stimulus.

ethylene

Gas hormone that ripens fruit.

carbon cycle

Movement of carbon through nature.

foodchain

Sequence of who eats whom.

primary productivity

Rate at which producers make energy.

primary consumers

Eat producers (herbivores).

secondary consumers

Eat primary consumers.

tertiary consumers

Eat secondary consumers

10% rule

Only 10% of energy moves to the next level.

ecological pyramid

Shows energy or biomass at each level.

Sympsons diversity index

Measures biodiversity in a community.

population growth

Increase in population size

density independent factors

Affect population regardless of size (e.g., weather)

density dependent factors

Effect depends on population size (e.g., food, disease).

exponential growth

Population grows rapidly with no limits.

ecological succession

Natural change in ecosystems over time.

primary succession

Starts from bare rock, no soil.

sere

Each stage in succession.

secondary succession

Follows disturbance in an area with soil.

acid rain

Rain with low pH from air pollution.