Introduction to Ecology

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to ecology and biomes.

Ecology

The study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment.

Abiotic factors

Non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect ecosystems.

Biotic factors

The living components of an ecosystem, including animals, plants, and microorganisms.

Terrestrial biomes

Major ecological communities defined primarily by their vegetation and climate, such as deserts, forests, and grasslands.

Aquatic biomes

Biomes that are characterized by water availability; includes freshwater, marine, and transitional ecosystems.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

The rate at which all the plants in an ecosystem produce net useful chemical energy, after accounting for the energy used in respiration.

Tropical Wet Forest

A biome also known as tropical rainforest, located in equatorial regions with high diversity, biomass, and year-round growing conditions.

Boreal Forest

Also known as taiga, this biome occurs in cold regions and has low species diversity due to low temperatures and low precipitation.

Lake Turnover

The process in lakes where water mixes due to changes in temperature, which affects nutrient availability.

Upwelling

The process where nutrient-rich water rises from the deep sea to the surface, supporting high productivity in certain marine areas.

Estuaries

Areas where freshwater from rivers meets and mixes with saltwater from the ocean, known for high nutrient levels and productivity.

Salinity

The concentration of salts in water, a key abiotic factor in determining the characteristics of aquatic biomes.

Deciduous trees

Trees that shed their leaves annually and grow new ones in the spring, commonly found in temperate forests.

Freshwater wetlands

Ecosystems where the soil is saturated with water for part of the year, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.

Tundra

A cold biome characterized by low temperatures, low precipitation, and a short growing season.

Neritic zone

The coastal ocean zone where sunlight penetrates and supports a high level of biodiversity.