Ontario's Terrestrial Habitats and Biomes (Prairie Focus)

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on ENVS200 Lecture 2 topics covering ecology, niches, biomes, and specific details regarding prairies in Ontario.

Ecology

The science of relationships between living organisms and their environment.

Niche

The role played by an organism in its environment, including the conditions and resources that allow it to survive and reproduce.

Abiotic Factors

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

Biotic Factors

Living components of an ecosystem, including plants, animals, and microorganisms.

Primary Producers

Organisms, like plants, that produce energy from sunlight through photosynthesis.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

The rate of energy storage by photosynthetic organisms after subtracting the energy used for respiration.

Human Appropriation of NPP (HANPP)

The percentage of net primary productivity that is used by humans for economic purposes.

Fundamental Niche

The complete range of conditions and resources under which a species can survive and reproduce.

Realized Niche

The actual conditions and resources in which a species exists, influenced by biotic interactions.

Terrestrial Biomes

Large geographic biotic units defined by their vegetation types and the environmental conditions that sustain them.

Tallgrass Prairie

A type of grassland characterized by tall vegetation, rich soil, and biodiversity, often reliant on fire for maintenance.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll.

Lichens

Symbiotic relationships between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria that are sensitive to environmental conditions.

Prairie Ecosystems

Ecosystems characterized by grasslands with few trees, found in areas with low rainfall.

Anthropogenic Factors

Environmental changes caused by human activity, often impacting natural ecosystems and species distribution.

Conditions and Resources

The specific environmental factors (e.g., climate, water, soil) that determine the productivity and distribution of species in an ecosystem.