Test 1: Ecology Terms

Phenology

The study of the timing or seasonality of life events in organisms. 

Phenological Mismatch

Changes in phenology that change the way that two species interact

Trophic Mismatch

issues that involve feeding

Productivity

Gross Primary Productivity

The total amount of energy that a primary producer makes

Net Primary Productivity

The amount of energy left over for producers to reproduce after using for other needs

Carbon Sink

A long-term storage for reduced carbon atoms not in CO2

Negative Feedback (climate change)

An event or process that goes against and reduces the impact of Climate Change by reducing greenhouse gas concentrations

Positive Feedback (Climate Change)

A process or event that accelerates or contributes to the effects of Climate Change by releasing more greenhouse gases

Hypothesis

a proposed explanation for somethin

Prediction

A statement of an outcome if a hypothesis is correct

Null Hypothesis

a statement which contrasts the hypothesis (the no-effect)

Treatment/experimental Group

The group being tested on

Normal/Control Group

The group that experiences normal condition or no treatment

Controlled conditions

conditions of the experiment kept the same for both groups

outcome variable

What is beign measures

Ecology

The study of how organisms interact with each other and the environment

Or

the study of the processes influencing the distribution and abundance of organisms

Extremophiles

organisms that are able to live in extreme conditions

Biotic

other organisms or living things that live within and shape an organism

Abiotic

The non-living, physical aspects of an environment

niche

range of abiotic and biotic conditions that a species lives in

fundamental niche

the possible range of conditions that a species can tolerate and potentially occur

realized niche

the place where a species actually lives and is found

Exponential/Geometric Growth

when a population grows at a really fast rate with no limiting factors

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size of a given species that can be supported by a particular environment over a long period of time

Density Dependence

factors of a population influenced by a populations density or size (often because of biotic factors)

Density Independent Factors

Factors that affect a population but are not determined by the population size. (i.e. hurricanes)