chapter 4 env sci Flashcards
(33 cards)
a major reason why organisms do not spread everywhere is that each species and each individual organisms of a species has a particular _____________ to variations in chemical and physical factors in its environment such as temperature.
range of tolerance
Limiting factors a in
terrestrial (land)
ecosystems can
include __________,
____, ______, and _________________
temperature,
water, light, and soil
nutrients
Affects feeding, growth
& reproduction of aquatic species
Can intensify low-
, oxygen zones in lake
bottoms
Reduces habitat
suitability for coolwater
& coldwater fishes
warming water
Alters species
abundance &
composition
Threatens mussel
habitat
Mismatches the timing
of biological events like
emergence & migration
SHIFTING
STREAMFLOW
Reduces habitat
quality & connectivity
Shifts vegetation to
dry-land types
Reduces breeding
success for frogs &
salamanders
DRYING
WETLANDS
climate influences our environment
water level
water temperature
ice cover
system drying
sedimentation
pollution runoff
water clarity
dissolved oxygen
flow patterns
habitat conectivity
states that the
existence, abundance and
distribution of a species in an
ecosystem are determined b
whether the levels of one or more physical or chemical factors fall above or below the
levels tolerated by the species.
law of tolerance
states that too much or too little of any abiotic factor can limit or prevent
growth of a population of a
species in an ecosystem, even if
all factors are at or near the
optimum range of tolerance for
the species.
limiting factor principle
refers to the species way of life
or function role in an ecosystem.
ecological niche
is the actual location where a species lives.
habitat
the full potential range of conditions and
resources a species could theoretically use if there were no
direct competition from other species.
(Types of ecological niche)
fundamental niche
parts of the fundamental niche of a species
that are actually used by that species
(Types of ecological niche)
realized niche -
have broad niches and can different live in many places, eat a variety of foods, and tolerate a wide range
of environmental conditions.
(Broad classification of species according
to their niches)
generalist species-
have a narrow niches and may be able to live in only one type of habitat, tolerate only a narrow range of climatic and other environmental conditions, or use only one or few types of food. This makes them more prone to becoming endangered when environmental conditions change.
(Broad classification of species according
to their niches)
specialist species-
species that
normally live and thrive in a particular
ecosystem,
(General types of species according to the
roles they in ecosystems)
native or endemic species-
species that migrate into an ecosystem or
are deliberately or accidentally introduced
into an ecosystem by humans,
(General types of species according to the
roles they in ecosystems)
nonnative, alien or exotic species
species that serve as early
warnings that a community or ecosystem is
being degraded
(General types of species according to the
roles they in ecosystems)
indicator species-
species that play
roles affecting many organisms in an
ecosystem
(General types of species according to the
roles they in ecosystems)
keystone species-
occurs when two organisms or more organisms compete
for food, space, or any other limited
resource. This competition harms the competing
species to varying degrees, depending on which is
the best competitor.
(Three basic types of interactions
among species)
competition
type of competition where two or more organisms of a single species trying to use the same limited resources in an ecosystem
intraspecific competition
type of competion where members of two or more species trying to use the same limited resources in an ecosystem
interspecific competition
situation in which members of one
species (the predator) feed directly on all or part of a living organism
of
another species (the prey).
(Three basic types of interactions
among species)
Predation
a long lasting relationship in which species live together in an intimate association
(Three basic types of interactions
among species)
symbiosis
a symbiotic relationship that occurs when one species
(the parasite) feeds on part of another
organism (the host) by living on or in
host for a significant potion of the host’s
life. In this symbiotic relationship the
parasite benefits and the host is harmed.
parasitism
