Ecology Flashcards
(42 cards)
What is a fundamental niche?
The full range of environmental conditions and resources an organism can possibly occupy and use, without competition.
What is a realized niche?
The actual conditions and resources an organism uses due to competition and other biotic factors.
What is upwelling?
An oceanic process where deep, cold, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface, supporting high productivity.
What is the rain shadow effect?
A dry area on the leeward side of a mountain caused by moisture loss as air rises and cools on the windward side.
What characterizes a tropical rain forest?
A biome with high rainfall, consistent warm temperatures, and high biodiversity.
What characterizes a desert biome?
A biome with very low precipitation, extreme temperatures, and sparse vegetation.
What is a savanna or grassland biome?
A biome with seasonal rainfall, dominated by grasses and scattered trees, supporting large herbivores.
What is a coniferous forest?
A biome dominated by cone-bearing evergreen trees with cold winters and mild summers.
What is a temperate broadleaf/deciduous forest?
A biome with moderate rainfall, distinct seasons, and trees that shed leaves annually.
What is chaparral or coastal sage scrub?
A biome with hot, dry summers and cool, moist winters, dominated by shrubs and adapted to fire.
What characterizes the tundra biome?
A cold, treeless biome with permafrost, low precipitation, and short growing seasons.
What is island biogeography?
The study of species diversity and distribution on islands, influenced by island size and distance from mainland.
What is ecological disturbance?
A temporary change in environmental conditions that causes a change in an ecosystem (e.g., fire, flood).
What is primary succession?
Ecological succession that begins in a lifeless area with no soil (e.g., after lava flow or glacial retreat).
What is secondary succession?
Succession that occurs in areas where a community existed but was disturbed (e.g., after fire or farming).
What is the biosphere?
The global ecological system integrating all living beings and their relationships with the environment.
What is a population in ecology?
A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area at the same time.
What are clumped, uniform, and random dispersion patterns?
Clumped: individuals grouped in patches. Uniform: evenly spaced. Random: unpredictable spacing.
What are type I, II, and III survivorship curves?
Type I: low mortality in early/mid life (humans). Type II: constant mortality (squirrels). Type III: high early mortality (oysters).
What is exponential growth?
Population growth under ideal conditions, forming a J-shaped curve.
What is logistic growth?
Population growth that slows as it approaches carrying capacity, forming an S-shaped curve.
What is semelparity?
A reproductive strategy involving one large reproductive effort before death.
What is iteroparity?
A reproductive strategy involving repeated reproductive cycles throughout life.
What is r-selection?
A strategy favoring rapid reproduction in unstable environments, producing many offspring.
