Ecology Part 2 Flashcards
(25 cards)
Organism
An individual life form
Ecology
Study of how organisms interact with each other and environment
Species
Group of organisms capable of breeding and producing fertile offspring
Population
Group of organisms in a given area capable of producing fertile offspring
Habitat
Place where species is adapted to live. Defined by climate and community, not geographic boundaries
Community
All of the populations in a given area
Ecosystem
The interaction between and within the organic community and the inorganic environment
Biosphere
Vast ecosystem that encompasses the entire earth. The ultimate community
Law of tolerance
Maximum and minimum environmental limits beyond which no organism can live
Zone of tolerance
Area where an organism is successful with regard to one factor that affects it
Law of the minimum
Most critical factor will limit the growth of an organism
Niche
An n-dimensional hyper volume defined by the tolerances of an organism
Succession
Ecosystems change and mature overtime
Mature community
Model of an ecosystem that remains similar form for a long time
Biome
Idealized type of mature community
Linear model
Each stage replaces the last.
Pioneer to intermediate to mature
Primary succession
Growth from bare rock.
Starts after Glaciation, volcanic activity, exposed bedrock, or cement.
Time to maturity is thousands of years
Secondary succession
Growth from an established topsoil.
starts after a fire, flood, agriculture, disease, or storms.
Time to maturity is hundreds of years
Aquatic succession
Filling in small lakes, streams, and ponds.
Starts after Glaciation or dams.
Time to maturity is hundreds of years
Aquatic succession stage one
Oligotrophic lake Nutrient poor Deep Cold Rocky and Sandy Shoreline Rocky bottom Clear water
Aquatic succession stage two
Mesotrophic lake Bog shrubs begin to grow in the sphagnum Carnivorous plants Sediments accumulate on bottom Water darker
Aquatic succession stage three
Eutrophic lake Water shallow Dark and warm Sediments fill in bottom Bog trees like Tamarack and black spruce form in mat
Aquatic succession stage four
Dead lake or Bog Fertile soil regenerates forest Swampy wetland may still remain Shrubbery and grasses Tamarack and blue spruce Mature oak or maple Poplar or Birch
Why does succession happen?
Plants alter environment when they grow.
Late stage species can tolerate early stages species
Early-stage species cannot tolerate late stage species
Each step out competes the last
