Ecology study set Flashcards
(32 cards)
What are the characteristics of life?
- Cellular organization ( 1 or more cells)
- Metabolism
- Have DNA or RNA
- Growth and development
- Reproduction
- Response to stimuli
- Adaptation through evolution
Characteristics that define living organisms.
What are the levels of ecological organization in the correct order?
- Organism
- Population
- Community
- Ecosystem
- Biome
- Biosphere
Hierarchical structure that organizes biological entities.
Define biodiversity.
The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem
Includes species diversity, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity.
How can humans negatively impact ecological cycles?
- Pollution
- Deforestation
- Overfishing
- Climate change
- Habitat destruction
These actions disrupt natural processes and cycles.
What is population density?
The number of individuals per unit area or volume
Affected by factors such as resource availability and environmental conditions.
Define survivorship curve.
Graph showing the number of individuals surviving at each age interval
There are three types: Type I, Type II, and Type III.
What are the two graphs of population growth?
- Exponential growth
- Logistic growth
Exponential growth shows unrestricted increase; logistic growth includes carrying capacity.
What is carrying capacity?
The maximum population size that an environment can sustain
Influenced by resources and limiting factors.
Define limiting factors.
Conditions that restrict the growth of a population
Examples include:
* Living (biotic) factors: Predation, competition
* Nonliving (abiotic) factors: Climate, resources.
What are density-dependent factors?
Factors that affect population size in relation to its density
Examples include:
* Disease
* Competition
* Predation.
Define density-independent factors.
Factors that influence population size regardless of density
Examples include:
* Natural disasters
* Climate changes.
What is sustainability?
The ability to maintain ecological balance and resource use over time
Involves responsible management of resources.
What is a carbon footprint?
The total amount of greenhouse gases produced directly and indirectly by human activities
Measured in carbon dioxide equivalents.
Define renewable resources.
Resources that can be replenished naturally over time
Examples include:
* Solar energy
* Wind energy
* Biomass.
What are nonrenewable resources?
Resources that are finite and cannot be replenished within a human timescale
Examples include:
* Fossil fuels
* Minerals.
What are the three main types of technology that influence sustainability?
- Renewable energy technologies
- Waste management technologies
- Sustainable agriculture technologies
These technologies help reduce environmental impact.
What is the greenhouse effect?
The warming of Earth’s surface due to trapped heat by greenhouse gases
Essential for life but can be intensified by human activities.
How do humans impact biodiversity?
- Habitat destruction
- Pollution
- Overexploitation
- Invasive species introduction
- Climate change
These factors lead to species extinction and ecosystem imbalance.
What is ecological succession?
The process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time
Includes both primary and secondary succession.
Define pioneer species.
The first species to colonize previously disrupted or damaged ecosystems
Examples include lichens and mosses.
What is a stable ecosystem?
An ecosystem that can maintain its structure and function over time despite external changes
Characterized by resilience and biodiversity.
Describe primary succession.
The development of an ecosystem in an area where no soil exists, starting from bare rock
Involves stages from pioneer species to a mature ecosystem.
Describe secondary succession.
The recovery of an ecosystem after a disturbance that leaves the soil intact
Faster than primary succession due to pre-existing soil.
What is a habitat?
The natural environment in which an organism lives
Includes all biotic and abiotic factors.
