Exam #2 Vocab

Question 1

population

Answer 1

group of individuals of the same species in a single area

Question 2

species

Answer 2

“kind” of organism

Question 3

community

Answer 3

all the species in a single area

Question 4

species evenness

Answer 4

the relative abundance of species in a community

Question 5

species diversity

Answer 5

consider richness and evenness

Question 6

producer

Answer 6

capture abiotic energy

Question 7

trophic levels

Answer 7

distance from the abiotic energy source

Question 8

disturbance

Answer 8

environmental change that substantially modifies the structure and resources of a community

Question 9

succession

Answer 9

predictable change in community structure after a disturbance

Question 10

climax community

Answer 10

the final community in ecological succession that will remain as long as no disturbance occurs

Question 11

eutrophication

Answer 11

high nutrients increase biomass and decrease species richness

Question 12

keystone species

Answer 12

when present species richness is much higher

Question 13

ecological equilibrium

Answer 13

a community at a near steady state

Question 14

community resistance

Answer 14

ability to remain at equilibrium despite a possible disturbance

Question 15

community resilience

Answer 15

spread of a community return to equilibrium (speed of succession) more diverse communities usually are more resistant and resilience

Question 16

habitat fragmentation

Answer 16

separation of habitat patches into smaller patches (“islands”); lowers species richness

Question 17

edge effect

Answer 17

the periphery of the habitat patch affected by the adjacent habitat

Question 18

intraspecific

Answer 18

individuals of some species

Question 19

interspecific

Answer 19

individuals of different species

Question 20

symbiosis

Answer 20

general term for interaction between individuals of different species

Question 21

competition

Answer 21

organisms use same resource

Question 22

predation

Answer 22

one organism kills and eats another from the outside

Question 23

parasitism and grazing

Answer 23

one organism eats part of another without killing it

Question 24

commensalism

Answer 24

one organism benefits and the other is unaffected

Question 25

amensalism

Answer 25

one organism if harmed and the other is unaffected

Question 26

mutualism

Answer 26

both organisms benefit from the interaction

Question 27

ecosystem

Answer 27

community of living organisms and the abiotic factors with which they interact

Question 28

biogeochemical cycle

Answer 28

geological and biological processes that recycle elements vital to life

Question 29

biome

Answer 29

geographic region classified according to the main plant types present

Question 30

micronutrients

Answer 30

substances required in relatively small amounts by living organisms

Question 31

organic matter

Answer 31

organisms and parts of organisms (part of dead living things apart of it)

Question 32

microorganisms

Answer 32

bacteria and fungi that cycle and transform nutrients

Question 33

mycorrhizae

Answer 33

fungi mutualists with plant undergo structures (usually roots)

Question 34

traditional agriculture

Answer 34

use large amounts of human and or animal labor; usually produces diverse foods for farmer use plus more to sell (intercropping, crop rotation)

Question 35

intercropping

Answer 35

uses the same to grow 2 crops at the same time

Question 36

crop rotation

Answer 36

uses the same field to grow different crops at different times

Question 37

plantation agriculture

Answer 37

uses large amounts of human labor; large scale and usually produces one crop to sell agricultural green revolution

Question 38

organic agriculture

Answer 38

minimal off-farm inputs and practices that restore, maintain or enhance environmental health and productivity (focus on health and environmental impact)

Question 39

sustainable agriculture

Answer 39

balances profitability and environmental stewardship that will allow for long-term productivity

Question 40

mycorrhizae- plant mutualism

Answer 40

plants get more water and micronutrients; fungus gets glucose

Question 41

rhizobium bacteria-legume mutualism

Answer 41

the plant gets ammonia; bacteria get glucose

Question 42

tillage

Answer 42

turning over soil (plowing); if extensive can cause erosion and deep compaction

Question 43

conventional agriculture

Answer 43

high input, high yield

Question 44

coal

Answer 44

solid fossil fuel formed from compression of plant material in low or no oxygen sediments

Question 45

oil/ petroleum

Answer 45

liquid fossil fuel formed from compression of algae in low or no oxygen sediments

Question 46

natural gas

Answer 46

gaseous fossil fuels formed from the compression of algae or plants in low or no-oxygen sediments

Question 47

undernutrition

Answer 47

deficiency in a macro or micronutrient

Question 48

climate

Answer 48

the long-term average of weather conditions

Question 49

climate change

Answer 49

global change in climate patterns or conditions

Question 50

global warming

Answer 50

increase in global average temperature

Question 51

green revolution (1940-1960s)

Answer 51

increased yield; increased input (“hybrid” seed, mechanization, irrigation, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides)