Exam 3 Study Guide Flashcards
Chapters 10, 12, 14, 18 (168 cards)
1
Q
Ecology
A
the interaction between organisms and their environment
2
Q
Community
A
all populations of organisms living in a defined area
3
Q
Habitat
A
the physical place where an organism lives
4
Q
Niche
A
the resources an organism uses for survival, growth, and reproduction
5
Q
What are the two types of niches?
A
- Fundamental niche
- Realized niche
6
Q
Fundamental niche
A
all resources a species is capable of using
7
Q
Realized niche
A
all resources a species actually uses in a community
8
Q
What are the three ways that species can interact?
A
- Competition
- Predatory-Prey Interactions
- Symbiosis
9
Q
Limiting resources
A
resources that have the ability to affect the growth of a population
Include: nutrients, light, space (habitat), oxygen or carbon dioxide, inorganic compounds
10
Q
Carrying capacity
A
the maximum number of organisms that any habitat can support
11
Q
Competition
A
when organisms must “fight” with one another over a limited resource they both require for survival
12
Q
What are the two types of competition?
A
- Intraspecific competition
- Interspecific competition
13
Q
Intraspecific competition
A
organisms compete with members of their own species
14
Q
Interspecific competition
A
organisms compete with members of other species
15
Q
What are the two possible outcomes of interspecific competition?
A
- Principle of competitive exclusion
- Resource partitioning
16
Q
Principle of competitive exclusion
A
one individual excludes the other
“two species or populations cannot inhabit the same niche: one will consistently out-compete the other”(NIH)
17
Q
Resource Partitioning
A
competing species can coexist if they use the same resource in a different way or at a different time
18
Q
Symbiosis
A
one species living in or on another
19
Q
What are the three types of symbiosis?
A
- Mutualism
- Commensalism
- Parasitism
20
Q
Mutualism
A
both species benefit
21
Q
Commensalism
A
one species benefits with no apparent effect on the other
22
Q
Parasitism
A
one species benefits and the other is harmed
23
Q
What are the two types of mutually symbiotic relationships?
A
- Facultative symbiosis
- Obligate symbiosis
24
Q
Facultative symbiosis
A
partners in a symbiotic relationship can live without one another
25
Obligate symbiosis
partners in a symbiotic relationship cannot survive without the other partner
26
What are the names of the two partners in a symbiotic relationship (the smaller partner and the larger partner)
1. Symbiont (smaller)
2. Host (larger)
27
Symbiont
the smaller partner in a symbiotic relationship
28
Host
the larger partner in a symbiotic relationship
29
Predation
Predatory kills prey for food. Prey species adapt to avoid being eaten
30
Three adaptations of prey species to avoid being eaten
1. Warning coloration
2. Camouflage
3. Mimicry
31
Ecosystem
all the biotic and abiotic components in a defined area
32
All ecosystems require a constant _______ of energy.
input
33
Chemicals and nutrients are _________ within ecosystems.
cycled
34
Trophic Structure
The route of energy flow through an ecosystem (primary producers --> herbivorous consumers --> carnivorous consumers)
35
What is the ocean's main primary producer?
Phytoplankton
36
True/False: All the energy stored by individuals at one trophic level is available to the next.
FALSE. The energy needs of each individual take up energy that has been consumed or created.
37
On average, what percentage of energy is transferred to the next level of the food chain?
Approximately 10% (5-20%)
38
True/False: Food chains rarely extend beyond 4 trophic levels except in the ocean.
TRUE.
39
Why do food chains rarely extend beyond 4 trophic levels except in the ocean?
More biomass created at the bottom trophic level (primary producers), so the system can support additional secondary consumers.
40
Gross primary production
total amount of primary production
41
Net primary production
organic matter remaining after primary producers meet their own needs; the base of the trophic pyramid
42
Standing stock
the total amount of phytoplankton (the main primary producers) in the water
43
Benthic Organisms:
live in or near the bottom features of the marine environment
44
What are the two zones of the benthic zone?
1. Intertidal zone
2. Subtidal zone
45
Intertidal Zone
benthic zone located between high and low tide, exposed at least once a day
46
Subtidal zone
benthic zone below tide level, always submerged
47
Pelagic organisms
live in the water column
48
What are the three main subdivisions of the pelagic zone?
1. Epipelagic zone
2. Mesopelagic zone
3. Deep sea zones (bathypelagic, abyssopelagic, hadopelagic)
49
What are the three main subdivisions of the deep sea zones?
1. Bathypelagic Zone
2. Abyssopelagic Zone
3. Hadopelagic Zone
50
True/False: Sunlight does NOT penetrate to the deep sea zones?
TRUE
51
Mesopelagic Zone
from the lower limit of the epipelagic zone to 1000 meters; less sunlight, but some photosynthesis occurs in this zone
52
Epipelagic zone
from the water's surface to 100-200 meters; sunlight is available
53
Carbon
an element required for primary produces to create organic molecules; cycled through an ecosystem
54
Nitrogen and phosphorous
elements required for primary production; cycled through an ecosystem
55
True/False: Certain elements or compounds cannot be metabolized or excreted by organisms.
TRUE.
56
What are the two possible results from organisms consuming elements or compounds that cannot be metabolized or excreted?
1. Bioaccumulation
2. Biomagnification
57
Bioaccumulation
elements or compounds that cannot be metabolized or excreted accumulate in and organisms and may reach toxic levels
58
Biomagnification
effects of bioaccumulated materials are magnified through the food web
59
Estuary
semi-enclosed area where fresh water and seawater meet and mix
60
What changes are observed in estuary ecosystems?
Changes in salinity, temperature, air exposure, presence of soft sediments
61
Estuaries have _____ species diversity. (low or high?)
low
62
Species diversity
number of species
63
Estuaries have _____ biomass (low or high)
high
64
Biomass
total number of living organisms
65
What are the two types of estuary margins?
1. Passive margins
2. Active margins
66
Are estuaries best developed in passive margins or active margins?
Passive margins
67
Passive margins
areas where the coastal plain is flat and the continental shelf is wide; where estuaries are best developed
68
Active margins
areas with steep, narrow continental shelves and coastal plains
69
What are the four types of estuaries?
1. Drowned River Valleys
2. Bar-Build Estuaries
3. Tectonic Estuaries
4. Fjords
70
What are the most common type of estuaries?
Drowned River Valleys
71
Drowned River Valleys
formed by the drowning of low land around the mouths of rivers when sea levels rose after the last ice age
72
Bar-Built Estuaries
built by the accumulation of sediments into sand bars or barrier islands
73
Tectonic Estuaries
formed as a result of land sinking due to movements of the Earth's crust
74
Fjords
deep valleys cut on the coast as a result of retreating glaciers
75
What is the average salinity level in estuaries (as a percentage)
5-30% or more
76
What factors to contribute to variance in salinity level?
1. Distance from seawater
2. Freshwater input
3. Depth
77
Salt Wedge
saltwater is heavier and sinks below freshwater
78
Euryhaline organisms
organisms tolerate a wide range of salinities
79
What are two types of euryhaline organisms?
1. Osmoregulators
2 Osmoconformers
80
Osmoregulators
Euryhaline organisms that have mechanisms for keeping internal concentration stable
81
Osmoconformers
Euryhaline organisms that have internal concentrations that vary with that of their surroundsing
82
How do flowering plants in estuaries adapt to salinity?
Flowering plants in estuaries expel excess solutes and concentrate solutes in tissues.
83
Substrate in estuaries
mostly must or sad (difficult to move through for organisms)
84
True/False: Particle sizes of substrate are small enough that most areas are anoxic (devoid of oxygen)
TRUE
85
True/False: Water temperature has low variation.
FALSE. Water temperature has wide variation, especially at low tides.
86
True/False: Water transparency is very poor in estuaries.
TRUE. Suspended sediments and particles from rivers reduce the water transparency, and lower clarify makes it harder for photosynthesis to occur in autotrophs.
87
What plant species dominates along the water edge in salt marshes?
Cordgrass (Spartina species)
88
Salt Marshes
- Cordgrass
- High primary production
- Nursery for young organisms of many species
- Contribute detritus to estuary
89
True/False: Mangrove forests are typically located in tropical and subtropical areas.
TRUE. Mangrove forests typically replace salt marshes in these areas
90
Pneumatophores
vertical roots that help in the exchange of gases within mangrove forests
91
What is one benefit of mangrove forests for environmental protection?
The mangrove trees can protect coasts against harsh waves during storms.
92
Seagrass Beds
- can be found in some estuaries
- high primary productions
- helps stabilize substrate
93
Oyster reefs
beds of oysters on which many other species grow and thrive; found in many estuaries; provide hard substrate
94
What phylum are corals?
Cnidarian - the phylum characterized by stinging cells used for defense or to capture prey
95
What type of body does coral have (polyp or medusa)?
Polyp
96
What is the soft body of coral enclosed in?
A hard shell of calcium carbonate created by the coral
97
What are the two basic types of coral?
1. Hermatypic
2. Ahermatypic
98
Hermatypic coral
- Reef builders
- Normally contain zooxanthellae
- Restricted by water temperature and quality
99
Ahermatypic Corals
- do NOT build reefs
- may not contain zooxanthellae
- NOT restricted by water temperature or quality
100
Are hermatypic coral or ahermatypic coral reef builders?
Hermatypic
101
Coral reefs
groups of coral polyps interconnected by thin layers of tissue
102
True/False: Grouped polyps share a nervous system and digestive connection.
TRUE
103
What is the size of each polyp in a coral reef?
1 - 3 millimeters
104
Each polyp lays down new __________ beneath the polyp body so the entire coral colony continues to group upward
Calcium carbonate
105
What is the role of zooxanthellae in the symbiotic relationship with coral?
Zooxanthellae inside the coral produce organic matter through photosynthesis which is passed on to the coral
106
How do coral feed?
Coral possess nematocysts (stinging cells) for capturing prey that come within reach of tentacles (like zooplankton).
Some corals produce sheets of mucous to capture zooxanthellae or detritus.
107
Mesenterial filaments
Extensions of the coral's gut wall used to feed
- secrete digestive enzymes
- allow coral to feed and digest food outside of the body
108
What conditions are required for reef growth?
1. Hard substrate
2. Optimal light
3. Narrow temperature range
4. Narrow salinity range
5. Low wave action
6. Low sediment load in water
7. Low pollution
8. Narrow range of pH
109
Why is optimal light a required condition for reef growth?
It allows the symbiotic zooxanthellae to photosynthesize
110
What temperature range is optimal for reef growth?
68°F - 86°F
111
Coral bleaching
an expulsion of zooxanthellae from the coral polyp; can lead to the corals death; results from temperatures above 86°F
112
What is the optimal salinity range for reef growth?
35 parts per thousand
113
Why is low sediment load in water optimal for reef growth?
When sediments settle on coral, it can cause damage or reduce zooxanthellae photosynthesis
114
Why is low wave action optimal for reef growth?
Heavy wave action causes suspension of sediments.
115
Why is low pollution optimal for reef growth?
Pollution kills coral polyps.
116
Where does taller, branching coral form AND what is the benefit of this growth form?
Shallow areas; competition for light and space
117
Where do flatter coral form AND what is the benefit of this growth form?
deep areas; assist with capturing all possible light available
118
What organisms contribute to reef structures besides stony corals?
1. Coralline algae
2. Soft corals (sea whips and sea fans)
3. Sponges
4. Bryozoans
5. Anthozoans (Scleractinia corals, soft corals, organ-pipe corals, blue coral, gorgonians, precious corals, black corals)
6. Hydrozoans (fire corals, lace corals)
119
What are the three types of coral reefs?
1. Barrier reef
2. Atoll
3. Fringing reef
120
What are the simplest and most common form of reefs?
Fringing reefs
121
Where do fringing reefs develop?
Near the shore in tropical waters
122
Fringing Reefs
Narrow strips along the shore
123
Structure of Fringing Reefs
1. Inner Reef Flat
2. Outer Reef Slope
3. Reef Crest
124
Inner Reef Flat
- wide, gently sloping
-may be exposed in places at low tide
125
Outer Reef Slope
- much more steep and not exposed to air
- contains living and dead coral, algae, invertebrates
126
Reef Crest
- shallow, upper edge of the reef slope
127
Where is growth normally high in a fringing reef (reef flat, reef slope, and/or reef crest)?
Reef slope and reef crest
128
Why is growth slower on the reef flat?
Runoff from land increases sediment, freshwater, and pollution
129
Barrier Reefs
Grow along shore or farther from shore
130
What is the difference between fringing reefs and barrier reefs?
Barrier reefs have a deep lagoon between the shore and the reef
131
Typical structure of a Barrier Reef
1. Back-reef slope
2. Reef flat
3. Reef crest
4. Fore-reef slope
132
Keys (or "cayes")
Waves often wash sediment onto the back reef slope or reef flat which causes reduced coral growth. Enough sediment may accrue to form small islands on the reef called keys
133
What is the largest reef structure in the world with regards to total coral area?
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
- 1200 miles length
- 10-200 miles width
134
Atolls
circular reef structure surrounding a central lagoon
135
Typical structure of Atolls
1. Reef Flat
2. Inner Reef Slope
3. Outer Reef Slope
136
2 Largest Atolls
- Maldives, Indian Ocean
- Marshall Islands, Pacific Ocean
137
Atoll Formation
When a volcanic island is formed, the coral begins a fringing reef around the island. When the island is lowered and disappears below the water surface (due to weather and geologic activity), the outer band of coral surrounding a lagoon is left.
138
Why is the water column surrounding coral reefs normally very low in nutrients AND what is the result of low nutrient content?
Due to the position of reefs away from rivers and other sources of nutrients; water surrounding the reef does not support enough primary production, the base of the food chain
139
What are the primary producers in the coral reef food web?
- Corals / Zooxanthellae
- Seaweeds
- Coralline algae
- Photosynthetic bacteria
140
What are the secondary consumers in the coral reef food web?
- Grazers (fishes, urchins, snails, chitons)
- Detritus feeders (sea cucumbers, worms, amphipods, soft corals)
- Coral feeders (fishes, sea stars, crabs)
- Plankton feeders (fishes, sea fans, feather stars)
141
What are the predators in the coral reef food web?
Fishes, squid, snails
142
What organisms feed directly on corals or their products (mucous, eggs, larvae)?
- Triggerfishes --> coral
- Sea urchins --> coral
- Parrotfishes --> coral
- Flatworms --> coral
- Sea star --> coral
- Snails --> coral
- Sea fans --> mucus
- Crabs --> mucus
- Shrimps --> mucus
- Bacteria --> mucus
- Zooplankton --> mucus
- Wrasses -> eggs, larvae
- Damselfishes --> eggs, larvae
- Butterflyfishes --> coral, eggs, larvae
143
What are three way organisms deter predation?
- May produce toxic or foul-tasting chemicals
- May produce hard structures (like spicules or sclerites)
- May grow an encrusting form that is difficult to feed upon
144
What are ways that coral limit competition?
- Some grow fast and upright to maximize ability to quickly reproduce
- Some grow slow but very large to out-compete in the long-run
145
What happens if corals contact one another?
They may feed directly or sting one another.
146
What organisms do corals compete with for light and space?
- corals (intraspecies)
- algae (interspecies)
- seagrasses (interspecies)
- invertebrates (interspecies)
147
Most habitat destruction that occurs close to shores as a direct result of _________.
human development (unplanned or poorly planned development)
148
Destruction of marine habitations is ______ common in developing countries and _____ common in developed countries (more or less for each answer)
less; more
149
Approximately what fraction of all coral reefs have been lost or at risk?
1/4 (25%)
150
What fraction of reef-building coral species face extenction?
1/3 (approximately 33%)
151
What factors endanger coral reefs?
1. Pollution from sewage, agricultural runoff, sedimentation
2. Rising temperature
3. Ocean acidification
4. Fishing with explosives
5. Collection for museum trade
152
Trawling
nets are dragged along the bottom of the ocean, causing re-suspension of sediments which can kill many suspension and deposit feeders
153
Pollution
the human introduction of a substance that reduces the quality of the environment
154
Most marine pollutants are the result of ____-based activities (land or ocean).
Land
155
What are major sources of marine pollution?
1. Fertilizers
2. Sewage
3. Oil
4. Persistent toxic substances
5. Solid wastes (like plastics)
6. Thermal pollution (from power plants)
7. Saline brines (from desalination plants)
8. Radioactive waste
156
Eutrophication
increase in nutrients in water
157
Why are fertilizers a marine pollutant?
Land-based fertilizers wash into streams and rivers and are carried into coastal waters which cases an Increase in nutrients in water (eutrophication) and causes phytoplankton blooms and increase in the amount of bottom seaweeds
158
Why is eutrophication a problem to the marine environment?
As seaweed takes over on the bottom and phytoplankton cells die and drop to the bottom, the massive amounts of organic matter causes an increase in decomposition by bacteria. Oxygen is consumed and anoxic conditions develop, affecting all forms of life.
159
What are sources of sewage pollution?
- Homes
- City buildings
- Stormwater runoff
- Factories
160
Oil polution
Organisms can accumulate components of oil, many of which are toxic
161
Persistent Toxic Substances
- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
- Heavy metals – mercury, lead, cadmium, copper
162
Chlorinated hydrocarbons
- Persistent toxic substance
- Dissolved into the fats of organisms and are passed along the food chain
- Accumulate in their tissues because they are not biodegradable (biological magnification)
163
Global distillation
concentrations of PCBs and heavy metals in polar regions, where low temperatures facilitate condensation of these chemicals brought by winds
164
Threatened species
numbers of individuals of a species are low and the species is in danger of becoming endangered
165
Endangered species
species is in immediate danger of extinction
166
Extermination
human-induced extinctions
167
Examples of marine species under threat of endangerment or extinction
- Whales
- Sharks
- Sea Turtles
- Reef-Building corals
- Giant clams
168
Marine Conservation Efforts
- Fisheries management, especially within exclusive economic zones (EEZ)
- Marine protected areas and marine reserves
- Habitat restoration
- Artificial reefs
