GENERAL DEFINITIONS Flashcards
Define Ecology
This is the study of organisms in relation to their environment
What is a Biosphere?
The part of the earth and its atmosphere that is inhabited by living organisms
What is a Lithosphere?
This is the solid, outer crust of the earth. It consists or rocks, buried organic matter, soil, sediments and minerals.
Define Ecosystems
The natural unit composed of living and non-living components whose interactions result in a stable and self-perpetuating system.
What is a Monomictic Lake?
A lake that mixes only once a year. They can be cold or warm.
What is a Polymictic Lake?
A lake that mixes multiple times a year
What is an Oligomictic lake?
Lakes found in less cold climates compared to amictic lakes and that thaw once every few years.
What is a Meromictic lake?
A lake that does not mix at all due to it being too deep.
What is a Dimictic lake?
A lake that mixes twice a year
What is an Amictic lake?
This is a lake that is permanently covered in ice and therefore never mixes.
Define Turbidity
This is the measure of the relative clarity of a liquid and a measurement of ow much light is scattered by the material.
High turbidity = not very clear
Low turbidity = very clear
What is an oligotrophic lake?
A lake with a low nutrient load and therefore has a low rate or productivity. Generally very clear, deep and cold
What is a eutrophic lake?
A lake with a high nutrient load and therefore high rates of productivity. Generally very murky/brown and shallow. Lots of plants.
The bottom is devoid of oxygen.
What is eutrophication?
This is the excessive and sometimes uncontrollable plant and algal growth. It occurs due to an increase in the availability of one or more limiting (growth) factors that is needed for photosynthesis such as light or carbon dioxide.
What is synecology?
This is the study of natural whole plant/animal communities such as lakes or ponds or grasslands.
