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Environmental Science > Species & Populations > Flashcards

Species & Populations Flashcards

(54 cards)

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1
Q

Ecology

A

Study of living & non-living parts that interact within an ecosystem

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2
Q

Ecosystem

A

Community of interdependent organisms & their interactions with the phyiscal environment

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3
Q

Pyramid

A
  1. organisms
  2. species
  3. populations
  4. community
  5. ecosystems
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4
Q

Biosphere

A

Global ecosystem composed of living organisms and the abiotic factors from which they derive energy and nutrients

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5
Q

Organism

A

An individual animal, plant, or single celled life form which goes through life processes

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6
Q

Species

A

A group of organisms sharing common characteristics that are able to reproduce and produce fertile offspring

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7
Q

Binomal Nomenclature

A

Used by scientists to identify a specfiic species.
Always underlined or in italics.
Genus is capitalized.
Species is lower case

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8
Q

Dichotomous Key

A

Used to identify organisms

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9
Q

Endemic Species

A

Species found only in 1 specific region of the Earth and are most vulnerable to die out
EX: kangaroos (Australia), Lemurs (Madagascar)

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10
Q

Population

A

A specific species in 1 area.

EX: African Elephant in the bush of Liwandi, Bottlenose dolphins of the Indian River Lagoon

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11
Q

Community

A

Several populations within 1 area

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12
Q

Biotic Factors

A

All the living components of an ecosystem

EX: plants, bacteria, fungi, animals

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13
Q

Abiotic Factors

A

Non-living physical factors in an ecosytem that may influence an organism or system
EX: temperature, salinity, pH, light

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14
Q

Habitat

A

The place where an organism lives that provides them with the necessary components of life
EX: food, water, shelter

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15
Q

Niche

A

The role “job” of the organism

EX: plants make food for rest of food chain, tigers keep herbivore population under control

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16
Q

Fundamental Niche

A

The entire range of condiitons in which a species could live

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17
Q

Realized Niche

A

The actual conditions under which the species lives (usually due to competition- limiting factors)

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18
Q

Competition

A

Demand for a limited resource by multiple organisms

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19
Q

“Competitive Exclusion Principle”

A

States that 2 species cannot coexist in a community if they share a niche, or compete for the same resources

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20
Q

Intraspecific Competition

A

Competition within 1 species

EX: tree sapplings compete for light, flamingoes compete for mates

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21
Q

Interspecific Competition

A

Competition between different species

EX: a puma vs a brown bear competing for salmon

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22
Q

Mark & Recapture Method

Study These Flashcards
A

Used for aquatic & terrestrial animals.
1. Camera / traps used.
2. Captured animals are marked & released.
3. After a bit of time, traps are set again.
4. Repeat recapture as many times as possible.
Should not affect survival / fitness of organism.

23
Q

The Lincoln Index

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A

Assuming no deaths, births, immigration, emmigration.
N = (# marked in 1st catch) x (total # in 2nd catch)
/
(# of recaptures in 2nd catch)

24
Q

Quadrat Method

Study These Flashcards
A

Used for plants & sessile organisms.

  1. Mark out grid line along 2 edges of area
  2. Use calculator / tables to generate 2 random numbers to use as coordinates & place quadrat on ground with corner at coordinates
  3. Count individuals inside quadrat
  4. Repeat steps 2&3 as many times as possible
  5. Measure total size of area occupied in square meters.
  6. Caluclate mean number of indivuals per quadrat
  7. Calculate population size with equation
25
Quadrat Method Equation
N = (mean # per quadrat) x (total area) / (area of each quadrat)
26
Density
of individuals per unit area
27
Frequency
Proportion of quadrats sampled that contain your species. | Assessment of patchiness of distribution.
28
% Cover
Space within the quadrat occupied by each species. | Distinguishes the larger and smaller species.
29
Population Characteristics
1. Size (# of individuals) 2. Density (# of indivuals in a certain space) 3. Dispersion (spatial pattren of individuals: random, uniformed, clumped) 4. Age distribution (proportion of each age)
30
Population Dynamics
Changes of populations in response to environmental stress & change
31
Keystone Species
Species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend
32
Foundation Species
Species that has strong role in structuring a community
33
Flagship Species
Species selected to act as ambassador, icon, symbol for defined habitat, issue, campaign, environmental cause
34
Symbiotic Relationships
2 organisms live closely with each other & at least 1 benefits
35
Mutualism
Both organisms benefit from each other | EX: termites & microorganisms in their stomach
36
Parasitism
1 organism benefits while the other is harmed | EX: tapeworm & human intestines
37
Commensalism
1 organism benefits and the other is unaffected | EX: pilot fish & shark
38
Predation
1 animal feeding on another | EX: Lion eating antelope
39
Carrying Capacity
Maximum number of organisms of a single species that an ecosystem can support
40
Limiting Factors
1. Birth 2. Death 3. Immigration 4. Emigration Population changes = (birth + immigration) - (death + emigration)
41
Density-dependent
Limiting factors that increase as density increases. | EX: competition for food, waste build up, predation, disease
42
Density-independent
Limiting factors whose occurence are not related to population density. EX: extreme cold or heat, wildfires, flooding, drought, vehicle accidents
43
Biotic Potential
Capacity for growth. | Perfect case scenario.
44
Environmental Resistance
All factors which limit growth of populations
45
Exponential Growth
J Curve. | Occurs with few or no resource limitations.
46
Logistic Growth
1. Exponential growth 2. Slower growth 3. Then plateau at carrying capacity
47
S Curve
Population will fluctuate around carrying capacity
48
Negative Feedback
Response that causes output of system to be lessened so feedback tends to stabilize system
49
R-selected Species
``` Opportunists. Reproduce early. Many offspring, few survive. Common after disturbance but poor competitors. EX: rats, roaches ```
50
K-selected Species
``` Competitiors. Reproduce late. Few offspring, most survive. Common in stable areas, strong competitiors. EX: kangaroos, killer whales ```
51
Human Impact on Natural Populations
1. Fragmenting & degrating habitats 2. Simplifying natural ecosystems 3. Using / destroying world primary productivity which supports all consumers 4. Strengthening pest & disease populations 5. Eliminating predators 6. Introducing exotic species 7. Overharvesting renewable resources 8. Interfering with natural chemical cycling & energy flow
52
Environmental Stress on Organisms
1. Physiological changes 2. Psychological changes 3. Behavior changes 4. Few / no offspring 5. Genetic defects 6. Cancers 7. Death
53
Environmental Stress on Populations
1. Changes in population size 2. Changes in age structure (old, young, weak may die) 3. Survival of strains genetically resistant to stress 4. Loss of genetic diversity & adaptability 5. Extinction
54
Environmental Stresses on Ecosystem
1. Distruption of biogeochemical cycles 2. Habitat loss & degradation 3. Lower species diveristy 4. Less complex food webs 5. Lower stability 6. Ecosystem collapse

Environmental Science (5 decks)

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