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Mrs. Unger's AP Biology > Unit 8: Ecological Interactions > Flashcards

Unit 8: Ecological Interactions Flashcards

1
Q

Define

Ecology

A

The study of living organisms (biotic) and their environment (abiotic)

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2
Q

List

Levels of Ecological Organization

A

Individual

Population

Community

Ecosystem

Biome OR Landscape

Biosphere

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3
Q

Define

Population

A

A group of individuals that have gene flow

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4
Q

Define

Community

A

All populations living and interacting in a given area

(and also a really hilarious TV show)

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5
Q

Define

Ecosystem

A

The living and nonliving aspects of a particular environment

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6
Q

List

Abiotic factors that influence ecosystems

A

Availability of sunlight

Temperature

Availability of water

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7
Q

What organisms are most important in an ecosystem?

A

Autotrophs

All other organisms depend on their ability to capture energy and make organic molecules

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8
Q

Define

Biome

A

All ecosystems on Earth that share similar biotic and abiotic factors

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9
Q

What two factors determine terrestrial biomes?

A

Temperature and precipitation

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10
Q

List

Terrestrial biomes and basic characteristics of each

A
  • Rainforest: Consistent temperature (warm) and rainfall (a lot)
  • Savanna: Hot with little precipitation
  • Desert: Dry (Subtropical = hot and dry; Arctic tundra = cold and dry)
  • Chaparral: Hot, dry summers and short rainy season
  • Grasslands: Temperature fluctuates seasonally; fairly dry
  • Temperature forests: Temperature fluctuates seasonally; consistent rainfaull
  • Boreal forests: Cold and dry winter with short periods of warmth in the summer
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11
Q

List

Major aquatic biomes

A

Marine (saltwater) - intertidal, coral reefs, oceanic zones

Freshwater - lakes, ponds, rivers, wetlands

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12
Q

Define

Climate

A

Long term, predictable conditions

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13
Q

Define

Weather

A

Short-term conditions (daily or seasonal) in an area

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14
Q

Define

Demography

A

Statistical descriptions of populations

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15
Q

How are populations described?

A

Total size (N)

Distribution

Density

Composition (age, sex, etc)

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16
Q

How can population size be determined?

A

Counting

Quadrats

Mark & Recapture

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17
Q

Describe

Quadrat use

A

Random locations selected

Quadrat of specific size is set at random location

Individuals within the quadrat are counted

Total population extrapolated from quadrat samples

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18
Q

Describe

Mark & Recapture

A

Animals are caught and tagged

Tagged animals are released

New group is caught

Number of tagged animals is compared to total number in sample

Population (N) = (Total number marked * Sample size) / (Number marked from the sample)

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19
Q

List the types of

Dispersion patterns

A

Uniform

Random

Clumped

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20
Q

Define

Survivorship

A

Ratio of individuals that survive over a specified time period compared to the initial population

Often given as a rate per 1000

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21
Q

Define

Mortality rate

A

Ratio of individuals that die over a specified time period compared to the initial population

Often given as a rate per 1000

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22
Q

Describe

Survivorship curve (generic)

A

A graph that shows the survivorship of a population by age

Values near 100 indicate a low mortality, whereas values near 0 indicate that very few survive to the specified age

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23
Q

Describe

Three types of survivorship curves

A

Type 1: Most individuals that are born survive into adulthood

Type 2: Survivorship drops consistently over life expectancy

Type 3: Most individuals born do not survive into adulthood

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24
Q

Define

Exponential population growth

A

Population growth with no limiting factors; J-shaped curve

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25
*Define* **Logistic population growth**
**Population growth that slows as the population size increases**
26
*Outline* **Three stages of logistic growth model**
**1. Exponential phase: The population has few density-dependent factors that limit growth** **2. Transition phase: The rate of increase levels off** **3. Plateau / Leveling phase: The rate of increase approaches zero and the population levels off**
27
*Define* **Carrying capacity**
**The maximum number of individuals that one area can support**
28
*Define* **Density-dependent limiting factors**
**Factors that do not affect population growth for very small populations, but have large impact on large populations**
29
*List* **Density-dependent factors**
**Intraspecific competition** **Disease** **Build-up of toxins**
30
*Define* **Intraspecific competition**
**Competition between members of one population** **Examples: Food / resources, land (territoriality), mates**
31
# *Define and give examples of* **Density-Independent factors**
**Factors that limit population growth that equally impact populations near zero and near K** **Ex: Natural disasters**
32
*Define* **r (ecology)**
**Intrinsic rate of increase** **The per capita change in population size (per capita birth minus mortality)**
33
*Define* **ZPG**
**Zero population growth** **r = 0**
34
*Define* **Life History**
**How a population's evolutionary history influences their energy budget**
35
**Relate *energy acquisition* of a population to *energy use***
**Organisms must balance their energy intake and use.** **When intake \> use, excess energy can be used to grow and reproduce.** **Growth, reproduction, and parental care must be balanced to maximize reproductive fitness.**
36
*Define* **Fecundity**
**Potential reproductive capacity (idealized)**
37
*Relate* **Fecundity and parental care**
**Energy budgets typically mean a population can expend energy on high fecundity but low parental care OR low fecundity with high parental care;** **i.e. species typically either make a lot of offspring that mostly die or invest energy in child rearing for relatively few offspring**
38
*Describe features of* **K selected species**
**High population (N near K)** **Tend to invest in long gestation and parental care for few offspring**
39
*Describe features of* **r- selected species**
**Large fluctuations in population size due to changing conditions** **Tend to invest in high numbers of offspring instead of parental care**
40
*Define* **Predation**
**When animals hunt and kill other animals for food**
41
*Define* **Herbivory**
**When animals consume plant materials**
42
*List* **Defense mechanisms against predation**
Escape tactics (speed, loose skin) Defenses (claws, teeth, protective shells or coats, spikes, etc) Camouflage Chemicals (poisons, unpleasant tastes, unpleasant smells) Behaviors (staying in groups, playing dead) Aposematic coloration
43
*List* **Defense mechanisms against herbivory**
**Tough tissues** **Poisons / foul scents** **Spikes / barbs / thorns** **Alternative "offerings" or growing near more appetizing plants**
44
*Define* **Aposematic coloration**
**Warning colorings** **Predators may evolve to associate certain colors with unpleasant tastes, toxins, or smells and then avoid potential prey with those colors**
45
*Describe* **Batesian mimicry**
**Evolution of a harmless species to look more like a dangerous species to avoid being preyed upon**
46
*Describe* **Müllerian mimicry**
**Convergent evolution of many dangerous prey organisms to look similar, leading to strong aversion by potential predators**
47
*Define* **Competitive Exclusion Principle**
**Two species cannot occupy the same niche**
48
*Define* **Niche**
**All aspects of a population's role in an ecosystem** **Includes all interactions between the population and other populations, and the population with its environment**
49
*Define* **Resource partitioning**
**Two populations with similar niches may divide a resource for which they are competing, and then be able to co-exist within the ecosystem**
50
# *Define and list the types of* **Symbioses**
**Close and prolonged interactions between individuals of different species** **-Mutualism** **-Commensalism** **-Parasitism**
51
*Describe and give examples of* **Mutualism**
**Symbiotic relationship in which both participating species are benefitted** **Ex: Anenome and clown fish; bee and flower**
52
*Describe and give examples of* **Commensalism**
**Symbiotic relationship in which one species is benefitted and the other is unaffected** **Ex: Birds (nesting) and trees**
53
*Describe and give examples of* **Parasitism**
**Symbiotic relationship in which one species is benefitted and the other is harmed** **Ex: SO MANY!... basically every infection**
54
*Define* **Foundation species**
**A species in a community that is integral to the community** **Often those that make the usable energy or modify the landscape in such a way that others may inhabit the area**
55
*Define* **Keystone species**
**A population in a community that has a major impact on the species richness of that community and which, if removed, would lead to dramatic changes in the composition of the community**
56
*Define* **Species richness**
**Number of unique species in a habitat or ecosystem**
57
*Define* **Invasive species**
**Non-native species that enter new ecosystems; often lack natural predators and can have rapid population growth that affects native populations in the area**
58
*Define* **Disturbance**
**Major changes to a community's structure and/or composition**
59
**Relate *species richness* and *disturbances***
**Ecosystems with greater species richness are less affected by disturbances and are more able to rebound after disturbances**
60
*Define* **Succession**
**The predictable changes to a community over time**
61
*Define* **Primary succession**
**The establishment of a new community where there previously was none, and the predictable changes that happens to that community**
62
*Describe* **Primary succession**
**Rocky area that lacks soil is inhabited by pioneer species** **The pioneer species (plants) break down the terrain and build layers of soil** **New plant species replace the pioneers, and simple animal species enter as well** **Community changes continue until equilibrium occurs**
63
*Define* **Secondary succession**
**Succession of an uninhabited area that already has established soil**
64
*Define* **Climax community**
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Mrs. Unger's AP Biology (16 decks)

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