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AP Bio > Unit 8: Ecology > Flashcards

Unit 8: Ecology Flashcards

1
Q

Biotic

A

= living (organisms – behaviors & interactions between organisms)

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2
Q

Abiotic

A

nonliving (temp, water, salinity, sunlight, soil)

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3
Q

Climate

A

long-term prevailing weather conditions in a particular area, (temperature + precipitation + sunlight + wind)

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4
Q

Macroclimate

A

work at seasonal, regional or local level

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5
Q

Microclimate

A

small-scale environmental variation (eg. under
a log)

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6
Q

Climate change effect on species

A

some species may not survive
shifting ranges

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7
Q

Biomes

A

major types of ecosystems that occupy very broad geographic regions

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8
Q

What abiotic factors determine biomes?

A

climate, temperature, salinity, soil type, amount of sunlight, and amount of water that is available

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9
Q

Role of Abiotic factors in the formation of biomes

A

The create suitable or ill suitable conditions for various life forms to live in
- climate influences the distribution of plants - temperature & perception help to determine what type of biome it is
- pH & composition of rocks limits the distribution, helping certain dominate plants to thrive

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10
Q

How do biotic factors help biomes?

A

The primary producers and autotrophs (biotic factors) support the rest of the biome.

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11
Q

Population:

A

group of individuals of same species living in a particular geographic area

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12
Q

Community

A

group of populations of diff species in an area

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13
Q

Ecosystem

A

community of organisms + physical factors

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14
Q

Landscape

A

mosaic of connected ecosystems

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15
Q

biosphere

A

global ecosystem

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16
Q

Global climate patterns

A

Sunlight intensity, Air Circulation & Precipitation Patterns, Ocean Currents, Mountains affect rainfall

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17
Q

Climograph

A

plot of annual mean temperature & precipitation in a particular region

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18
Q

Tropical Rain Forest

A

A terrestrial biome characterized by relatively high precipitation & temperatures year-round.

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19
Q

Desert

A

A terrestrial biome characterized by very low precipitation

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20
Q

Savana

A

A tropical grassland biome w/ scattered individual trees, large herbivores & maintained by occasional fires/drought

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21
Q

Chaparral

A

Biome characterized by mild, rainy winters & long, hot, dry summers; dominated by dense, spiny evergreen shrubs

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22
Q

Temperate Grassland

A

A terrestrial biome that exists at midlatitude regions & is dominated by grasses & forbs.

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23
Q

Northern Coniferous Forest

A

A terrestrial biome characterized by long, cold winters and dominated by cone-bearing trees.

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24
Q

Temperate Broadleaf Forest

A

A biome located throughout midlatitude regions where there is sufficient moisture to support the growth of large, broadleaf deciduous trees

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25
Q

Tundra

A

A terrestrial biome at the extreme limits of plant growth. At the northernmost limits, it is called arctic tundra, and at high altitudes, where plant forms are limited to low shrubby or matlike vegetation, it is called alpine tundra.
- long, cold winters w/ high winds & cold temperatures, less precipitation, low biotic diversity

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26
Q

Lakes

A

bigger & deeper than ponds. Some of the water in lakes is in the aphotic zone, where there is too little sunlight for photosynthesis. Plankton and plants = producers

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27
Q

Wetlands

A

saturated soil, very little water present at some times, but deeper amounts of water at other times. They are also home to specialized plants called hydrophytes, which are able to grow in super wet areas.

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28
Q

Streams & RIvers

A

continuously moving bodies of water that carry large amounts of water from the source, or headwater, to a lake or ocean.

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29
Q

Estuaries

A

brackish water, a mix of freshwater & salt water. Estuaries are unique ecosystems, providing animals w/ food, shelter, and a place for breeding and nesting, as well as a place for resting during migrations.

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30
Q

Intertidal zones

A

submerged w/ water during high tide & exposed to the air during low tide. The zone can take many forms, from sandy beaches to rocky cliffs.

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31
Q

Oceanic Pelagic Zone (Open Water)

A

organisms inhabiting the zone do not come in contact w/ the bottom or the shore throughout their lives. The pelagic zone is nutrient-poor. The large fish find their food by swimming long distances or drifting w/ currents and feeding on nutrient-deficient organisms.

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32
Q

Coral Reefs

A

structures that provide habitat for the fish and invertebrate species that make up the ecosystem. Hard corals create the reef itself. They typically consist of a layer of colonial polyps that live on the surface of a calcium carbonate skeleton that is secreted by the coral polyps

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33
Q

Marine Benthic Zone

A

begins at the shore and extends to the bottom of a waterbody. It is found all over the world. Only a small amount of sunlight reaches this zone. characterized by low temperature & high pressure.

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34
Q

Biogeography

A

geographic distribution of
species

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35
Q

Biogeography Factors

A

Dispersal, Behavior, Biotic & Abiotic

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36
Q

Dispersal that affect biogeography

A

movement away from area of origin

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37
Q

Behavior that affect biogeography

A

Habitat Selection

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38
Q

Biotic factors that affect biogeography

A

other species, food resources,
competition, pollinators, predators

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39
Q

Abiotic Factors that affect biogeography

A

temp, water, oxygen, salinity,
sunlight, rocks & soil

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40
Q

Density

A

individuals / area

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41
Q

Dispersion

A

pattern of spacing between
individuals

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42
Q

Determining population size and density

A

Count every individual, Random sampling, Mark-recapture method

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43
Q

Patterns of Dispersal

A

Clumped, Uniform, Random

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44
Q

Clumped Dispersal

A

most common; near required resource

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45
Q

Uniform Dispersal

A

usually antagonistic interactions

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46
Q

Random Dispersal

A

unpredictable spacing, not common in nature

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47
Q

Demography count

A

Additions: birth & immigration,
& subtractions: death &
emigration

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48
Q

Survivorship Curve

A

represent # individuals alive at
each age

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49
Q

Type I

A

low death rate early in life (humans)

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50
Q

Type II

A

constant death rate over lifespan (squirrels)

51
Q

Type III

A

high death rate early in life (oysters)

52
Q

Change in Pop Size calculation

A

birth-death

53
Q

Zero Pop Growth

A

Birth = Death

54
Q

Exponential population growth

A

ideal conditions,
population grows rapidly (just goes up in like u-shape)

55
Q

Exponential Growth Equation

A

dN/dt = change in population = r*N
r = growth rate of pop.
N = population size

56
Q

Logistic Model & Carrying capacity

A

Unlimited resources are rare! incorporates carrying capacity (K) K = maximum stable population which can be
sustained by environment
(looks like s)

57
Q

Logistic Growth Equation

A

dN/dt = change in population
= rN (K-N/K)
r = growth rate of pop.
N = population size
K = carrying capacity

58
Q

Life History

A

traits that affect an organism’s
schedule of reproduction & survival

59
Q

3 Variables of Life History

A

offspring produced per reproductive episode

Age of sexual maturation
How often organism reproduces
# offspring produced per reproductive episode

60
Q

Semelparity

A

Big-bang reproduction
Many offspring produced at once
Individual often dies afterwards
Less stable environments

61
Q

Iteroparity

A

Repeated reproduction, Few, but large offspring, More stable environments

62
Q

Critical factors:

A

survival rate of offspring and repeated reproduction when resources are limited

63
Q

K-selection

A

pop closed to carrying capacity, Live around K, High prenatal care, Low birth numbers, Good survival of young, Density-dependent, humans

64
Q

r-selection

A

maximize reproductive success, Exponential growth, Little or no care, High birth numbers, Poor survival of young, Density independent, ex: cockroaches

65
Q

Factors that limit population growth

A

Density Dependent & Density Independent

66
Q

Density-Dependent factors:

A

population matters
i.e. Predation, disease, competition, territoriality,
toxic wastes, physiological factors

67
Q

Density-Independent factors

A

population not a factor
i.e. Natural disasters: fire, flood, weather
If there is a drought and plants wither -> certain animals cant eat and that affects everyone else

68
Q

Interspecific competition

A

Can be positive (+), negative (-) or neutral (0)
resources are in short supply
Species interaction is -/-

69
Q

Competitive exclusion principle

A

2 species cannot coexist in a community if their niches are
identical
The one w/ the slight reproductive advantage will eliminate the other

70
Q

Resource partitioning

A

differences in niches that
enable similar species to coexist

71
Q

Ecological niche

A

the sum total of an organism’s use of abiotic/biotic resources in the environment

72
Q

Fundamental niche

A

niche potentially
occupied by the species (entire set of conditions to reproduce/survive)

73
Q

Realized niche

A

portion of fundamental niche the species actually occupies after interactions with other species (predation and especially competition) have been taken into account.

74
Q

competitive exclusion in interspecific competition.

A

2 species can’t coexist if they occupy exactly the same niche (competing for identical resources). Two species whose niches overlap may evolve by natural selection to have more distinct niches, resulting in resource partitioning.

75
Q

Interspecific interactions

A

Competition (-/-), Predation (+/-), Herbivory (+/-), Symbiosis – parasitism, mutualism, commensalism
Facilitation (+/+ or 0/+)

76
Q

Cryptic coloration

A

camouflaged by coloring

77
Q

Aposematic or warning coloration

A

bright color of poisonous
animals

78
Q

Batesian mimicry

A

harmless species mimic color of harmful species

79
Q

Mullerian mimicry

A

2 bad-tasting species resemble each other; both to be avoided

80
Q

Herbivory

A

plants avoid this by chemical toxins, spines, & thorns

81
Q

Symbiosis:

A

2+ species live in direct contact with one
another: Parasitism (+/-), mutualism (+/+), commensalism (+/0)

82
Q

Species diversity

A

= species richness (# of
different species) + relative abundance of each
species.

83
Q

Simpson Diversity Index:

A

Calculate diversity
based on species richness & relative abundance
Highly diverse communities more resistant to invasive species

84
Q

Simpson’s Diversity Index EQ

A

1- Sum of (n/N)^2 n=total # organisms in a species, N=total organisms in all species
High D(close to 1) = high biodiversity, Low D(close to 1)=less biodiversity

85
Q

Invasive species

A

Organisms that become established outside
native range

86
Q

Characteristics of Invasive species

A

Tolerates a wide range of conditions, long growing season, short generation
time. few natural controls such as predators, disease, or insects, Disperses itself with ease, Produces lots of seeds or eggs, New location has climate and environmental
conditions similar to native habitat

87
Q

Trophic Structures

A

determined by the feeding relationships between
organisms.
Trophic levels = links in the trophic structure

88
Q

food chain.

A

The transfer of food energy from plants -> herbivores -> carnivores -> decomposers

89
Q

What limits the length of a
food chain?

A

Inefficiency of energy transfer along chain, Long food chains less stable than short chains

90
Q

food webs.

A

Two or more food chains
linked together

91
Q

Dominant species:

A

has the highest biomass or is the most abundant in the community

92
Q

Keystone species:

A

exert control on community structure by their important ecological niches

93
Q

Ecological succession:

A

transitions in species
composition in a certain area over ecological time (comes in after something dies)

94
Q

Disturbance

A

changes a community by
removing organisms or changing resource availability (fire, drought, flood, storm, human activity)

95
Q

Primary Succession

A

Plants & animals invade where soil has not yet formed
Ex. colonization of volcanic island orglacier (plants growing on volcano)

96
Q

Secondary Succession

A

Occurs when existing community is cleared by a
disturbance that leaves soil intact Ex. abandoned farm, forest fire

97
Q

Biogeographic Factors

A

Latitude: species more diverse in tropics than poles
Area: larger areas more diverse

98
Q

Biogeographic Islands

A

Influenced by size & distance
Larger islands: greater immigration, lower extinction
Far from mainland: immigration falls, extinction rates increase

99
Q

Ecosystem

A

*** IMPORTANT: sum of all populations living in a specific area (biotic community) + abiotic
factors with which they interact

100
Q

Where is energy supplied from?

A

the sun

101
Q

can energy be recycled?

A

no

102
Q

autotrophs

A

(“self feeders”) = primary producers, & are usually photosynthetic (plants
or algae).

use light energy to synthesize sugars & other organic compounds.

103
Q

Heterotrophs

A

(“other feeders”) – can’t make own
food

104
Q

primary consumers

A

Herbivores that eat primary producers

105
Q

secondary consumers

A

Carnivores that eat herbivores are called

106
Q

tertiary consumers

A

Carnivores that eat secondary consumers

107
Q

detritivores/decomposers

A

group of heterotrophs, get energy from detritus, nonliving organic material, & play an important role in material cycling

108
Q

Primary production

A

amount of light energy -> converted to chemical energy

109
Q

Gross primary production (GPP)

A

total primary production in an ecosystem

110
Q

Net primary production (NPP)

A

gross primary production minus the energy used by the primary producers for respiration (R): storage of chemical energy available to consumers in an ecosystem
NPP = GPP – R

111
Q

Energy Transfer between Trophic Levels

A

Only 10% efficient

112
Q

Biogeochemical cycles

A

cycles: nutrient cycles that contain both biotic & abiotic components
organic -> inorganic parts of an ecosystem

113
Q

Carbon Cycle

A

CO2 removed by photosynthesis,
added by burning fossil fuels

114
Q

Nitrogen Cycle

A

Nitrogen fixation: N2 -> plants by bacteria
Nitrification: ammonium -> nitrite -> nitrate, Absorbed by plants Denitrification: Release N to atmosphere

115
Q

Why is biodiversity important?

A

1) More diverse ecosystems = more stable & able to resist threats
2) Many drugs have been derived from plant, fungi & bacterial species.
3) More likely for species to escape extinction if new pathogen emerges

116
Q

Habitat loss

A

Human alteration of habitat is the single greatest threat to biodiversity

117
Q

4 major loss of biodiversity

A

Habitat loss, introduced species, global change, overharvesting

118
Q

Introduced species

A

invasive/nonnative/exotic
species

119
Q

Overharvesting

A

harvest wild plants & animals

120
Q

Global change

A

alter climate, atmosphere, &
ecological systems -> reduce Earth’s capacity to sustain life

121
Q

Bioremediation

A

use of organisms (prokaryotes,
fungi, plants) to detoxify polluted ecosystems

122
Q

Bioaugmentation

A

introduce desirable species
(eg. nitrogen-fixers) to add essential nutrients

123
Q

Human activities changing the earth

A

overpopulation, pollution, burning fossil fuels (CO2 increase), & deforestation, depleting atmospheric ozone

124
Q

Biological Magnification

A

Toxins become more concentrated in
successive trophic levels of a food web
Toxins can’t be broken down & magnify inconcentration up the food chain

AP Bio (8 decks)

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