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AP Biology - Ecology Review Flashcards

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7478310608ecologystudy of the distribution and abundance of organisms and their interactions with other organisms and with their physical environment0
7478310609populationgroup of individuals of the same species living in the same area1
7478310610communitygroup of populations of different species living in the same area2
7478310611ecosysteminterrelationships between organisms in a community and their physical environment3
7478310612biospherecomposed of all the regions of the earth that contain living things (hydrosphere, geosphere, and atmosphere)4
7478310613habitattype of place where an organism usually lives; descriptions typically include the organisms and the physical and chemical characteristics of the environment5
7478310614nicherole and all biotic and abiotic resources in the environment used by an organism6
7478310615bioticliving7
7478310616abioticnonliving8
7478310617climatelong-term prevailing weather conditions in a given area; major components include temperature, precipitation, sunlight, and wind9
7478310618macroclimateglobal, regional, or local climateexample: changing angle of earth with respect to the sun, bodies of water, mountains that exert long-term effects10
7478310619microclimatefine-scale variations, like sunlight and temperature under a log11
7478310620biomelarge region of the earth whose distribution depends on the amount of precipitation and temperature in an area; characterized by dominant vegetation and animal life12
7478310634eutrophic lakesshallower, higher-nutrient content, lower oxygen content, high concentration of phytoplankton13
7478310635population ecologystudy of the growth, abundance, and distribution of populations14
7478310636population growth is described by...biotic potential, carrying capacity, and limiting factors15
7478310637population sizesymbolically represented by Nit is the total number of individuals in the population16
7478310638population densitytotal number of individuals per area or volume occupied17
7478310639population dispersiondescribes how individuals in a population are distributed18
7478310640clumped dispersionmost common pattern, like humans in cities or schools of fish19
7478310641uniform dispersionlike trees in an orchard, or plants with toxins20
7478310642random dispersionlike trees in a forest; occurs because of special attractions or repulsions21
7478310643age structuredescribes the abundance of individuals of each age22
7478310644survivorship curvesdescribe how mortality of individuals in a species varies during their lifetimes23
7478310645type I survivorship curvedescribe a species in which most individuals survive to middle age; after that age, mortality is high.example: humans24
7478310646type II survivorship curvedescribe organisms in which the length of survivorship is random, that is, the likelihood of death is the same at any ageexample: rodents, invertebrates25
7478310647type III survivorship curvedescribe species in which most individuals die young, with only a relative few surviving to reproductive age and beyondexample: oysters, species with free-swimming larvae26
7478310648biotic potentialmaximum growth rate of a population under ideal conditions with unlimited resources and without any growth restrictions27
7478310649factors that contribute to biotic potentialage at reproductive maturity, clutch size, frequency of reproduction, reproductive lifetime, survivorship of offspring to reproductive maturity28
7478310650carrying capacitymaximum number of individuals of a population that can be sustained by a particular habitat29
7478310651limiting factorselements that prevent a population from attaining its biotic potential30
7478310652types of limiting factorsdensity-dependent factors and density-independent factors31
7478310653density-dependent factorslimiting effect becomes more intense as the population density increasesexamples: parasites and disease, competition, toxic effect of waste products, predation, stress32
7478310654density-independent factorsoccur independently of the density of a populationexamples: natural disasters and climate extremes33
7478310655r-strategist (or r-selected species)rapid, exponential growthquickly invade a habitat, quickly reproduce, then dieoffspring are small, quickly maturing, and require little to no parental care34
7478310656k-strategist (or k-selected species)slower, logistic growthsize of mature population remains relatively constantsmall number of large offspringextensive parental carereproduction repeats throughout lifetime35
7478310657exponential growthoccurs when reproductive rate is greater than zero; forms a J-shaped curve on a graph36
7478310658logistic growthoccurs when limiting factors restrict the size of a population to the carrying capacity of the habitat; forms an S-shaped curve on a graph37
7478310659life historydescribes an organism's strategy for maximum fitness38
7478310660reproductive successmeasure of fitness - how well an organism survives and reproduces39
7478310661reproductive success depends on four variablesage of reproductive maturityfrequency of reproductionnumber of offspring per reproductive eventhow long the organism lives40
7478310662community ecologyconcerned with the interaction of different populations41
7478310663interspecific competitioncompetition between two different species via...- competitive exclusion principle (Gause's principle)- resource partitioning- realized niche- character displacement (niche shift)42
7478310664Competitive Exclusion (Gause's principle)when two species compete for exactly the same resources, or occupy the same niche, one is likely to be more successful43
7478310665resource partitioningsome species coexist in spite of apparent competition for the same resources. they actually occupy slightly different niches.44
7478310666fundamental nicheniche that an organism occupies in the absence of competition45
7478310667realized nichewhen competitors are present, one or both species may be able to coexist by occupying realized niches. here, any niche overlap is absent. they do not compete for the same resources.46
7478310668character displacementniche shiftcertain characteristics may enable individuals to obtain resources in their partitions more successfully. this reduces competition and leads to a divergence of features.47
7478310669predationpredator totally or partly consumes a plant or other animal48
7478310670true predatorkills and eats other animals49
7478310671parasitespends most or all of its live living on or in a host; obtains nourishment by feeding on host tissues50
7478310672parasitoidinsect that lays eggs on a host, usually an insect or spider, and after hatching the larvae consume the host51
7478310673herbivoreanimal that eats plants; some act like predators and totally consume the organism whereas others may only eat a part of the plant52
7478310674symbiosistwo species that live together in close contact during a portion or all of their lives53
7478310675types of symbiotic relationshipsmutualismcommensalismparasitism54
7478310676mutualismboth species benefit55
7478310677commensalismone species benefits while the second is neither helped nor harmed56
7478310678parasitismparasite benefits while the host is harmed57
7478310679coevolutionevolution of one species in response to new adaptations that appear in another species - evolutionary arms race58
7478310680secondary compoundstoxic chemicals produced in plants that discourage would-be herbivores59
7478310681cryptic colorationcamouflage; any color, pattern, shape, or behavior that enables an animal to blend in with its surroundings60
7478310682aposematic colorationwarning coloration; conspicuous pattern or coloration of animals that warns predators that they sting, bite, taste bad, or are otherwise to be avoided61
7478310683mimicrytwo or more species resemble one another in appearance62
7478310684mullerian mimicryseveral animals, all with some special defense mechanism, share the same or similar coloration63
7478310685batesian mimicryan animal without any special defense mechanism mimics the coloration of an animal that does possess a defense64
7478310686ecological successionchange in the composition of species over time; one community is gradually and predictably replaced by another community65
7478310687climax communityfinal successional stage of constant species composition; persists relatively unchanged until destroyed by a catastrophic event, like fire66
7478310688in succession, resident species may alter...substrate texture, soil pH, soil water potential, light, and crowding67
7478310689pioneer speciesspecies that are the first to colonize a newly exposed habitat; work to break down rock into smaller rock, then into sand, and finally into soil as succession progresses68
7478310690primary successionoccurs where no soil was previously present; begins on rock. pioneer species and other plants break down rock into pebbles, then sand, then soil. as organisms die and decompose, it nourishes the soil allowing for more and larger organisms to grow or live in that area69
7478310691secondary successionoccurs as primary succession, except soil is already present70
7478310692food chainlinear flow chart of who eats whomexample: grass >>> zebra >>> lion >>> vulture71
7478310693food webexpanded, more complete version of a food chain that shows all major plants in the ecosystem, various animals that eat them, and the animals that eat the animals72
7478310694autotrophsobtain energy from light or inorganic material73
7478310695heterotrophsconsumer other organisms for organic material and/or a source of energy74
7478310696ecological pyramidsshow relationships between trophic levels75
7478310697trophic levelan organism's place in a food chain or food web76
7478310698primary producersautotrophs that perform photosynthesis77
7478310699primary consumersherbivores, heterotrophs that eat primary producers78
7478310700secondary consumerscarnivores/omnivores, heterotrophs that eat primary consumers79
7478310701tertiary consumerscarnivores/omnivores, heterotrophs that eat secondary consumers80
7478310702quaternary consumerscarnivores/omnivores, heterotrophs that eat tertiary consumers81
7478310703detritivoresheterotrophs that obtain their energy by consuming dead plants and animals (detritus)82
7478310704why will you typically not see more than five levels in a food chain, pyramid, or web?only 10% of the energy at one trophic level is available for the next trophic level. 90% of the energy is used, stored, or lost. there's not enough energy in any ecosystem to support more than 5 levels. this is called ecological efficiency.83
7478310705primary productivityamount of organic matter produced through photosynthetic activity per unit of time84
7478310706dominant speciesmost abundant species or species that contributes the greatest biomass to a community85
7478310707keystone speciesone that has a strong influence on the health of a community or ecosystem; removal of a keystone species results in dramatic changes in the makeup of species that comprise other trophic levels86
7478310708invasive speciesintroduced species that proliferates and displaces native species because it is a better competitor or because its natural predators or pathogens are absent87
7478310709bottom-up model of trophic interactionsdescribes how changes in the structure of trophic levels are regulated by changes in the bottom level (plants)88
7478310710top-down model of trophic interactionschanges in the structure of trophic levels are regulated by changes in the top trophic level89
7478310711biodiversityfunction of the number of species, niches, and trophic levels in the ecosystem and the complexity of its food web90
7478310712factors that influence biodiversityclimate, latitude, habitat size and diversity, and elevation91
7478310713biogeochemical cyclesdescribe the flow of essential elements from the environment to living things and back; elements are stored in reservoirs and assimilated into organisms as well as released back into the environment92
7478310714hydrologic cycle - reservoirsoceans, air (water vapor), ground water, glaciers93
7478310715hydrologic cycle - assimilationplants absorb water from soil, animals drink water or eat other organisms94
7478310716hydrologic cycle - releaseplants transpire, animals and plants decompose95
7478310717carbon cycle - reservoirsatmosphere, bodies of water, fossil fuels, peat, durable organic material96
7478310718carbon cycle - assimilationphotosynthesis, consumption97
7478310719carbon cycle - releaserespiration, decomposition, burning98
7478310720nitrogen cycle - reservoirsatmosphere, soil99
7478310721nitrogen cycle - assimilationabsorption, consumption, nitrogen fixation, nitrification100
7478310722nitrogen cycle - releasedenitrifying bacteria convert ammonia into atmospheric nitrogen, detritivorous bacteria convert organic compounds into ammonia, and animals excrete ammonia, urea, or uric acid101
7478310723phosphorus cycle - reservoirsrock and ocean sediments102
7478310724phosphorus cycle - assimilationplants absorb from soils, animals eat plants or other animals103
7478310725phosphorus cycle - releasedecomposition, excretion104
7478310726humans damage the biosphere by...exponential population growthhabitat destructionpollution105
7478310727most destructive consequences of human activity include...global climate change, deforestation, acid rain, reduction in species diversity, ozone depletion, desertification, and pollution106
7478310728global climate changeBurning of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. These greenhouse gases trap infrared radiation, raising the temperature of the earth's atmosphere and resulting in large scale climate change.107
7478310729acid rainburning of fossil fuels like coal and other industrial processes release pollutants in the air, which react with water vapor to produce sulfuric acid and nitric acid, which rains down on us108
7478310730desertificationovergrazing of grasslands that border deserts transform those grasslands into deserts; agricultural output decreases and habitats available to native species are lost109
7478310731deforestationclear-cutting of forests causes erosion, flooding, and changes in weather patterns; occurs most often in the tropical rainforest, where most of our carbon fixation occurs110

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