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APES: Ecology Ch. 4 Flashcards

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10635657262Trophic leveleach of several hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, comprising organisms that SHARE the same function in the food chain and the same nutritional relationship to the primary sources of energy0
10635657263Ecological Pyramidsgraphical representation designed to show the biomass or bio productivity at each trophic level in a given ecosystem.1
10635657264Productivityhe rate of production of new biomass by an individual, population, or community; the fertility or capacity of a given habitat or area.2
10635657265Gross productivitytotal energy produced by an ecosystem3
10635657266Net productivityPn energy stored (only 10% stored and available)4
10635657267Gross primary productivitythe total amount of biomass produced via photosynthesis over a given amount of time5
10635657268Net primary ProductivityThe energy captured by producers in an ecosystem minus the energy producers respire6
10635657269Gross secondary productivitythe total gain by consumers in energy or biomass per unit time through absorption(GSP-R)7
10635657270Net secondary productivitygeneration of biomass of heterotrophic(consumer) organisms in a system8
10635657272BiomesBroad, regional types of ecosystems characterized by distinctive climates and soil conditions and distinctive kinds of biological communities adapted to those conditions.9
10635657273BiosphereAll of the Earth's ecosystems, or the global ecosystem where all life in interconnected.10
10635657274Zonationhe distribution of plants or animals into specific zones according to such parameters as altitude or depth, each characterized by its dominant species.11
10635657275Successiona number of people or things sharing a specified characteristic and following one after the other.12
10635657276Primary SuccessionAn ecological succession that begins in an area where no biotic community previously existed13
10635657280Secondary Succession14
10635657277Species diversitynumber of different species that are represented in a given community15
10635720508Competitionthe struggle between organisms to survive in a habitat with limited resources, both species are harmed16
10635735423exploitative interactionsone species benefits, the other is harmed17
10635739306mutualismA relationship between two species in which both species benefit18
10635744441Intraspecific competitioncompetition between members of the same species, high population density = increased competition19
10635757239Interspecific competitioncompetition between members of 2 or more species, strongly affects community composition, leads to competitive exclusion or species coexistence20
10635767282Competitive exclusionone species completely excludes another species from using the resource21
10635773597Species coexistenceneither species fully excludes the other from resources, so both live side by side22
10635895997Fundamental nicheThe full potential range of the physical, chemical, and biological factors a species can use if there is no competition from other species.23
10635901487Realized nichePart of a species fundamental niche that the species actually uses, limited by competition.24
10635908019Resource partitioningThe division of environmental resources by coexisting species such that the niche of each species differs from the niches of other coexisting species25
10635933765Character displacementThe tendency for characteristics to be more divergent in sympatric populations of two species than in allopatric populations of the same two species.26
10635941067Predationprocess by which individuals of one species (predators) capture, kill, and consume individuals of another species (prey)27
10635956429Parasitisma relationship in which one organism (parasite) depends on another (host) for nourishment or some other benefit. The parasite harms, but doesn't kill, the host.28
10635969555CoevolutionProcess by which two or more species evolve in response to adaptations in each other29
10635985075Herbivoryanimals feed on the tissues of plants30
10635994826SymbiosisA close relationship between two species that benefits at least one of the species.31
10636002963Pollinationbees, bats, birds and others transfer pollen from one flower to another, fertilizing its eggs32
10636009312Amensalisma relationship in which one organism is harmed and the other is unaffected33
10636013620CommensalismA relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected34
10636033577ProducersOrganisms that make their own food35
10636035764consumersAn organism that obtains energy and nutrients by feeding on other organisms or their remains.36
10636037954decomposeran organism, especially a soil bacterium, fungus, or invertebrate, that decomposes organic material.37
10636039990detritivoreorganism that feeds on plant and animal remains and other dead matter38
10636053571omnivoreAn animal that eats both plants and animals39
10636064958Food chainA series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten40
10636067965Food webnetwork of complex interactions formed by the feeding relationships among the various organisms in an ecosystem41
10636075870Keystone speciesA species that influences the survival of many other species in an ecosystem42
10636083062Trophic CascadeA series of changes in the population sizes of organisms at different trophic levels in a food chain, occurring when predators at high trophic levels indirectly promote populations of organisms at low trophic levels by keeping species at intermediate trophic levels in check. Trophic cascades may become apparent when a top predator is eliminated from a system.43
10636096500Resistancecommunity of organisms resists change and remains stable despite the disturbance44
10636102037Resiliencea community changes in response to a disturbance, but later returns to its original state45
10636109333SuccessionA series of predictable and orderly changes within an ecosystem over time.46
10636112533Primary successionsuccession that occurs on surfaces where no soil exists47
10636116884Pioneer speciesFirst species to populate an area during primary succession48
10636123957Secondary successionSuccession following a disturbance that destroys a community without destroying the soil49
10636128661Climax communityA stable, mature community that undergoes little or no change in species over time50
10636133130Phase (regime) shiftthe overall character of the community fundamentally changes51
10636153388Invasive speciesnon-native (exotic) organisms that spread widely and become dominant in a community52
10636165427Ecological restorationDeliberate alteration of a degraded habitat or ecosystem to restore as much of its ecological structure and function as possible.53
10636179531Prairie restorationreplanting native species, controlling invasive species54
10636185233Florida EvergladesDamaged from being drained, diverted, paved over, nutrient pollution from agriculture, invasive species. 1990 - Comprehensive Everglades Restoration - removes canals and levees / restores curving flow of half of the Kisimmee River55
10636196139BiomeA group of ecosystems with similar climates and organisms56
10636203243Climatographsa climate diagram showing an area's mean monthly temperature and precipitation57
10636218791Temperate deciduous forestA forest characterized by trees that shed their leaves in the fall. Range of the temperatures can be extreme. Vegetation changes with the seasons because of the temperature.58
10636227062Temperate grasslandsdominated by grasses, trees and large shrubs are absent. Temperatures vary more from summer to winter, and the amount of rainfall is less than in savannas. Temperate grasslands have hot summers and cold winters. Occur in South Africa, Hungary, Argentina, the steppes of the former Soviet Union, and the plains and prairies of central North America.59
10636236432Temperate rainforestThe cool, dense, rainy forests of the northern Pacific coast; enshrouded in fog much of the time; dominated by large conifers60
10636436723Tropical rainforestForests in which rainfall is abundant - more that 200 cm (80 in) per year - and temperatures are warm or hot year-round. Very poor, acidic soils, Diverse species, but in low densities, Southeast Asia, west Africa Central and South America61
10636456868Tropical dry forestA terrestrial biome characterized by relatively high temperatures and precipitation overall but with a pronounced dry season. India, Africa, South America, north Australia, converted to agriculture, Severe soil erosion62
10636474576Savannaa grassy plain in tropical and subtropical regions, with few trees. Africa, South America, Australia, India, Precipitation is only during the rainy season63
10636494629DesertAn extremely dry area with little water, Some are bare, with sand dunes (Sahara), Some are heavily vegetated (Sonoran), Temperatures vary widely, not always hot, Saline soils, Animals = nocturnal, nomadic, Plants = thick skins, spines64
10636517459Tundraa vast, flat, treeless Arctic region of Europe, Asia, and North America in which the subsoil is permanently frozen- permafrost, Few animals: polar bears, musk oxen, caribou, migratory birds Lichens, low vegetation, few trees65
10636527720Boreal forest (taiga)a region of coniferous forest (such as pine, spruce, and fir) in the Northern Hemisphere; located just south of the tundra, Nutrient poor, acidic soil, Moose, wolves, bears, lynx, migratory birds66
10636537624ChaparralA scrubland biome of dense, spiny evergreen shrubs found at midlatitudes along coasts where cold ocean currents circulate offshore; characterized by mild, rainy winters and long, hot, dry summers.67
10636543644Rainshadow effectA location of little rain on the leeward side of a mountain range due to descending air.68
10636556777"latitudinal patterns"Vegetative communities rapidly change along mountain slopes because the climate varies with altitude so hiking up a mountain in the southwest U.S. is like walking from Mexico to Canada69

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