AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

Chapter 50: Intro to Ecology and the Biosphere Flashcards

Unit 8: Ecology

Terms : Hide Images
543728312abioticnon-living0
543728313bioticliving1
543728314organismal biologystudy of behavioral, morphological, and physiological responses of an org to its abiotic and biotic environment2
543728315population ecologystudy of factors that control the size of populations3
543728316community ecologystudy of interaction between populations (predation and competition)4
543728317ecosystem ecologystudy of abiotic factors and biological community (flow of energy and chemical recycling)5
543728318landscape ecologystudy of impact of juxtaposition of different ecosystems6
543728319biosphere (global ecosystem)layer of Earth inhabited by life7
543728320precautionary principleused to guide decisions affecting the balance of an ecosystem or environment8
543728321biogeographypast and present distribution of species9
543728322dispersalarea inaccessible10
543728323behaviorhabitat selection11
543728324tens ruleapplies to introduced species (1 in 10 are successful, 1 in 10 become a pest)12
543728325temperatureaffects metabolism and enzyme activity13
543728326wateravailability of water affects organisms14
543728327sunlightintensity and quality of light are limiting factors in aquatic enviros, plants and animals sensitive to photoperiod15
543728328windincreases rate of heat and water loss, affects plant morphology16
543728329rocks and soilvary in physical structure, pH, mineral composition, affect distribution of plants and therefore animals17
543728330biomemajor type of ecosystem found in broad geographic regions18
543728331climographplots annual mean temperature and rainfall for a region19
543728332solar radiationheats the atmosphere, land, and water, creates patterns of temp variation, air circulations, and water evap, causes latitudinal variations in climate20
543728333trophicsreceive greatest amount and least variation of solar radiation21
543728334biannual turnoveroccurs in lakes, bring oxygenated water to the bottom and nutrient-rich water to the surface22
543728335microclimateclimates within an area with different abiotic factors that affect distribution of organisms23
543728336global warmingaffects geographical climate limits therefore affecting various plant and tree species through seed dispersal24
543728337photic zonezone in aquatic biome that receives sufficient light for photosynthesis25
543728338aphotic zonezone in aquatic biome that does not receive sufficient light for photosynthesis26
543728339thermoclineseparates warmer surface water from cold bottom layer27
543728340benthic zonebottom substrate in water body home to benthos28
543728341benthosorganisms that live in the benthic zone29
543728342detritusdebris that settles to the bottom (aphotic, benthic, profund), serves as food for benthos30
543728343littoral zoneshallow water close to shore support rooted and floated aquatic life31
543728344limnetic zoneopen surface waters occupied by phytoplankton and zooplankton32
543728345oligotrophic lakenutrient poor, deep, clear, non productive33
543728346eutrophic lakenutrient rich, shallow, support productive phytoplankton communities34
543728347mesotrophic lakemoderate amount of nutrients and phytoplankton35
543728348cultural eutrophicationdumping of human waste into oligotrophic lakes converting them into eutrophic lakes36
543728349wetlandsareas covered with water and hydrophytes37
543728350hydrophyteswater plants38
543728351estuarieswhere freshwater river or stream meets the ocean, low oxygen levels, high in nutrient content and productivity39
543728352headwater of streamshallow water, capillaries of main streams, high nutrient content, high productivity40
543728353turbid rivercloudy water, low oxygen level, high nutrient content, low productivity41
543728354intertidal zoneshore line of water body, rocky or sandy beaches42
543728355neritic zoneshallow region over continental shelf43
543728356oceanic zonegreat depths of the ocean44
543728357pelagic zoneopen water of any depth45
543728358coral reefshighly productive biomes, coral has calcium carbonate structured skeletons46
543728359oceanic pelagic biometypically nutrient poor, home to buoyant phytoplankton47
543728360abyssal zonedeep benthic region where light does not penetrate48
543728361deep sea hydrothermal ventscreate hot, low oxygen environments in the abyssal zone49
543728362ecotonewhere biomes grade into each other50
543728363tropical forestsbiome within 23* latitude of equator, rainfall is abundant, much vertical stratification51
543728364savannasbiome with tropical and subtropical grasslands with scattered trees and rainy and dry seasons52
543728365desertsbiome with low and unpredictable rainfall, can be hot or cold, animals adapt to dry conditions53
543728366chaparralbiome common along coastlines in midlatitudes with mild, rainy winters, hot, dry summers and periodic fires54
543728367temperate grasslandsbiome maintained by fires, seasonal drought, and grazing by large mammals with soils that are deep and rich in nutrients55
543728368temperate deciduous forestsbiome with midlatitude regions with adequate moisture to support the growth of large trees that drop leaves before winter56
543728369coniferous forest or taigabiome found in northern latitudes with harsh winters and heavy snowfall, trees grow uniformly and do not drop needles before winter57
543728370tundrabiome with dwarfed or matlike vegetation, northernmost biome58
543728371alpine tundrabiome found at all latitudes on high mountains above the tree line, similar vegetation to that of a tundra59

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!