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Ecology - AP Bio Flashcards

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6747982371Biotic Province-a region inhabited by a characteristic set of taxa -bound by barriers that tend to limit emigration & immigration of species -based on history and evolutionary connections0
6747982372Biome-a large scale community -determined primarily by the physical environment -based on niches and habitat -collection of plans and animals adapted to the regional climate -climatic similarity! (analogous) -areas sharing similar climate, topographic and soil conditions, and roughly comparable communities -most important determinants are temp and precipitation -identified by dominant plants of their communities1
6748035518Weather-a description of physical conditions of the atmosphere2
6748038633Climate-a description of the long-term weather pattern in a particular area -global variation due to solar E being unevenly distributed -imbalance evened out by movement of air and water vapor in the atmosphere and by liquid water in rivers and ocean currents3
6748081020Solar Radiation-great weather engine -about half of the solar E is reflected or absorbed b atmosphere -most solar E reaching the earth is visible light -E re-emitted by the earth is mainly infrared radiation (heat E) -longer wavelengths are absorbed in the lower atmosphere, trapping heat close to the earth's surface (Greenhouse Effect)4
6751742412Convection Transfer-driven by solar E -lighter air rises and is replaced by cooler, heavier air, resulting in vertical convection currents -theses currents transport E and redistribute heat5
6751758669Latent Heat Transfer-driven by solar E -much of solar E absorbed by Earth is used to evaporate water -E stored in water vapor is latent heat -if condensation nuclei present or if temp are low enough, condensation will lead to precipitation6
6751805477Convection Currents/Cells-as air warms at the equator, rises, and moves northward, it sinks and rises in several intermediate bands, forming circulation cells -surface flows do not move straight N and S, but are deflected due to Coriolis Effect (air right north, left south) -hot air low pressure, cold high (equator low) -major zones of subsidence occur at 30 deg where dry subsiding air falls and creates broad, subtropical desert regions7
6751927073Jet Streams-large scale upper air flows -usually 6-12 km above surface8
6751935547Cold Front-boundary formed when cooler air displaces warmer air -cold air is more dense, thus hugs ground and pushes under warm air9
6751942344Warm Front-boundary formed when warm air displaces cooler air -warm air is less dense and slides over cool air, creating a long wedge-shaped band of clouds10
6752045459Ecology-the study of the interactions among all organisms and with their physical environment -population, community, ecosystem ecology11
6752051950Habitat-place where an organism lives12
6752053593Niche-an organism's role within the ecosystem -what it eats, how it migrates, its reproduction (excluding specific location) -the species habitat and all the environmental factors abiotic and biotic that influence the growth, survival, and reproduction of a species13
6752060350Population-a group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time14
6752063273Community-all of the different populations in an area interacting w/ each other15
6752065350Ecosystem-the interactions among the community and the physical environment.16
6752074807Population Ecology-population dynamics studies the factors that affect the growth, stability, and decline of populations Growth (rapid reproduction, death rates low, plentiful resources) Stability (often proceeded by a "crash"; population outstrips available resources;longest phase) Decline (death outpace both;;; lack of resources) -abundance varies in space and time17
6752146963Population Size-total # of individuals18
6752149388Population Distribution-pattern of dispersal of individuals within the area of interest -uniform, random, clumped19
6752233158Uniform Distribution-even spacing-maximized distance -top predators -territorial -intense competition for a resource Ex: eagles, penguins, many plants20
6752239571Random Distribution-least common form -position of each individual is independent of the other individuals -occurs in habitats where abiotic + biotic factors are consistent Ex: moose, dandelions, oysters21
6752257568Clumped Distribution-most common -distance between neighboring individuals is minimized -resources are patchy -social groups -offspring unable to move from their habitat -prey organisms often clump for defense Ex: most plants, lions, hyenas, giraffes, elephants, gazelles, and many more22
6752277821Survivorship-life table -population demographics - fraction of individuals that survive from birth to different life stages or ages -survivorship curves (1,2,3) 1-juvenile survival is high and most mortality occurs among older indv (primates, elephants) 2-indv die at equal rates regardless of age (mice, squirrel) 3-indv die at a high rate as juveniles and then at much lower rates later in life (turtles, frogs, schooling fish, trees)23
6752285476Fecundity-life table -population demographics -average number of offspring each individual produces at those life stages or ages24
6752334291Resources-organisms make choices about E allocation in response to environmental conditions -in stressful, more E towards homeostasis less to reproduction etc25
6752343770Exponential growth-without limits -J shaped curve -G = rN26
6752345703Logistic growth-size limited by resources -S shaped curve -growth slowed by limiting factors -K- carrying capacity which is the max. population size that an environment can support27
6751988822Natural Environments-populations are impacted by both the abiotic and biotic factors in their environment -limit growth and size biotic: competition, predation, disease, parasitism abiotic: drought, freezes, hurricanes, floods, forest fires28
6751999992Population Density-the number of individuals per unit area -dynamic characteristic- changes over time -natality, mortality, immigration, emigration29
6752012129Density-dependent Factors-factors whose effects on the size or growth of the population vary w/ the population density Ex: competition for food, water, shelter, predation, disease, migration30
6752025013Density-independent Factors-factors whose effects have nothing to do w/ the density of the population -abiotic factors -floods, fires, hurricanes, volcanoes, natural disasters31
6752375687K-selected-few offspring -high parental care -slow maturation -stable, expensive offspring -population size is near carrying capacity due to density dep. factors Ex: us, wolves32
6752392646R -selected-many offspring -little parental care -rapid maturation -unstable, cheap offspring -environmental instability reduces population size before its approaches carrying capacity (density ind?) Ex: turtles, elk, hares etc33
6752429144Ecological community-an assemblage of populations that live in a particular area or habitat and interact34
6752432422Community ecology-the science that seeks to explain the underlying mechanisms that create, maintain, and determine the fate of biological communities35
6752444166Scale-the size of a community36
6752451258Spatial Structure-the way species are distributed relative to each other -some species provide a framework that creates habitats for other species -coral reefs37
6752458466Species richness-the # of species in a community38
6752460446Relative abundance-refers to how common or rare a species is relative to other species in a defined location39
6752542644Species interactions-the ways different organisms affect each other and how they have adapted to each other's presence40
6752545749Competition-both species are harmed -offense or defense always expending E -sometimes no kill cause by busy fighters -trees41
6752556039Predation and Parasitism-one species harmed -one benefited42
6752768400Predation-prey is killed immediately upon successful attack43
6752771263Partial Predators-prey is usually not killed, but many prey organisms affected during predator's lifetime -grazers and browsers44
6752775913Parasitism-relationship where one species (parasite) benefits at the expense of the other (host)45
6752782237Parasitoids-lays eggs on or in prey and then the eggs hatch and developing offspring consume the prey -wasps46
6752615099Mutualism-both species benefit -an interaction where the 2 species benefit from their interaction -ants and aphids47
6752617451Commensalism-one species benefit -other is neutral -an interaction where one species benefits from the interaction and the other is not affected -barnacles and whale48
6752619150interspecific competition-competition for limited resources among individuals of different species Ex: cheetah, lion, gazelle49
6752702192Limiting factor/resource-any biotic or abiotic factor that restricts the existence of organisms in a specific environment50
6752709227Ecological Niche Concept-the "role" a species "plays" in the ecosystem -the organisms use of biotic and abiotic resources and their habitat51
6752732522Competitive Exclusion Principle-no 2 similar species occupy the same niche at the same time -possible outcome of competition = extinction of one species52
6752738706Resource Partitioning-splitting the niche between different species -species using similar resource coexist -species divide up the resources to reduce competition Ex:: anoles53
6752748107Fundamental Niche-the niche that a species potentially could occupy, in the absence of competitors54
6752750621Realized Niche-the niche to which a species is restricted in the presence of competition55
6752814333Succession-The gradual, sequential series of changes in the species composition of a community following a disturbance56
6752820606Primary Succession-Occurs in essentially lifeless areas such as regions in which the soil is incapable of sustaining life and is caused by usually large disturbances (bare rocks) -cyclones, eruptions, tsunamis, forest fires, epidemics -1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens57
6752822499Secondary Succession-Occurs in areas where a community that previously existed has been removed; it is characterized by smaller scale disturbances that don't eliminate all life and nutrients from the environment (soil remains) -windy events, droughts, floods, disease -Yellowstone fires of 198858
6752822500Pioneer Species-First species to return after a disturbance; they are the first stage of succession; their presence increases the diversity in a region by making it inhabitable through their decomposition (nutrients) -lichen, moss59
6752824947Climax Community-An ecological community in which populations of plants or animals remain stable and exist in balance with each other and their environment. It is the final stage of succession, remaining relatively unchanged until another disturbance.60
6752824948Climax Species-Species that pop up once an ecosystem has reached its climax. These species have grown off of the head start they've been given from pioneer species and those in between. Many include complex trees that are shade tolerant. -oak trees61
6752827073DisturbanceAn event or force, of nonbiological or biological origin, that brings about mortality to organisms and changes in their spatial patterning in the ecosystems they inhabit.62
6752854125Tropical rainforestnotes63
6752854126desertnotes64
6752855753savannanotes65
6752855754chaparralnotes66
6752855755temperate grasslandnotes67
6752858100coniferous forest (taiga)notes68
6752858101temperate deciduous forestnotes69
6752858102tundranotes70
6752859956wetlandsnotes71
6752859957estuarynotes72
6752859958oceannotes73
6752864248coral reefnotes74

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