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Ecology Flashcards

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9768361111BiomeA large region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain types of plant and animal communities.0
9768361112SavannaA tropical / subtropical grassland biome with scattered individual trees, large herbivores, and three distinct seasons based primarily on rainfall, maintained by occasional fires and drought.1
9768361113DesertA region of little vegetation, either cold or hot, that receives ten inches or less of precipitation each year, long periods without rain, deserts have extreme temperatures.2
9768361114TundraBiome that surrounds the north and south poles; treeless landscape with short, cool summers, and long, very cold winters with short periods of winter sunlight, beneath the topsoil is a layer of permafrost.3
9768361115Temperate Deciduous ForestCharacterized by warm summers, cool winters, has all four seasons, year-round precipitation and fertile soil.4
9768361116ConiferCone-bearing trees (ie: pine, or fir tree) of middle and high latitudes that are mostly evergreen and that have needle-shaped or scale like leaves. Conifers are able to withstand the long, cold winter season.5
9768361117Coniferous ForestForest populated by cone-bearing evergreen trees; mostly found in the colder northern latitudes.6
9768361118FloraAll the plant life in a particular region, or period.7
9768361119FaunaAll of the animal life in a particular region, or period.8
9768361122PrarieA large area of flat land, or rolling hills covered by grasses and wild flowers but few trees.9
9768361123TemperateClimate zones with moderate (warm) temperatures that are located between the tropics and the polar zones.10
9768361124PermafrostA layer of permanently frozen subsoil found in the tundra11
9768361125Alpine Tundrabiome at high mountain altitudes, which has vegetation & climate similar to those of the Arctic tundra (though no permafrost)12
9768361126MarineBiome that includes open ocean, seashore, and it covers 75% of the planet. There is a very high salinity level, and a wide variety of animals13
9768361127PlanktonA general term for the tiny, free-floating or weakly swimming organisms that live in both freshwater and saltwater environments.14
9768361128EstuaryAn area where fresh water from a river mixes with salt water from an ocean; are productive ecosystems because they constantly recieve fresh nutrients from the river and the ocean.15
9768361129ForestLarge tree and plant filled area that covers 30% of Earth's land surface. Provide habitats, maintain soil, air, and water quality, acts as a carbon sink in biogeochemical cycle.16
9768361130Intertidal ZonePart of the shoreline that is under water at high tide and exposed to the air at low tide.17
9768361131Neritic ZoneArea of ocean that extends from the low-tide line out to the edge of the continental shelf.18
9768361132Benthic ZoneAt the bottom of all aquatic biomes, deep or shallow. Made up of sand and organic and inorganic sediments.19
9768361133Oceanic ZoneAll the water the covers the sea floor except for the continental shelf -water temperature is colder and pressure is greater -strange looking animals live in the dark deeper areas. (Ex. Giant Squid).20
9768361134Coral ReefA structure of calcite skeletons built up by coral animals in warm, shallow ocean water.21
9768361135Open Water ZoneThe zone of a lake or pond that extends from the littoral zone out across the top of the water, and that is only as deep as light can reach through the water.22
9768361136Deep Water ZoneThe zone of a lake or pond below the open water zone where no light reaches.23
9768361137WetlandAn ecosystem in which water either covers the soil or is present at or near the surface of the soil for at least part of the year.24
9768361138MarshA type of wetland featuring grasses, reeds and other plants in shallow water.25
9768361139TributaryA stream or river that flows into a larger river.26
9768361140FreshwaterAquatic ecosytem that does not contain any saltwater, can be rivers, lakes, streams,ponds, and wetlands.27
9768361141Littoral ZoneShallow water near shore that receives enough sunlight to support photosynthesis. May be marine or freshwater; often flowering plants are present.28
9768361142Brackish WaterMore salty than fresh water, and less salty than marine saltwater. It is found in estuaries where freshwater and saltwater mix.29
9768361144BiosphereConsists of all life on Earth and all parts of the Earth in which life exists, including land, water, and the atmosphere.30
9768361145OrganismIndividual living thing.31
9768361146SpeciesA group of organisms that are closely related, who can mate to produce fertile offspring. All of the cats are feline, but each cat is a different species.32
9768361147BiodiversityThe number, and variety of living organisms in a given area, during a specific period of time.33
9768361148EcosystemA system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their physical environment.34
9768361149HabitatPlace where an organism lives.35
9768361150NicheAn organism's particular role in an ecosystem, or how it makes its living.36
9768361151AbioticAll of the non-living parts of an ecosystem.37
9768361152BioticAll of the living parts of an ecosystem.38
9768361153BiomassTotal amount of living tissue within a given trophic level.39
9768361154HerbivoreA consumer that eats only plants.40
9768361155CarnivoreAn animal that eats other animals A consumer that eats only animals.41
9768361156OmnivoreA consumer that eats both plants and animals.42
9768361157ProducerAn organism that can make its own food.43
9768361158ConsumerAn organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms.44
9768361159AutotrophAn organism that makes its own food.45
9768361160HeterotrophAn organism that cannot make its own food, it gets food by consuming other living things, or their by-products.46
9768361161TaigaA biome in which the winters are cold, but summers are mild enough to allow the ground to thaw, it contains mostly coniferous forests.47
9768361162PreyAn organism that is hunted, killed and eaten by another organism.48
9768361163PredatorAn animal that hunts, and kills other animals for food.49
9768361164PopulationA group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area.50
9768361165CommunityA group of interdependent organisms inhabiting the same region and interacting with each other.51
9768361166Food WebA diagram that shows the feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem; it contains multiple overlapping food chains.52
9768361167Food ChainA diagram that represents how energy in food flows from one organism to the next in an ecosystem.53
9768361168Energy PyramidA diagram that shows the amount of energy that moves from one trophic level to another in an ecosystem.54
9768361169Limiting FactorA biotic or abiotic factor that restricts the number, distribution, or reproduction of a population within a community.55
9768361170Carrying CapacityLargest number of individuals of a population that a environment can support.56
9768361171PredationAn interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism to gain energy.57
9768361172CompetitionEcological relationship in which organisms compete for available resources. There are 2 types: between organisms within a population, and between different populations.58
9768361173SymbiosisA close relationship between two species that benefits at least one of the species.59
9768361174MutualismA relationship between two species in which both species benefit.60
9768361175ParasitismA relationship between two organisms of different species where one benefits and the other is harmed.61
9768361176CommensalismA relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected.62
9768361177Co-evolutionRelationship in which 2 organisms change or adapt together over time.63
9768361178CooperationRelationship in which behavior by two or more individuals leads to mutual benefit.64
9768361179DecompositionThe breaking down of matter into simpler molecules. Typically performed by bacteria.65
9768361180Carbon CycleThe movement of carbon from the nonliving environment into living things and back.66
9768361181CombustionBurning of fossil fuels and wood, releasing energy and carbon dioxide.67
9768361182Nitrogen CycleThe movement of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil, to living organisms, and back to the atmosphere.68
9768361183Water CycleThe movement of water from Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back.69
9768361184PhotosynthesisProcess used by plants to capture and convert the sun's energy, water, and carbon dioxide into glucose (sugar).70
9768361186SuccessionThe sequence of biotic changes that regenerate a damaged community or create a community in a previously uninhabited area.71
9768361187Primary SuccessionBiotic growth on newly exposed areas (bare,rocky) that were not previously occupied by soil and vegetation.72
9768361188Secondary SuccessionA type of ecological succession that occurs where a disturbance has destroyed an existing biological community but left the soil intact.73
9768361189Pioneer SpeciesCreates soil in primary succession (lichen/moss) first species to appear on bare or rocky area.74
9768361190Nitrogen FixationProcess in which bacteria in the soil change nitrogen gas into materials that plants can use during photosynthesis.75
9768361191EvaporationA physical change from a liquid to a gas at a temperature that is lower than the boiling point.76
9768361192CondensationA physical change from a gas to a liquid at cooler temperatures (the opposite of evaporation).77
9768361193PrecipitationAny form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth's surface.78
9768361194NitrificationThe process by which nitrites and nitrates are produced by bacteria in the soil.79
9768361195DenitrificationDenitrifying bacteria converts nitrates into gaseous nitrogen that re-enters the atmosphere.80
9768361196RespirationThe exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between living cells and their environment; this includes breathing and cellular respiration.81
9768361197AquiferAn underground area of sediment and rocks that is filled with groundwater.82
9768361198PollutionAn unwanted change in the environment caused by the introduction of harmful materials, or the production of harmful conditions (chemical, biological, heat, cold, sound).83
9768361199Renewable ResourceA natural resource that can be replaced at the same rate at which the resource is consumed.84
9768361200Non-Renewable ResourcesA resource that cannot be reused or replaced as quickly as it is used (ex. gems, iron, copper, fossil fuels).85
9768361201OverpopulationTerm used when the number of people in an area exceeds the capacity of the environment to support life at a decent standard of living.86
9768361202ConservationThe preservation, wise use, and protection of natural resources.87
9768361203RecycleThe process of recovering valuable or useful materials from waste or scrap; the process of reusing, or remanufacturing some items.88
9768361204PercolationThe downward movement of water through soil and rock due to gravity.89
9768361205InfilrationProcess of water seepage into the ground becoming ground water.90
9768361206RunoffPart of the water cycle where an excess of water runs down and does not sink into the soil and eventually makes it to the rivers, lakes, and oceans.91
9768361207BiodegradableCapable of being broken down by bacteria and other decomposers.92
9768361208ReduceTo cut down / back on the consumption of; or to use less of a resource.93
9768361209ReuseInvolves using a resource over and over in the same form.94
9768361210DeciduousFalling off or shed at a particular season, stage of growth, etc., as leaves, horns, or teeth; not permanent; transitory.95
9768361211PolarA cold air mass that forms north of 50° north latitude or south of 50° south latitude and has high air pressure96
9768361212FrigidIntensely cold temperatures; cold in manner; Ex. frigid zone97
9768361213TropicalBiome near the equator with warm temperatures, wet weather, and lush plant growth.98
9768361214ClimateSeasonal pattern of weather conditions in a large geographic area over many years; it does not change rapidly.99
9768361215Climate ZoneA region in which yearly patterns of temperature, rainfall, and the amount of sunlight are similar throughout.100
9768361216GrasslandA biome found in the dry temperate interiors of continents. This biome is characterized by rich soil, moderate rainfall, a hot, dry climate, thick grasses, and herds of grazing animals.101
9768361217CanopyDense covering formed by the leafy tops of tall rainforest trees.102
9768361218Tropical Rain ForestBiome characterized by hot temperatures, large amounts of rainfall, and high biodiversity,that grows near the equator; it receives large amounts of rain, and has dense growths of tall, leafy trees; the weather is warm and wet year-round; few plants live on the dark forest floor.103
9768361219SwampA type of freshwater wetland that consists of spongy, muddy land full of water.104
9768361222TreelineThe limit of the area that trees can grow in on Earth. Above it, it's too cold for trees to grow.105

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