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AP Biology Chapter 40 Flashcards

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7277260159what is ecologyecology is the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and the environment0
7277260160organismal ecologyis concerned with how an organisms structure, physiology, and behavior meet the challenges posed by its environment. it is specific to an individual organism1
7277260161populationa group of individuals of the sam species living in an area2
7277260162population ecologyanalyzes factors, such as reproductive rates, that affect population size and how and why it changes through time3
7277260163communitya group of populations of different species in an area4
7277260164community ecologyexamines how interactions between different species affect community structure and organization ex. predation or competition5
7277260165ecosystemthe community of organisms in an area and the physical factors with which those organisms interacty6
7277260166ecosystem ecologyemphasizes energy flow and chemical cycling between organisms and their environment; takes living and non-living components into consideration7
7277260167landscape ecologyfocused on the factors controlling exchanges of energy, materials, and organisms across multiple ecosystems8
7277260168biospherethe global ecosystem- the us of all the planets ecosystems and landscapes9
7277260169global ecologyexamines how the regional exchange of energy and what materials influence the functioning and distribution of organisms across the biosphere10
7277260170what is climate? what four factors are its components?climate is the long term, prevailing weather conditions in a given area. temperature, precipitation, sunlight, and wind are the four factors the comprise climate.11
7277260171what is the difference between macro climate and microclimate?macroclimate is climate at the global, regional, and landscape levels. microclimate is the climate of a small or restricted area especially when it differs from the climate of the surrounding area. macroclimate is on a much larger scale than microclimate12
7277260172explain how the curvature and axis of rotation influence the amount of sunlight reaching a given area, and how these factors influence the temperature and precipitation in that areabecause the Earth is a sphere, sunlight reaches different area at different angles. the north and south poles both have a very low angle of incoming sunlight at times which delivers less heat and light energy to these areas. the Earths axis of rotation stays constant so at times, one hemisphere is tilted more towards the sun and at other times neither hemisphere is tilted toward the sun. when one hemisphere is tilted to the sun, more heat energy is delivered. at the times that more heat energy is delivered, the temperature increases as does precipitation. this is because the temperature and so evaporation and precipitation do as well. intense solar radiation near the equator initiates a global pattern of circulation and precipitation.13
7278107974why is the pacific northwest so rainy? what causes the mediterranean climate?the pacific northwest is rainy because the California current produces a misty climate. also, coastal areas tend to be wetter. the mediterranean climate is caused by the gulf stream current carrying warm water from the equator up the north atlantic.14
7278122560explain the "rain shadow" effectfirst, air from the water flows in to land and cools temperatures. air then flows upward when it encounters a mountain, cools because it is at a higher altitude and then comes down to release water in the form of rain or snow. when the air moves down the leeward side of a mountain it has little to no moisture left producing little precipitation. this is known as the "rain shadow" effect and creates deserts.15
7278179517what effect does elevatin have on climate? why do we say that hiking from gatlinburg, tennessee, at 393 meters of elevation in the smoky mountains region, to the top of mount leconte, at 2,010 meters, is like traveling to canada?elevation has an effect on climate because north facing slopes in the northern hemisphere will receive more sunlight and will be warmer, the opposite will happen for south-facing slopes. this hike would be equal to traveling to canada because for every 1,000m increase in elevation the temeprature will drop about 6°C, o in this case it would drop aout 12°C.16
7278212669every environment on earth is characterized by ________ or nonliving factors and _______ or living factors.1. abiotic 2. biotic17
7278216954give two examples of how global climate change can alter the current range of speciesglobal climate change can alter the current range of species because increasing hurricanes and other storms can create openings for many new species in tropical and temperate forests. increasing temperatures and decreasing precipitation could also cause more forest fires which in turn could kill plants and destroy homes of animals.18
7278246397what is a biome?a biome is a major life zone characterized by vegetation type or by physical environment.19
7278276826figure 40.8 in your text shows a climograph for some major biomes in north america. what two abiotic factors shown her are most important in determining the distribution of the biome?the annual mean precipitation and temperature are the two most important abiotic factors in determining the distribution of the biome.20
7278293252tropical forestin rain forests, the rain fall is 200-400cm annually and is constant. in dry forests the rainfall is 150-200cm annually with a 6-7 month dry season. temperature averages 25-29°C and does not vary much. they are located in equatorial and subequatorial regions. broadleaf evergreen trees are dominant. vertically layered and plants compete for light. home to an estimated 30 millions still undescribed species of insects, spiders, and anthropods. animal diversity is the highest.21
7278333727desertprecipitation is low and varies greatly, less than 30cm per year. temperature varies greatly, can exceed 50°C in hot deserts and fall below -30°C in cold deserts. deserts occur in bands near 30°N and S latitudes or at other latitudes in the interior of continents. dominated by low widely scattered vegetation or succulents, deeply rooted shrubs, and herbs are common. scorpions, ants, beetles, beetles, snakes, lizards, migratory and resident birds, and seed-eating rodents are common.22
7278373845savannarainfall is 30-50com per year and is seasonal , with a dry season lasting up to 9 months. thetemperature averages between 24-29°C but varies seasonally. generally located in equatorial and subequatorial regions. these often have thorny small leaves, dominant plants are fire-adapted and drought resistant. grasses and small plants are common. wildebeests, zebras, lions, and hyenas are common. common herbivores are insects.23
7278411796chaparralannual precipitation is generally 30-50com and is highly seasonal with rainy winters and dry summers. the average temperature is 10-12°C but has an average of 30°C in the summer. chaparral biomes are located in mid-latitude coastal regions on several continents. dominated by shrubs and small trees adapted to frequent fires. browsers, such as deer and goats, that feed on twigs and buds are common. there are also many species of insects, amphibians, small mammals and birds.24
7278492404temperate grasslandthe annual precipitation averages 30-100cm and can be highly seasonal. average temperatures are frequently below -10°C and reach 30°C in the summer. they are typically located at midlatitudes, often in the interior of continents. grasses and forbs are dominant plants and many have adaptations that allow them to survive periodic droughts and fires. bison, wild horses, prairie dogs, and burrowing mammals are common.25
7278543904northern coniferous forest/taigaannual precipitation generally ranges from 30-70cm. temperature range from -50°C in the winter to over 30°C in the summer. they are located in a broad band across northern north america and eurasia, to the edge of the artic tundra. cone bearing trees are common. many migratory birds nest in northern coniferous forests. moose, brown bear, and siberian tigers are common mammals in a northern coniferous forest.26
7278571986temperate broadleaf forestprecipitation averages 70-200cm annually. winter temperatures average arouns 0°C. summers are humid, with maximum temperatures near 35°C. they are located at midlatitudes in the northern hemisphere, with smaller areas in chile, south africa, australia, and new zealand. deciduous trees are the dominant plants. many mammals hibernate in the winter while many bird species migrate to areas with warmer climates.27
7278600209tundraprecipitation averages 20-60cm annually in and artic tundra but many exceed 100cm in an alpine tundra. winters are cold, with some temperatures falling below -30°C. summer temperatures average less than 10°C. tundras cover expansive areas of the artic amounting to 20% of earths surface. alpine tundra is produced at very high mountaintops at all latitudes. the vegetation is mosty herbaceous. predators include bears, wolves, foxes, and snowy owls.28
7278628550what is the largest marine biome, and how much of earth does it cover?the ocean make-up the largest marine biome, covering 75% of earths surface.29
7278635711difference between photic and aphoticthe upper photic zone is where there is insufficient light for photosynthesis. the lower aphotic zone is where little light penetrates.30
7278644484difference between benthic and pelagicthe pelagic zone consists of both the photic and aphotic zones. the benthic zone is lower and consists of organic and inorganic sediments and is occupied by a community of organisms called the benthos.31
7278658384difference between oligotrophic and eutrophicoligotrophic lakes are nutrient poor and generally oxygen rich. eutrophic lakes are nutrient rich and are often depleted of oxygen in the deepest zone in summer and covered with ice in winter.32
7278685290difference between littoral and limnetic zonethe littoral zone is the shallow, well-lit waters close to shore. the limnetic zone is where the water is too deep to support rooted aquatic plants.33
7278702346difference between zooplankton and phytoplanktonzooplankton are heterotrophs that eat other organisms for energy. phytoplankton is eaten by the zooplankton and performs photosynthesis to create food for itself.34
7278713630difference between neritic and abyssalabyssal= the deep benthic zone neritic= the relatively shallow part of the ocean above the drop-off of the continental shelf.35
7278721846lakes-standing bodies of water that can cover 1,000's of kilometers. TA: phytoplankton, cyanobacteria TH: zooplankton, fish HI: run off from fertilized land and dumping of wastes lead to nutrient enrichment which can produce algal blooms, oxygen depletion, and fish kills.36
7278741462wetlands- a habitat that is inundated with water at least some of the time and that supports plants adapted to water saturated soil TA: cattails, sedges TH: crustaceans, aquatic insect larvae, muskrats, dragonflies, frogs, alligators, herons HI: draining and filling have destroyed up to 90% of wetlands.37
7278763347streams and rivers- bodies of flowing water moving in one direction; salt and nutrient content increases from headwater to mouth but oxygen decreases TA: phytoplankton, aquatic plants TH: aquatic consumers, fish, invertebrates HI: municipal, agricultural, and industrial pollution degrade water quality and kill organisms. dams impair the natural flow and threaten migratory species.38
7278795812estuaries- the area where a fresh water stream or river merges with the ocean TA: salt marsh grasses TH: oysters, crabs, fish species HI: filling, dredging, and upstream pollution have destroyed estuaries worldwide39
7278810584intertidal zones- the shallow zone of the ocean adjacent to land and between the high and low tides periodically exposed and submerged by by tides TA: marine algae, seagrass TH: worms, clams, predatory crustaceans, sponges, sea anemone, small fish HI: oil pollution has disrupted many areas; rock walls and barriers built to reduce erosion from waves and storm surges disrupt some areas.40
7278857692oceanic pelagic- most of the oceans water far from shore, contantly mixed by ocean currents TA: bacteria, phytoplankton TH: zooplankton, protists, worms, krill, jellies, larvae of invertebrates, fish, squid, seas turtles, marine mammals HI: overfishing has depleted fish stocks; ocean have been polluted by waste dumping41
7278930931coral reefs- typically a warm water tropical ecosystem dominated by the hard skeletal structure secreted primarily by corals; some also exist in cold, deep waters TA: unicellular algae TH: corals, fish, invertebrates HI: collecting of coral skeletons and overfishing have reduced populations of coral and reef fishes; global warming and pollution may be contributing to large scale coral decline42
7278965510benthic zone- the bottom surface of an aquatic environment TA: seaweed, filaments, algae TH: invertebrates, fish, giant tube worms, arthropods, echinoderms HI: overfishing has decimated fish populations; dumping of organic wastes haas cheated oxygen deprived areas43
7278980441what role does dispersal lay in the study of the distribution of speciesdispersal is a factor that contributes greatly to the global distribution of organisms. dispersal is the movement of individuals or gametes away from their area of origin. it can disrupt the distribution of species if a barrier obstructed a species from moving to a certain area.44
7279007770list five examples of biotic factors that may influence species distribution- negative interactions with predators or herbivores - presence or absence of pollinators - presence or absence of parasites - presence or absence of food - presence or absence of pathogens45
7279000512temperatureenvironmental temperature affects biological processes greatly. cells rupture if the water they contain freezes; the proteins of most organisms denture at temps above 45°C; species cannot thrive in these conditions and will not be found in them46
7279036931water and oxygenwater availability is important because many animals can dry out from a lack of water. the harlequin toad is vulnerable because it needs its moist delicate skin for gas exchange, oxygen diffuses slowly in water so its concentration can be low in aquatic systems and so is limiting cellular respiration and other processes47
7279053487salinitythe salt concentration of water affects the balance of organisms through osmosis therefore most aquatic organisms are restricted to freshwater of saltwater ecosystems by their limited ability to osmoregulate48
7279067973sunlightthe absorption of sunlight by photosynthetic organisms creates the energy needed by most ecosystems, so too little sunlight can limit the distribution of photosynthetic species. in forests, competitions for light is intense because of the shade49
7279080437rocks and soilthe PH mineral composition, and physical structure of rocks and soil limit the distribution of plants and the animals that feed on them on land. in water, rock composition can affect water chemistry while the structure of the riverbed determines the organisms that can live or burrow in it.50
7279103562what two pieces of data are needed to mathematically determine density?mass and volume are needed to determine density. to find the density of a population you need the number of individuals and how large the unit area these individuals are living in.51
7279113889what is the difference between density and dispersion?the density of a population is the number of individuals per unit area. dispersion is the pattern of spacing among these individuals within the boundaries of the population.52
7279126994explain the impact of immigration and emigration on population density.immigration can add to a population and therefore increase the density because it is the influx of new individuals from another area. emigration can take away from a population and therefore decrease the density because it is the movement of individuals out of a population and into other location.53
7279139737clumped dispersion pattern- individuals are spread in patches - plants and fungi are often clumped where the area favors germination and growth - insects and salamanders may clump under a rotting log because of the increased humidity - clumping of animals can be associated with mating - sea stars group where food is available and where they can breed successfully - forming groups also increases the effectiveness of predation or attack54
7279163554uniform dispersion pattern- an evenly spaced pattern of dispersion - may result from direct interactions between indivduals of a population - plants can secrete chemicals that inhibit the germination and growth of nearby individuals that could compete for resources - animals exhibit uniform dispersion as a result of antagonistic social interactions - uniform patterns are rarer than clumped patterns55
7279183230random dispersion pattern- unpredictable spacing - the position of each individual is dependent of other individuals - occurs in the absence of strong attractions or repulsions among individuals or where key physical or chemical factors are relatively constant across the study area - plants distributed by wind blown seeds may be randomly distributed in a fairly uniform habitat56
7279206083in what population statistics do demographers have a particular interest? how is this data often presenteddemographers have a particular interest in birth rates and death rates. this data is often represented in a life-table.57
7279213256is your biology class a cohort? explain.yes, my biology class is s cohort. we are a cohort because we are a group of individuals of about the same age, which is what a cohort is.58
7279219998type I suvivorship curvethe curve is flat to start reflecting low death rates during early and middle life, but then drops steeply as death rates increase among older age groups - seen in large mammals and humans59
7279227662type II survivorship curvethe curve is intermediate with constant death rates over the organisms lifespan. - occurs in some rodents, invertebrates, lizards, and annual plants.60
7279235670type III survivorship curvethe curve drops sharply at the start but then flattens out as death rates decline for those few individuals who survive the early period of die-off - this curve is usually associated with organisms that produce large numbers of offspring but provide little to no care61
7279309355how would an open nesting songbirds's survivorship curve appear if i was type III for the first year the type II for the rest of it life span.the curve would drop sharply for the first year then continue intermediately for the rest of it's life span.62
7279316706what does a reproductive table show?a reproductive table tallies the number of female offspring produced by each age group. it shows an age specific summary of the reproductive rates in a population.63
7279326357what is the advantage to using per capita birth and death rates rather than just the raw numbers of births and deaths?the advantage to using per capita birth and death rates is that you can calculate the expected number of births or deaths per year in a population of any size.64
7279334961what will the per capita birth and death rates be if a population is demonstrating zero population growth?the birth and death rates would be equal if a population was demonstrating zero population growth; they would balance each other out.65
7279344225what does it mean for a population to be in exponential population growth?the population exists in ideal conditions for increase. all members would have access to abundant food and free to reproduce at eh physiological capacity.66
7279355306in the graph below, explain why the line with the value of 1.0 shows a steeper slope that reaches exponential growth more quickly than does the line with the value of 0.5.populations with a higher maximum rate of increase will grow faster than one with a lower rate of increase. this is seen by the difference between 1.0 and 0.5. larger populations also increase faster than smaller ones.67
7279364544what are two examples of conditions that might lead to exponential growth in natural populations?ideal conditions such as access to abundant food and freedom to reproduce at physiological capacity might lead to exponential population growth in natural population.68
7279375359what is carrying capacity?carrying capacity is the maximum population size that a particular environment can sustain.69
7279381031what are six examples of limiting resources that can influence carrying capacity?- energy - shelter - refuge from predators - nutrient availability - water - suitable resting sites70
7279389807in the logistic population growth model, th eper capita rate of increase approaches zero as the ___________ is reachedcarrying capacity71
7279441723if the carrying capacity (or K) is 1,000 and N is 10, th etern (K-N)/K is large. explain why a large value for (K-N)/K predicts growth close to the maximum rate of increase for this population.a large value for (K-N)/K predicts growth close to the max rate of increase because it is close to 1. In this situation N is the small compared to K which makes the per capita rate of increase large because (K-N)/K is the fraction os the population still available for growth.72
7279458192in the graph below, explain why the logistic model predicts the sigmoid growth curve when the population density is plotted over time.the logistic model predicts an s-shaped growth curve when the population size is plotted over time. the rate of population growth decreases a the population size approaches the carrying capacity of the environment. the population growth rate decreases a N approaches K because the birth rate, death rate, or both must decrease. this can happen because of disease, predation, and limited amounts of food and other resources.73
7279475836explain the ideas behind the creation of the two terms: k-selection and r-selectionecologists have attempted to connect difference in favored traits and different population densities with the logistic growth model. selections for traits that are sensitive to population density and are favored at high densities is known as k-selection or density dependent selection. selection for traits that maximize reproductive success in uncrowded environments (low-density) is called r-selections or density independent selection. k-selections operates in populations living near or at the limit imposed by their resources. (the carrying capacity, K) r-selection maximizes r or the the per capita rate of increase and occurs in environments in which population density is well below K or individual face little competition.74
7279505864on what is the life history of an organism based?the life history of an organism is based on the traits that affects an organisms schedule or reproductions and survival.75
7279510034what three variables form the life history of a species?the three variables that form the life history of a species are when reproductions begins (the age at first reproductions or age at maturity), how often the organism reproduces, and how many offspring are produced per reproductive episode.76
7279518581density independent regulationbirth rate and death rate does not change77
7279520075density dependent regulationa death rate that rises as population density rises; a birth rate that falls with rising density.78
7279524986comparisons between density dependent and independent regulation.a combination can stop population growth leading to an equilibrium in population density79
7279537004give both biotic and abiotic reasons for population fluctuations over the last 50 years in the moose population on isle royale, based on population dynamics.weather is an abiotic factor which affected the moose population. cold winters weakened them and reduced food availability, decreasing the size of the population. predation, a biotic factor, has also played a role. both the moose and other predators, wolves, have walked across the frozen lake. this lake has not frozen in recent years. so both populations have been isolated from immigration and emigration. despite this, both populations have experienced major increases and collapses. the first collapse, from 1975-1980, was because of an increase in wolves. the second collapse, in 1995, was because of harsh winter weather that increased the energy needs of animals and made it hard for the moose to find food under the deep snow.80
7279566192competition for resources- increasing population density intensifies competition for nutrients and other resources, reducing reproductive rates - farmers combat this effect on the growth of grains such as wheat and other crops by applying fertilizers to reduce nutrient limitations on crop yield.81
7279573836predation- predation can be important is a predator captures more food as the population density of the prey increases. as a prey population builds up, predators may prefer to feed on that species. - population increases the in the collared lemming lead to density dependent predation by several predators including the snowy owl.82
7279585142toxic wastes- toxic wastes can contribute to density dependent regulation of a species population size - yeast is used to convert carbs to ethanol in winemaking. the ethanol that accumulates is toxic to yeast and contributes to the density dependent regulation or yeast population size.83
7279593369intrinsic factors- intrinsic physiological factors can sometimes regulate population size - reproductive rates of white footed mice in a field enclosure can drop. this dropping high population density is associated by aggressive interactions and hormonal changes that delay sexual maturation and depress the immune system.84
7279607330territoriality- territoriality can limit population density when space becomes a resource for individuals to compete for. the presence of surplus individuals is a good marker that is restricting population growth. - cheetahs use a chemical marker in urine to warn other cheetahs of their territorial boundaries.85
7279623262disease- if the transmission rate of a disease increases as a population becomes more crowded, then the disease impact is density dependent. - in humans, influenza and tuberculosis are spread through the air when someone sneezes or coughs both diseases strike a greater percentage of people in densely populated areas than in rural areas.86
7279636543explain the importance of immigration and emigration in metapopulationsmetapopulations are when a number of local population are linked. they occupy discrete patches of suitable habitation in a sea of otherwise unsuitable habitat. they exist in a constant cycle of extinction and recolonization with constant movement of individuals throughout the patches of suitable habitat. one example is the glanville fritillary. this butterfly occupies 500 meadows on the Åland islands when 4,000 meadows are suitable for them. the butterflies constantly emigrate and immigrate to and from different meadows. when one meadow becomes extinct more butterflies come along to recolonize it.87

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