1. population composed of all individuals that belong to the same species and live in a given area at a particular time 2. community incorporates all of
... [Show More] the populations of organisms within a given area 3. population ecolo- gy the study of factors that cause populations to increase or decrease 4. population size the total number of individuals within a defined area at a given time 5. population densi- ty 6. population distriu- tion the number of individuals per unit area (or volume for aquatic organisms) at a given time a description of how individuals are distributed with re- spect to one another 7. sex ration the ratio of males to females 8. age structure a description of how many individuals fit into particular age categories 9. density-depen- dent factors influences an individual's probability of survival and re- production in a manner that depends on the size of the population 10. limiting resource a resource that a population cannot live without and which occurs in quantities lower than the population would require to increase in size 11. carrying capacity; k 12. Density-indepen- dent factors 13. growth rate population growth slowed as population size increased because there was a limit to how many individuals the food supply could sustain have the same effect on an individuals probability of survival and amount of reproduction at any population size 14. intrinsic growth rate; r 15. exponential growth model 16. logistic growth model the number of offspring an individual can produce in a given time period, minus the deaths of the individual or offspring during the same period under ideal conditions, with unlimited resources avail- able, every population has a particular maximum poten- tial for growth tells us that, under ideal conditions, the future size of the population depends on the current size of the popula- tion, the intrinsic rate of the population, and the amount of time over which the population grows describes a population whose growth is initially expo- nential, but slows as the population approaches the carrying capacity of the environment 17. overshoot when the population becomes larger than the spring carrying capacity 18. Die-off population crash usually experienced after the over- shoot of the carrying capacity 19. k-selected species species that have a low intrinsic growth rate, which causes their populations to increase slowly until they reach the carrying capacity of the environment 20. r-selected species species that have a high intrinsic growth rate because they reproduce often and produce large numbers of offspring 21. survivorship curves graphs of distinct patterns of survival over time 22. corridors strips of habitat that connect separated populations that the animal travels across 23. metapopulations a group of spatially distinct populations that are connect- ed by occasional movements of individuals between them 24. community ecolo- gy the study of species interactions, which determine the survival of a species in a habitat 25. competition the struggle of individuals to obtain a limiting resource 26. competitive exclu- sion principle 27. resource partition- ing states that two species competing for the same limiting resource cannot coexist where two species divide a resource based on differ- ences in the species' behavior or morphology 28. predation refers to the use of one species as a resource by another species 29. true predators typically kill their prey and consume most of what they kill 30. herbivores consumes plants as prey 31. parasites live on or in the organisms they consume 32. parasitoids organisms that lay eggs inside other organims 33. mutualism benefits two interacting species by increasing both species' chances of survival or reproduction 34. commensalism a type of relationship in which one species benefits but the other is neither harmed nor helped 35. symbiotic rela- tionship the relationship of two species that live in close associ- ation with each other 36. keystone species a species that plays a role in its community 37. predator-mediat- ed competition 38. ecosystem engi- neers competition in which a predator is instrumental in re- ducing the abundance of a superior competitor, allowing inferior competitors to persist species that create or maintain habitat for other species 39. ecological suc- cession 40. primary succes- sion 41. secondary suc- cession the predictable replacement of one group of species by another group of species over time occurs on surfaces that are intially devoid of soil occurs in areas that have been disturbed but have not lost their soil 42. pioneer species organisms that have the ability to colonize new areas rapidly and grow well in full sunshine 43. theory of island biogeography demonstrates the dual importance of habitat size and distance in determining species richness 44. Aquifers Permeable layers of rock and sediment that contain groundwater in many small spaces. 45. Unconfined Aquifer Water can flow easily in and out of the aquifer. Porous rock covered by soil 46. Confined Aquifer Aquifers covered by an impermeable and confining layer impeding water flow in or out. 47. Water Table Uppermost aquifer layer where water fully saturates the rock or soil. 48. Groundwater Recharge Water from precipitation percolates through soil and into aquifer. If confined, can't recharge. 49. Springs Water from some aquifers naturally comes up, natural source of freshwater 50. Artesian Wells Drilled hole in a confined aquifer releases pressure and pushes water up. 51. Cone of Depres- sion Area where there's no longer any groundwater, caused by well overuse, eventually will go dry. 52. Saltwater intru- sion Lessened pressure from over-pumping so salt water infiltrates and makes well water salty. 53. Floodplain Land adjacent to river where excess water spreads onto. 54. Oligotrophic Lakes with low productivity because of little nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen. 55. Mesotrophic Lakes with moderate levels of productivity 56. Eutrophic Lakes with high levels of productivity 57. Impermeable Sur- faces Pavement, buildings, etc. Doesn't allow water penetra- tion, water then runs into sewers and streams. Excess water causes floods. 58. Levee Enlarged bank on each side of river to prevent flooding 59. Dikes Similar to levees but to prevent ocean waters from flood- ing coasts that are under sea level. 60. Dam Barrier that runs across a river/stream to control water flow 61. Reservoir Large body of water stored behind a dam. Held for con- sumption, generating electricity, flood control, or recre- ation. 62. Fish Ladders Sets of stairs with water flowing over them to have fish migrate despite dams. 63. Aqueducts Canals or ditches used to carry water between locations. Transports water to dry areas. 64. Desalination Removes salt from salt water to make fresh water. 65. Distillation Desalination method. Seawater flows in, heated to cre- ate steam, cool seawater in condensing coil causes steam to condense. Brine and fresh water then flows out. 66. Reverse Osmosis Desalination method. Seawater flows in, pressure ap- plied, water goes through semipermeable membrane, salt can't. Water and brine flows out. 67. Hydroponic Agri- culture 68. biogeochemical cycle Cultivation under greenhouse conditions with roots in nutrient rich solution, and not soil. The circulation of matter through the biosphere. 69. Water Cycle The continual movement of water between Earth's at- mosphere, oceans, and land surface through evapora- tion, condensation, and precipitation. 70. Carbon Cycle The series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment. This involves the incorporation of carbon dioxide into living tissue by pho- tosynthesis and its return to the atmosphere through respiration, the decay of dead organisms, and the burn- ing of fossil fuels. 71. Nitrogen Cycle The transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil, to living organisms, and back to the atmosphere. Light- ning, and nitrogen fixing bacteria transform inorganic nitrogen to organic forms of nitrogen. 72. Phosphorous Cy- cle 73. Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria the cyclic movement of phosphorus in different chemi- cal forms from the environment to organisms and then back to the environment. This cycle does not have an atmospheric component. found on legume roots, turn nitrogen into a usable form, nitrate. 74. Denitrifying Bac- teria Bacteria that convert the nitrates in soil or water to gaseous nitrogen and release it back into the atmos- phere. 75. Evaporation The change of a substance from a liquid to a gas. When liquid water is heated to become a vapor. 76. Condensation The change of state from a gas to a liquid. Water in the vapor form is cooled, and condenses, so the molecules of gas get closer, and form liquid. 77. Precipitation Any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth's surface. 78. Transpiration Evaporation of water from the leaves of a plant. 79. Runoff Part 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. 80. climate the average weather that occurs in a given region over a long period - typically several decades 81. troposhpere the layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth's surface 82. stratosphere layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere 83. albedo the percentage of incoming sunlight that is reflected from a surface 84. saturation point the maximum amount of water vapor that can be in the air at a given temperature 85. adiabatic cooling the process in which the decrease of atmospheric pres- sure allows rising air to expand in volume and lower it's temperature 86. adiabatic heating the process in which the increase of atmospheric pres- sure allows sinking air to decrease in volume and raise it's temperature 87. Hadley Cell the convection currents that cycle between the equator and 30 degrees N and S 88. intertropical con- vergence zone where the ascending branches of the two Hadley cells converge 89. polar cells similar to Hadley cells; circulates beween 60 degrees N and S and the poles 90. Coriolis Effect the deflection of an objects path due to Earth's rotation 91. gyres large-scale patterns of water circulation 92. upwelling upward movement of water toward the surface 93. thermohaline cir- culation drives the mixing of surface water and deep water 94. el Nino; ENSO periodic changes in winds and ocean currents 95. rain shadow warm, dry air produces arid conditions on the leeward side of a mountain range 96. biomes terrestrial geographic regions that have a particular combination of average annual temperature and annual precipitation and contain distinctive plant growth forms that are adapted to that climate 97. tundra a biome that is cold and treeless, with low-growing veg- etation 98. permafrost an impermeable, permanently frozen layer that prevents water from draining and roots from penetrating 99. boreal forest a biome; are forests made up primarily of coniferous (cone-bearing) evergreen trees that can tolerate cold winters and short growing seasons 100. temperate rainfor- est a biome; moderate temperatures and high precipitation typify this biome 101. temp seasonal for- est 102. shrubland; Chap- arral 103. Temperate Grass- land 104. Tropical Rainfor- est 105. Tropical Season- al Forests; Savan- nahs 106. Subtropical De- sets a biome; are more abundant than temperate rainforests; experience much warmer summers and colder winters than temperate rainforests a biome; is characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters a biome; has the lowest average annual precipitation of any temperate biome; cold, harsh winters and hot, dry summers characterize this biome a biome; are warm and wet, with little seasonal temper- ature variation a biome; are marked by warm temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons a biome; also known as hot deserts; hot temperatures, extremely dry conditions, and sparse vegetation prevail 107. Littoral Zone is the shallow area of soil and water near the shore where algae and emergent plants such as cattails grow 108. Limnetic Zone open water 109. Phytoplankton floating algae 110. Profundal Zone very deep lakes have a region of water below the limnet- ic zone 111. Benthic Zone the muddy bottom of a lake or bond beneath the limnetic and profundal zones 112. Freshwater Wet- land a biome; aquatic biomes that are submerged or saturat- ed by water for at least part of each year, but shallow enough to support emergent vegetation throughout 113. Salt Marsh a biome; found along the coast in temperate climates; one of the most productive biomes in the world 114. Mangrove Swamps a biome; occur along tropical and subtropical coasts 115. Intertidal Zone the narrow band of coastline between the levels of high tide and low tide 116. Coral Reefs a biome; are found in warm, shallow waters beyond the shoreline, represent Earth's most diverse marine biome 117. Coral Bleaching a phenomenon in which the algae inside the corals die which soon causes the corals to die 118. Photic Zone the upper layer of water that receives enough sunlight to allow photosynthesis 119. Aphotic Zone the deeper layer of water that lacks sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis 120. Chemosythesis process in which bacteria deep in the ocean use the bonds of methane and hydrogen sulfide to generate energy 121. ecosystem diver- sity the measure of the variety of ecosystems within a region 122. species diversity the measure of the variety of species within an ecosys- tem 123. genetic diversity the measure of the variety of genes within a species 124. species richness the number of species in a given area 125. species eveness tells us whether a particular ecosystem is numerically dominated by one species or whether all of its species have similar abundances 126. phylogenies the branching patterns of evolutionary relationships 127. evolution a change in the genetic composition of a population over time 128. microevolution the evolution below the species level, such as the evo- lution of different varieties of apples or potatoes 129. macroevolution the process in which genetic changes give rise to a new species, genera, family, class, or phyla 130. genes are physical locations on chromosomes within each cell of an organism; determines the range of possible traits that it can pass down to its offspring 131. genotype the complete set of genes in an individual 132. mutation an occasional mistake in the copying process of DNA produces a random change in the genetic code 133. recombination occurs as chromosomes are duplicated during repro- ductive cell division and a piece of one chromosome breaks off and attaches to another chromosome 134. phenotype the actual set of traits expressed in that individual 135. artificial selection when humans determine which individuals breed, typi- cally with a preconceived set of traits in mind 136. natural selection the environment determines which individuals survive and reproduce 137. fitness an individual's ability to survive and reproduce 138. adaptations traits that improve an individual's fitness 139. genetic drift a change in the genetic composition of a population over time as a result of random mating 140. bottleneck effect a reduction in the genetic diversity of a population caused by a reduction in its size 141. founder effect a change in a population descended from a small num- ber of colonizing individuals 142. geographic isola- tion 143. reproductive iso- lation 144. allopatric specia- tion 145. sympatric specia- tion 146. genetic engineer- ing 147. genetically modi- fied organisms when a subset of individuals from a larger population may colonize a new area of habitat that is physically separated from that of the rest of the population when the geographically separated population becomes so different that even if the physical barrier were re- moved, they could no longer interbreed and produce viable offspring a process of speciation that requires geographic isola- tion the evolution of one species into two species in the absence of geographic isolation techniques in which scientists can now copy genes form a species with some desirable trait and insert these genes into other species organisms that have had their genetic makeup modified by genetic engineering 148. range of tolerance limits to the abiotic conditions they can tolerate 149. fundamental niche the suite of ideal conditions 150. realized niche the range of abiotic and biotic conditions under which a species actually lives 151. species distribu- tion the areas of the world in which the species lives 152. niche generalists organisms that can live in a variety of habitats or feed on a variety of species 153. niche specialists organisms that are specialized to lie in a specific habitat of feed on a small group of species 154. fossils the remains of organisms that have been preserved in rock 155. mass extinction events in which large number of species when extinct over relatively short periods of time 156. sixth mass extinc- tion scientists have predicted/identified a new mass extinc- tion is underway and an estimated 2-25 percent of species will go extinct; it is caused by humans 157. ecosystem a particular location on Earth distinguished by its partic- ular mix of interacting biotic and abiotic components 158. producers; au- totrophs organisms that use the suns's energy to produce usable forms of energy 159. photosynthesis the process in which producers use solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose, a form of potential energy that can be used by a wide range of organisms 160. consumers; het- erotrophs 161. primary con- sumers 162. secondary con- sumers 163. tertiary con- sumers are incapable of photosynthesis and must obtain their energy by consuming other organisms heterotrophs that consume producers carnivores that eat primary consumers carnivores that eat secondary consumers; are pretty rare 164. trophic levels successive levels of organisms consuming one another is called this 165. food chains the sequence of consumption from producers through tertiary consumers 166. food web take into account the complexity of nature, and they illustrate one of the most important concepts of ecology 167. scavengers are carnivores, such as vultures, that consume dead animals 168. detritovores organisms, such as dung beetles, that specialize in breaking down dead tissues and waste products (re- ferred to as detritus) into smaller particles 169. decomposers the fungi and bacteria that complete the breakdown process by recycling the nutrients from dead tissues and wastes back into the ecosystem 170. gross primary pro- ductivity; GPP 171. net primary pro- ductivity; NPP the process in which scientists look at the total amount of solar energy that the producers in an ecosystem capture via photosynthesis over a given amount of time the energy captured minus the energy respired by pro- ducers 172. biomass the total mass of all living matter in a specific area 173. standing crop the amount of biomass present in an ecosystem at a particular time 174. ecological effi- ciency the proportion of consumed energy that can be passed from one trophic level to another 175. trophic pyramid represents the distribution of biomass along trophic lev- els 176. biosphere the region of our planet where life resides 177. biogeochemical cycles the movement of matter within and between ecosystems 178. hydroglogic cycle the movement of water through the bioshpere 179. transpiration a process in which plants release water from their leaves into the atmosphere 180. evaptranspiration the combined amount of evaporation and traspiration 181. runoff water can move as this across the surface of the land and into streams/rivers eventually reaching the ocean 182. macronutrients six key elements that organisms need in relatively large amounts 183. limiting nutrient a nutrient an organism needs because a lack of it results in constrained growth 184. nitrogen fixation a process in which Nitrogen gas in the atmosphere (N2) is converted directly into ammonia (NH3) 185. leaching a process in which nitrates are readily transported through the soil with water [Show Less]