ESS all topic definitions and key points > TOPIC 2 > Flashcards

TOPIC 2 Flashcards

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1
Q

Non-motile

A

Organism that does not move

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2
Q

Quadrat

A

A square with a defined (but variable) size that can be used to sample an area.

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3
Q

Estimating energy

A

Find amount of controlled combustion in a given area and extrapolate

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4
Q

Estimating abundance of non-motile organisms (3 methods)

A

-Use of quadrats
-Actual counts
-Measuring population density, percentage cover, and percentage frequency

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5
Q

Community respiration

A

The total respiration rate for all the populations within that system

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6
Q

Identification tools (list of 6)

A

-keys
-comparison to herbarium specimens or museum collections
-genetic profiling
-scientific exerptise
-apps for matching bird song, etc
-field guides

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7
Q

Estimating biomass

A

Find amount of dry mass in a given area and extrapolate

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8
Q

Random sampling

A

An area is divided into a grid and
coordinates are selected using a
random number generator.

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9
Q

Species

A

A group of organisms that share common characteristics and that interbreed to produce fertile offspring

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10
Q

Tricellular model

A

-model of wind currents

-Describes THREE large CONVECTION CURRENTS moving from the EQUATOR towards the POLES in each hemisphere of the earth

-explains the distribution of PRECIPITATION and TEMPERATURE that influence structure and realtive productivity of different terrestrial biomes

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11
Q

Anaerobic

A

Without oxygen (e.g., water-logged soil)

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12
Q

Gross secondary productivity (GSP) (alt name, definition, equation)

A

-is assimilation
-TOTAL energy or biomass assimilated by consumers
-food eaten - fecal loss

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13
Q

Nitrogen fixation

A

The conversion of nitrogen gas (N2) into compounds containing nitrates

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14
Q

Commensalism

A

A SYMBIOTIC relationship in which one organisms BENEFITS and the other is NEITHER HARMED NOR HELPED

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15
Q

K-strategist (definition + examples)

A

Species that tend to produce a SMALL number of offspring, whichINCREASES their SURVIVAL RATE and enables them to survive in long-term climax communities.

-e.g., whales, humans

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16
Q

Carrying capacity

A

The maximum population size that a given area can support sustainably

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17
Q

Limiting factors (definition)

A

Biotic or abiotic factors which lead to a limit in the population growth

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18
Q

Zonation (definition and contributing factors)

A

Changes in a community along an environmental gradient.

Arrangement/patterning of plant communities or ecosystems into parallel/sub-parallel bands in response to an ENVIRONMENTAL FACTOR CHANGING over DISTANCe

Due to factors such as:
-changes in altitude
-latitude
-tidal level
-distance from shore (coverage by water)
-climate

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19
Q

Pyramid of biomass (2 points)

A

-Represents the standing stock or storage of each trophic level

-Measured in units such as grams of biomass per square meter ( m-2), or Joules per square metre (J m-2)

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20
Q

Parasitism

A

A SYMBIOTIC relationship in which one species is BENEFITED and the other is ADVERSELY affected

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21
Q

Producers (3 points)

A

-also known as AUTOTROPHS

-typically plants or algae that produce their OWN food using photosynthesis

-form the FIRST TROPHIC LEVEL in a food chain

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22
Q

Density-dependent Limiting Factors (definition + example)

A

Limiting factors RELATED to how densely packed a population is

-e.g., competition

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23
Q

Stochastic

A

Having a random probability distribution

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24
Q

Species
richness

A

Number of species in a community that is useful comparative measure

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25
Realised niche
The actual conditions and resources in which a species exists due to biotic interactions
26
Environmental Gradient (what is is + what it does + example))
-A line that joins locations A and B -Displays a change in certain abiotic conditions -E.g., going up a mountain leads to a change in altitude, temperature, air pressure, and UV radiation
27
Niche (definition)
Describes the particular set of abiotic and biotic conditions and resources to which and organisms or population responds.
28
edit prompts for drawing carbon cycle and nitrogen cycle
29
Species diversity
A function of the number of species and their relative abundance
30
Human activities impacting carbon and nitrogen cycles (list of 4)
-Burning fossil fuels -deforestation -urbanisation -agriculture
31
matter cycling
32
Primary producers
In most ecosystems, primary producers convert light energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis
33
Extrapolation
Estimating or concluding something by assuming that EXISTING trends will CONTINUE
34
Percentage frequency (equation and example)
the number of occurences divided by the number of possible occurrences -e.g., if a plant occurs in 5 out of 100 squares in a grid quadrat, then the percentage frequency is 5%
35
Denitrification (definition + example)
The conversion of nitrogen containing compounds, into Nitrogen gas -this happens in water-logged soil by anaerobic bacterial
36
Biomagnification
The INCREASE IN CONCENTRATION of persistent or non-biodegradable pollutants along a food chain -the buildup of mercury inside apex predator fish as a result of low levels of mercury accumulating in other organisms up the foodchain
37
Net Secondary Productivity (NSP) (equation)
Calculated by subtracted respiratory losses from Gross Secondary Productivity NSP = GSP - R where GSP = food eaten - fecal loss
38
Sampling strategy
The strategy designed to collect sufficient, appropriate data for a study that provides a valid representation of the system being studied
39
Habitat
The environment in which a species noramlly lives
40
terrestrial
relating to the earth i.e. ecosystems occurring on land
41
Chemosynthetic organisms (!!!!)
Produce their own food WITHOUT SUNLIGHT using the energy stored in chemical bonds -SO FUCKING COOL !!! OFTEN DEEP SEA OCEAN CREATURES THAT LIVE ON THERMAL VENTS AND EAT THE CHEMICALS
42
Density-independent Limiting Factors (definition + examples)
Limiting factors UNRELATED to population density. -e.g., natural disasters, weather change
43
Alternative stable state (3 points)
-A stable state that is the result of a series of feedback loops and random events -These give rise to a particular set of biotic and abiotic factors -A particular system may be able to exist under several alternative stable states, but will be the result of the random events and feedback
44
Competition (definition + examples)
The interaction between organisms trying to attain the SAME RESOURCES. -may be food, mates, territory, nesting sites
45
Climate
The average of the weather over a relatively longer period of time (about thirty years of data is required to give an area's climate)
46
Precipitation (types and definition)
-Rain, snow, sleet, hail -water that moves from a gaseous state, condenses, and falls to the ground
47
Terrestrial abiotic factors (list of 8)
-temperature -light intensity -wind speed -particle size -slope -soil moisture -drainage -mineral content
48
Ecosystem
A community and the physical environment with which it interacts
49
Respiration
The conversion of organic matter into carbon dioxide and water in all living organisms, releasing energy
50
Flows in nitrogen cycle (list of 7)
-Nitrogen fixation by bacteria and lightning -absorption -assimilation -consumption (feeding) -excretion -death and decomposition -denitrification by bacteria
51
Decomposer
-The micro-organisms which secrete digestive enzymes over dead/decaying organic material, recycling nutrients and convertint it into simpler soluble organic substances -Organisms that feed on this are known as DETRITIVORES
52
Mutualism
A SYMBIOTIC relationship in which BOTH partners benefit
53
Transect
A straight line along which samples can be taken
54
Maximum sustainable yield
Equivalent to the NET PRIMARY or NET SCONDARY PRODUCTIVITY of a system
55
Ecological pyramids (type + what they do)
-Pyramids of numbers, biomass, and productivity -QUANTITATIVE models that are usually measured for a GIVEN AREA and TIME
56
Productivity:Respiration Ratio
-ratio between how PRODUCTIVE a system is and HOW MUCH RESPIRATION is happening -as a system approaches its climax community, gross productivity EQUALS respiration rates and so P:N approaches 1
57
Percentage cover (definition)
An estimate of the area in a given frame size (quadrad) covered by the plant in question
58
Productivity
The conversion of energy into biomass for a given period of time
59
Bioaccumulation
The BUILD-UP of persistent or non-biodegradable pollutants within an organism or trophic level because they cannot be broken down e.g., buildup of human hormones in fish that live in a polluted river
60
S-shaped Curve
A population growth curve showing exponential growth FOLLOWED by SLOWED growth until a carrying capacity is REACHED
61
Freshwater abiotic factors (list of 5)
-Turbidity -flow velocity -pH -temperature -dissolved oxygen
62
J-shaped curve
A population growth curve showing EXPONENTIAL GROWTH with NO carrying capacity reached
63
Nutrient and energy pathways (3 points)
-The ways that nutrient/minerals and energy move through an ecosystem -Tend to become more complex as a system undergoes succession -often represented by a FOOD WEB
64
Net Primary Productivity (NPP) (equation)
Gross primary productivity minus respiration losses GPP - R
65
2 impacts of human activity on the carbon cycle
-Combustion of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming -Clearing of carbon sinks (e.g., vegetation) increases carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
66
Weather (definition and variables)
The conditions in a given place at any time. -measure by temperature, air pressure, precipitation, wind speed, humidity
67
Simpson Diversity Index (D) (equation)
N(N-1) / Sum of n(n-1) -N is total number of all organisms of ALL SPECIES found -n is the number of INDIVIDUALS of a certain species
68
Predation
The CONSUMPTION of one species (the prey) by another (the preadtor)
69
Symbiosis
individuals living on or in individuals of another species where ONE OR BOTH species use the others resources. Includes mutualism, commensalism and parasitism.
70
Biome
A collection of ecosystems sharing similar climatic conditions
71
Succession
the process of change over time in an ecosystem involving pioneer, intermediate and climax communities.
72
Resource Partitioning
The FUNDAMENTAL NICHES of two species overlap and through competition a NARROWER realized niche is developed
73
Aquatic
Relating to water; ecosystems dominated by water
74
Carbon sinks (definition + examples)
Stores in a system containing a lot of carbon. -e.g., forest, peat bog (THROWS YOU INTO THE BOG TO REDUCE CLIMATE CHANGE)
75
Aerobic
Uses oxygen
76
Community
A group of populations living and interacting with each other in a COMMON HABITAT
77
systematic sampling
samples are taken at regular intervals, e.g. every 3m
78
Climax community (3 points)
-There is no one climax community; is a set of alternative stable states for a given ecosystem -states depend of climatic factors, properties of the local soil, and a range of random events that can occur over time -historically is considered as the community of organisms at the end point of succession, BUT succession never ends (unless it is the cotitular TV series)
79
Herbivory
The consumption of a plant species by an animal.
80
Primary vs secondary succession
-PRIMARY occurs in an environment with NO PREVIOUS LIFE or in a BARREN HABITAT -SECONDARY occurs in a PREVIOUSLY INHABITED AREA that has experienced a disturbance; there is still soil
81
Abiotic factors (definition + examples)
The non-living, physical factors that influence the organisms and ecosystem e.g.: temperature, sunlight, pH, salinity, precipitation
82
Pyramids of numbers
Graphically displays the numbers of organisms at each trophic level in a food chain
83
edit energy flows
84
Trophic level
The position that an organism occupies in a food chain, or the position of a group of organisms in a community that occupy the same position in food chains
85
Lincoln Index (calculation)
(n1 x n2) / nm n1 is number caught in FIRST SAMPLE n2 is number caught in SECOND SAMPLE nm is number caught in SECOND SAMPLE that were MARKED
86
Site description
A detailed description, giving the location of biotic and abiotic conditions of the ecosystem/community being studied.
87
Photosynthesis (definition)
The conversion of water and CO2 in chloroplasts, using light energy, into organic matter
88
Flows in carbon cycle (list of 6)
-consumption (feeding) -death and decomposition) -photosythesis -respiration -dissolving -fossilisation
89
Quantitative data
Measuring the quantity (e.g., number of species) of something
90
Ecology
The study of interactions among and between organisms in their abiotic environment.
91
Fundamental niche (definition)
Describes the full range of conditions and resources in which a species could survive and reproduce
92
Qualitative data
Measured by the QUALITY (e.g., appearance or location) of something rather than quantity
93
Marine abiotic factors (list of 5)
-Salinity -pH -Temperature -dissolved oxygen -wave action
94
Pyramid of productivity
Flow of energy through a trophic level, indicating the rate at which that stock/storage is being generated
95
Motile
Organism capable of movement
96
r-stragetists ('r' is purposely not capitalised) (definition + examples)
-Species that produce LARGE numbers of offspring so they can COLONISE new habitates quickly and make use of short-lived resources -e.g., bacteria, algae, rodents, frogs
97
Estimating abundance of motile organisms (2 methods)
DIRECT methods include actual counts (e.g., by aerial photography) and sampling INDIRECT methods include Lincoln Index (capture-mark-recapture)
98
Insolation
The amount of solar radiation reaching a given area.
99
Biotic factors (definition + examples)
The interactions between the organisms in an ecosystem. -e.g.,: Predation, herbivory, parasitism, mutualism, disease, competition
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