Term
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Definition
The variety of life in a given environement |
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Why is biodiverity important? |
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Definition
1) Biodiverisy is known to effect ecosystem processes and services (insurance policy for envi change) 2) Inherant value of living organisms 3) All reasons are not yet understood (The first rule of intellegent tinkering is to save all parts!) |
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Factors that define diverstiy |
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Definition
Species richness (# of spp in comm.) and species evenness (relative abundance of each spp.) |
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Definition
*Quantifies spp. Richness and evenness *Minimum value of zero *Increases as richness and evenness increase *Can use # of individual of % cover (vegetation) |
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Definition
* Quantifies spp. Richness and evenness * values range from 0-1 * Increases as richness and evenness increase *Can use # of individual or % cover (veg) |
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Definition
Graph of realative abundance vs. it's rank in abundance (most abundant spp. To least abundant spp.) *Lenth of curve shows richness * Slope indicates evenness. *Greater slope= LESS evenness *Lower slope= GREATER evenness * When spp. Are tied, average ranks to get more accurate representation |
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General diversity patterns |
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Definition
FEW highly abundant spp. FEW rare spp. MOST spp. Are moderatly abundant |
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Definition
Diversity within habitat *small-scale *sensitive to definiton of habitat |
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Definition
Landscape diversity *Total diversity observed in ALL habitats within a geographic area |
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Definition
Between-habitat diversity * Spp. Tunover across a environemtnal gradient *The extent to which the various habitats within an area support different spp. *Indicates the degree to which habitats have been partitioned by spp. |
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Definition
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Definition
The total number of Spp. Of all different taxa in the whole world * Don’t know exact number! |
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Factor that effect diversity |
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Definition
* Environmental complexity *Disturbance *Productivity * Nutrient/Resource Avaliability *Human impact |
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Definition
More complex ecosystems can provide habitat for a greater variety of spp. And/or life history stages *Ex. Foliage height and birds *Plant niches are defined by habitat requirements and limiting factors *Spatial differences in limiting factors = GREATER envi. complexity |
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Plant diversity increases in proportion with increasing_ |
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Definition
Spatial variation in limiting factors! *Ex. Nutrient Avaliability, moisture, sunlight, temp, pH, salinity, … |
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Definition
Distubance= discrete event that disrupts ecosystems and changes the resources avaliable or the physocal environment Stress= External constraints that limit rates of production (CHRONIC CONDITION) |
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Intermediate disturbance hypothesis |
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Definition
Diversity is geatest at intermediate levels of disturbance (Maximun spp. Present) |
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High disturbance results in_ |
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Definition
Community dominated by resistant/resiliant or opportunistic, pioneer spp. |
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Low disturbance results in_ |
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Definition
Community dominated by the most effective competitors |
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Intermediate disturbance hypothesis graph |
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Definition
Plot of Species richness (Y) vs. frequency of disturbance (X) * Should result in a half-circle graph peaking at intermediate disturbance levels. |
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Definition
1)Algae and invertebrates growing on boulders in intertidal zone. Larger boulders require more forcea nd are moved less frequently. Intermediate sized boulders support MORE diversity of spp. 2) Floods and plant spp. Greater diversity of spp. In areas that flood intermediatly. |
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Intermediate productivity hypotheses |
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Definition
Maximum diversity occurs at intermediate ecosystem productivity levels! (Low productivity results in dominance by stress tolerant plants, high productivity results in dominance by competitive spp.) |
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Diversity and Nutrient avaliability |
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Definition
NEGATIVE realtionship! *Adding nutrients to water of soils DECREASES the diversity of plants and algae! *Increasing nut. Avaliability reduces the number of limiting nutrients, when nutrients are not limiting light becomes the only limiting fatctor. Dominated by spp. most effective at competing for light! * Demonstrated by the DECLINING phase of the unimodal IPH curve!! |
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Nut. Avali and plant diverity scale influences |
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Definition
Productivityrelationship only holds at REGIONAL and GLOBAL scales! *There is no consistant relationship at plot scales! |
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Dynamic Equilibrium Model |
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Definition
Predits that there will be maximum diversity when there is a balance between productivity and disturbance *LESS productive sites need less disturbance for max. diversity *MORE productive sites need more disturbacne for max. diversity, |
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Definition
*Summarize feeding relationships within a community *represent energy flow *represent community structure |
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Definition
Primary producers (Plants)>Primary consumers (herbivores)>Secondary consumers (Predators) |
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Definition
Shows that biomass and productivity generally decrease with higher trophic levels |
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Definition
Diagram that has spp. Grouped into trophic levels *MUCH more complex *Ex. Bear island food web! |
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Strong Feeding Interactions |
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Definition
Feeding activities of a few spp. Have dominant influence on community structure *Criteria is degree of influence on community |
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Definition
When food chain is disrupted by change in # of a spp., cascades down/up food web. *Bottom up cascade when primary producer is changed * Top down cascade when predator is changed *More likley to occur in ecosystems with lower spp. Diversity and spatiotemporal complexity *Mostly seen in lakes and ponds |
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Definition
*Potentially confounding variables have unpredicted effects on traphic cascades (Nut. Status, climate, shading, prey prefrences) *Likley functional AS WELL as numerical factors at work! *Likley that top-down and bottom-up effects both at work in most systems! |
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Definition
All trophic links that comprise less than 1% of a consumers diet |
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Examples of trophic cascades |
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Definition
*Hathery salmon released>alewife fish decreases>daphina pop increases |
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Definition
Certain species that disproportionalty exert an important influence on the ecosystems in which they live |
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Term
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Definition
*Keytone species! *Predatory starfish that influences spp. Competition and pop. Density of intertidal ecosystem by eating mass barnacles. Prevents copetitive exclusion by dom spp. And creates open space to be colonized by many spp. |
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Term
More diversty communities tend to have_ |
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Definition
_a higher proportion of predatory spp! |
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Term
Sanils and algae diversity |
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Definition
Intertidal snails feed on green algae. Green algae is competitivly dominant with red algae. When snails are not present, green algae takes over red algae. Snails keep green algae in check and allow red algae to be released by competition. |
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Competition vs. Diversity |
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Definition
*Intermediate density of keystone predator species leads to the highest diversity of prey. |
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Other mechanisms of keystone species |
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Definition
*Exploitation *Competition *Mutualisms ("mobile link" pollinators, seed dispersal) *Facilitation (positive interactions that maintain ecosystem structure and function.) *Spatial Subsidies (bird guano) *ecosystem engineers (beavers) |
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Points about keystone species |
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Definition
*Regulate productivity, structure, or diversity of their communities *Unique in community function *Exceptionally important in their relevance to other species *Have disproportionately large effects on their communities relative to their abundace |
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Keystone species vs. dominance |
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Definition
Keystone species are those that exert strong effects on community structure DESPITE relativly low abundance/biomass |
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Definition
Oftern have disproportionatly large impacts on community structure and dynamics BECAUSE: *Outside evolutionary experience of local predator/prey/competitor populations *Opportunistic colonizers *Tolerant of WIDE range of conditions |
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Introduced predators can_ |
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Definition
*Impose more intense suppression on popoulations of native prey spp. Than native predators preying on coexisting prey. *Bridge aquatic and terrestrial food webs |
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Definition
A collection if individuals of the same species |
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Definition
An assembladge of populations in an area or habitat |
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Definition
A biological community and the physical environment in which it lives |
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Definition
The study of how energy, water, and nutrients move through ecosystems |
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Fundamental areas of ecosystem ecology |
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Definition
*Primary production *Energy flux *Nutrient cycling |
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Term
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Definition
Creation of new organic matter |
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Primary Production and how it is measured |
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Definition
Fixation of energy by autotrophs Measured By: Rate of CO2 uptake, biomass, or O2 produced |
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Definition
The total amount of energy fixed by all autotrophs in an ecosystem |
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Definition
The amount of energy left over after autotrophs have met their own energetic needs (The amount of energy avaliable to consumers) |
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Term
Factors that control primary production in ecosystems |
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Definition
*Temperature *Moisture *Nutrients *Sunlight |
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Term
Highest primary production occurs in_ |
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Definition
Warm, moist environements |
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Term
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Definition
Actual evapotranspiration -The amount of water that evaporates and transpires off a landscape during the course of a year (mmH20/yr) |
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Term
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Definition
Tend to be WET and WARM (Tropical Rainforests) |
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Term
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Definition
Tend to be cold and dry (hot deserts, and cold tundra) |
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Term
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Definition
AET and net primary production are correlated and have a linear relationship. The greater the AET, the greater the NPP! |
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Term
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Definition
When temperature is similer, primary production is conrolled by moisture. The great the annual precipitation, the greater the PP |
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Term
PP vs. nutriant avaliability |
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Definition
When temp and moisture are silimalr, patterns of soil fertility can cause significant variation in NPP among ecosystems. |
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Term
Nutrient avaliability controls_ |
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Definition
Pattern sof primary production in agricultural ecosystems AND in natural ecosystems! |
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Term
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Definition
addition if limiting nutrients |
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Definition
*Dominant primary producers in aquatic ecosystems |
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Term
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Definition
*Is generally limited by nutrient avaliability due to less: Shading, variable moisture, temp variation. |
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Term
Algal biomass and NPP have a _ relationship |
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Definition
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Term
Lakes are often limited by_. Whereas marine evi. Are limited by_ |
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Definition
Lakes are limited by P, Marine environments are limited by N |
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Term
What determines the limiting nutrient |
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Definition
The limiting nutrient will be the one with the LOWEST ration of supply:demand! IN LAKES: N-limitation when N:P <10 P-limitation when N:P >17 |
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Term
Most observed variation in NPP can be explained by_ |
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Definition
TERRESTRIAL- Temperature and nutrient avaliability AQUATIC- Nutrient avaliability |
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Top-down factors that control NPP |
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Definition
*Herbivory and trophic cascades *Compensitory growth *Grazing effects on nutrient cycling |
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Term
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Definition
The transfer/transport of matter or energy |
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Term
In ecosystems energy flux is mediated by_ |
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Definition
TROPHIC INTERACTIONS! *Feeding (herbivory, predation, detritivory) |
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Term
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Definition
The transfer of energy from one part of an ecosystem to another |
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Term
As energy id transferred from one trophic level to another, it is lost due to_ |
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Definition
*Limited assimilation *Consumer respiration *Heat production |
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Term
Allochthonous vs. Autochthonous food webs |
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Definition
Allochthonous food webs incorporate food that was found in a place other than where they or their constituents were formed. Autochthonous food webs only rely of energy from within the ecosystem |
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Term
Ex. Of allochthonous and Autochthonous energy |
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Definition
Allochthonous-Leaf litter floating down steam to new area and feeding microorganisms Autochthonous- Periphyton (algae) growing on rocks in stream |
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Term
Energy losses in ecosystems limit the_ |
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Definition
Number of trophic levels that an ecosystem can support |
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Term
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Definition
An element required for the development, maintenance or reproduction of an organism |
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Term
Elements that comprise 93-97% of living organisms |
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Definition
Carbon, Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorous, and Sulfur |
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Term
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Definition
Nutrients in forms that can be readily absorbed into plant roots and contribute to plant performance and/or growth. |
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Term
Animals vs. Plant forms of nutrients |
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Definition
Animals typically use ORGANIC forms while plants typically use INORGANIC forms |
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Term
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Definition
The use, transformation, movement, and reuse of nutrients in an ecosystem. |
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Term
Energy flux vs. Nutrient cycling |
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Definition
Energy flux is typically one-way (UP trophic levels) while Nutrient cyclins constantly recycles nutrients through the ecosystem |
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Term
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Definition
*N is essential to the structure an functioning of organisms (amino acids, DNA) *78% of earths atmosphere is N, major atmospheric pool that is oconverted by N fixers *ONLY N-fixers can use atmospheric N; other organsisms use other forms *Converting N2 to other forms is a VERY energy-demanding process! |
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Term
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Definition
Volcanic eruptions, lightning, forest fires, microbial processes, anthropogenic sources (fossil fuels, fertilizers, livestock) |
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Term
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Definition
Organic N, Minerlization, Volitization, Nitrification, Leaching, Denitrification, N fixation , N immobilization, anthropogenic emmissions, diffusion, assimilation, sorption, diffusion, resuspention. |
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Term
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Definition
P is necessary to energetics, genetics, and the structure of living organsisms *NOT very abundant in the atmosphere *NO substaintial pool of P *Largest quantities found in mineral deposits and marine sedimanets *limiting nutrient in most lakes. |
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Term
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Definition
*Slowly released in ecosystems by the weathering of rocks *Released by mineral deposits absorbed by plants and recycled through ecosystem *Washed into rivers/oceans where is remains dissolved and settles into marine sediments *Sediments are eventually formed into new rock, starting the process over again. |
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Definition
Organic (P) and Mineral (PO43-) |
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Definition
The conversion of nutrients from organic form to inorganic forms |
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Definition
The breakdown of organic matter by fungi and bacteria |
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Term
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Definition
PRIMARY influences- Temperature and moisture SECONDAY influences- soil fertility and chemical composition of litter. |
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Term
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Definition
Have a POSITIVE linear relationship and are highly correlated |
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Term
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Definition
The cycling of nutrients as they are carried downstream *LITTLE nutrient cycling occurs in one place! |
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Term
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Definition
The length of stram required for a nutrient atom to complete one cycle |
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Term
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Definition
S-spiraling length V-Average dowstream velocity T-Average time to takes to complete a cycle |
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Term
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Definition
The steam system is MORE efficient |
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Term
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Definition
Stream insects that break down leaf matter into smaller parts. *VERY important key process in stream nutrient cycling |
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Term
In aquatic ecosystems 3 factors effects decomp |
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Definition
1. Temperature @. [nutrients] in water 3. Chemical composition of the water |
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Term
Increased shredder diversity leads to_ |
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Definition
Increased rate of nitrient cycling. WHY? |
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Term
Large mammel grazing increases_ |
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Definition
*Primary productivity *Plant biomass turnover * Nutrient cycling |
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Term
Without grazing Nutrient cycling is_ |
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Definition
SLOWER. It is influenced only by decomposition |
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Term
Small animals effect nutrient cycling and productivity by_ |
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Definition
*digging holes, building mounds, and altering topography *Bringing N-poor soil to the surface creating a mosaic of soil fertility *Alters patterns og plant community composition |
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Definition
*Fix atmospheric N and convert it to NH3 which is then converted to NH4 which can then be incorporated into plant activities. *Then transferred through soils for succession |
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Term
Deforestation vs. Nutrients |
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Definition
* Loss of evirontranspiration, nutrient uptake, nutrient storage *Greater nutrients in soil water that can then run off, peak flows, erosion, losses |
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Term
Life cycle of the pacific salmon |
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Definition
born in stream, travel out to ocean for lifespan, return to stream to spawn and die. Colelcts N15 in marine environment and bring it back to stream. |
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Term
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Definition
Naturally-occuring stable isotope, 0.37%average terrestrial abundace. More abundant in marine ecosystems |
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Term
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Definition
The ration of N15:N14. Useful in determining the N enrichment of returning salomn |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
How is MDN transferred to terrestrial ecosystyns |
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Definition
*Bears eat salmon with MDN, bear waste and salmon carcases transfer MDN to soils where it is incorporated into trees. |
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Term
Effect of increased MDN on terrestrial ecosystems |
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Definition
*Causes increased growth in trees near the stream and spawning sites. NOT in alder, already N rich species * Alters spp. Composition |
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Term
Salkmon benefits to tree biomass increase form MDN |
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Definition
*Roots stabalize banks and filter sediments, control erosion and siltation *Tree shading controls temperature |
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Term
Salmon/Bear MDN study was an example of_ |
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Definition
*Exploitation * Trophic Dynamics *Complex food webs *Animal influence on nutrient cycling *Mutualism *Keystone spp. |
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Definition
A sequence of compositional or structural changes in a community over time |
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Term
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Definition
Follows the colonization of unvegetated, geologically fresh terrain (After glacier retreat, newly formed volcanic surface, SLOWER than secondary succession) |
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Definition
Follows the colonization of previously vegetated area following a disturbance (After fire, flood, windfall, logging, pathogens) *Soil/Seed bank is still intact *FASTER than primary succesion |
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Definition
A stage in the sequence of succession |
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Term
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Definition
A spp. That colonizes newly disturbed sites |
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Term
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Definition
A reletivly stable, steady-state community at the end point of succession. *Self replacing *Remains stable until disturbed |
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Term
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Definition
A state of balance in which opposing forces cancel each other out, so that conditions remain more or less stable |
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Term
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Definition
A series of communities or ecosystems representing a range of ages or times since disturbance (Used in space-for-time substitution) |
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Term
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Definition
A relativly discrete event that disrupts ecosystem, communtiy, or population structure and changes resource avaliability or physical structure |
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Term
Disturbance sets_in motion |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
Each serial community modifies the environemtn so that it becomes more sutable for the next. *Later colonists replace earlier ones through competitive exclusion *Climaz comm. Reached when modifications no longer favor subsequent comm. |
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Term
Possible mechanisms of facilitation |
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Definition
*Soil ammendment *Shading |
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Term
Individualistic concept of sucession |
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Definition
Sucession is driven by individual spp. Life histories *Spp. Respond independantly to envi. Change *NO superorganismal associations or inevitable climax community *Spp. Present at any given time are there due to an interply of many factors |
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Term
Factors that influence the spp. Present at a given site |
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Definition
*Timing of disturbance *Dispersal *Presence in seed bed *Life history/adaptation *competitive dynamics *env. Conditions *Variability *random processes |
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Term
Important concepts of individual concept of sucession |
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Definition
*Disturbance is natural and common *Sucession may follow different trajectories *Trajectories may diverge OR converge *Various climax communities are possible |
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Term
Implications of individualistic concept of sucession |
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Definition
*Contributed to the development of non-equilibrium views of ecology *Emphasized the importance of change and disturbance *Was ofter misinterpreted by envoronemtnalists (If nature is not highly organized, why worry about human impact) |
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Term
What shifted view from facilitative to individualistc view |
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Definition
1) Prarie drought 1933-1940 (Prarie grass was considered true climax comm, but was replaces with different spp. After drought 2)American Chestnut blight (Loss of dom spp. Didn’t result in a collapse of eastern northern american forests, other spp. Just increased in abundaces) |
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Term
3 proposed models of sucession |
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Definition
1)Facilitation 2)Inhibition 3)Tolerance |
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Term
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Definition
*Only certain spp pioneer after disturbance, earlier spp. Modify envi so it becomes more suitable to later spp. *Later spp. Outcompete and exclude earlier spp. *Climax comm establish when resident spp. No longer facilitates colonization by other spp. |
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Term
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Definition
*Initial colonization driven by dispersal, timing, and chance *Earlier spp. Modify envi for later spp. *Later spp come in when earlier spp are removed by physical/biological factors that cause mortaility *Climax comm made up of long-living spp. Able to withstand damage by physical/biological factors |
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Term
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Definition
Initial colonization driven by dispersal, timing, and chance *early spp. DO NOT facilitate OR inhibit later spp. (might alter envi and make it less suitable for themselves ex. Density dependant) *Later spp. Are those tolerant of envi. Conditions during sucession *CLimaz comm. established when all possible tolerant spp. have been recruited |
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Term
Stand age vs. spp richness |
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Definition
Spp. Richness tends to increase with stand age NOT ALL GROUPS! |
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Term
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Definition
*Sessile organisms in intertidal zone *Clear-cutted forest |
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Term
Sucession and soil properties |
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Definition
*Soil depth of ALL major soil layers increase with each sere *N, moisture, and organic matter all increase with subsequent sucession *P, pH, and bulk density all DECREASE with sucession |
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Term
Biomass accumulation model (BAM |
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Definition
Model for ecosystem recovery following disturbance in 4 PHASES! |
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Term
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Definition
Following a disturbance! 1) Reorginization phase- ecosystem continues to lose biomass and nutrients 2) Aggradation phase- Biomass increases 3)Transition phase- Biomass will decline 4) Steady-state phase- biomass is now constant |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
The ability of a community or ecosystem to maintain structure/function in the face of a potential disturbance |
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Term
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Definition
The ability of a comm/ecosystem to return to its ORIGINAL structure/function after a disturbance |
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Term
Chief mechanism for resilience |
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Definition
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Term
Major characteristics of disturbance |
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Definition
*Frequency *Intensity *Duration *Spatial Extent *Seasonality |
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Term
The rlationship between frequency and intensity |
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Definition
INVERSLY proportional *In areas of frequent disturbance, organisms tend to be well-adapted to withstanding and recovering from disturbace *In areas with infrequent disturbance, orgs are not well adapter to dealing with them. |
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Term
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Definition
a departure from average conditions *Sometimes average conditions entail a substantial variation! Org wil adapt to normal conditions even if they have HIGH variation |
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Term
Changes in disturbance regime |
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Definition
Can be viewed as a type of disturbance itself! EX. Suppressing fires in area that naturally have forest fires! |
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Term
River and riparian ecosystems vs. disturbance |
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Definition
River and riparian ecosystems are dependant on periodic disturbance! *Old trees wil not get replaced *Pop decline resulting from age distribution being dominated by older individuals |
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Term
Island spp. Richenss is determined by_ |
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Definition
*Rate of immigration vs. rate of extirpatrion *Distance from mainland *Size of island |
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Term
Island Biogeography can be applied to_ |
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Definition
Actual island as well as ecological reserves |
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Term
# of spp. Present on an island represnets_ |
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Definition
A dynamic equilibrium between the rate of immigration and the rate of extinction/extirpation *Graph look similar to an X (intersecting J-shaped curves) Number of spp. Is the point of intersection |
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Term
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Definition
That one large island is better tha several small islands EVEN if the total area is equal. *Spp. Richness is increasing with habitat area! *Debate on the extent to which smaller reserves share spp. |
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Term
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Definition
Discontinuity in habitat *limits dispersal *Reduces access to mates *Diveds popoulations into isolated subpopulations |
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Term
Smaller popoulations are at greater risk for_ |
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Definition
*Inbreeding depression *Genetic Drift |
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Term
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Definition
The portion of island near its perimeter *Area is influienced by the adjacent environemtn *Microclimate that is different from the interior |
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Term
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Definition
*Easily dispersed, r-selected spp. *generalists tolerant of open conditions Ex. Mule Deer |
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Term
Genetic Variation of Island pop. |
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Definition
*Genetic variation is lower in isolated, smaller, island popoulations |
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Term
Why are corridors important |
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Definition
They are important for maintaining genetic variability, viability of island populations |
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Term
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Definition
*Extinction is a natural process *99% of all spp. That were once alive are now extinct *Current rate of extinction is abnornmally high (on par with 5 catestrophic mass extinctions in earths history.) |
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Term
The big 5 mass extinction events |
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Definition
1) Cretaceous-Tertiary Extinction 2) Triassic-Jurassic Extinction 3)Permian-Triassic Extinction 4) Late Devonian Extinction 5)Ordovian-Silurian Extinction |
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Term
Todays extinction can be understood by looking back at the _ era |
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Definition
Pleistocene era! (aka. ICE AGE!) |
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Term
Potential causes of pleistocene extinction |
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Definition
*Climate change *Habitat loss *predation *Meterorites |
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Term
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Definition
Characterized by the manufacture of the "clovis" point and distinctive bone and ivory tools. *Clovis people were specialized hunters of big mammels *End of clovis perios coincides with big mammel extinction |
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Term
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Definition
Intensive hunting caused megafaunal crash within <1000 years. |
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Term
Summary points of Pleistocene Extinction |
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Definition
*Between 50-10 thousand years ago most large land mammels became extint everywhere but africa *Extinction focused on large, slow moving and bredding animals *Evidence that human activities (esp. hunting) helped precipitat extinction *Climate change affected timing, geography, and magnitude |
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Term
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Definition
*Extinctions continue due to habitat loss and overkill *Debate on the beginning of the period *Currently in the middle of a marine mass-extinction |
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Three evolutionary ghost stories |
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Definition
Speed demons - Strange fruit -Chondor Chow |
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Definition
Pronghorns in western US can run faster than any predator because the evolved to escape fast predators that are now extinct |
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Definition
Trees with tasty fruits that have big pits and are not easily dispersed or eaten are now endangered because they evolved to be dispersed by large mammels that are now extinct |
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Definition
Chondors used to feed on the carcasses of large mammels that are now extinct. They are drawnto cattle ranches and populations are on the brink of extinction due to poaching, lead shot, and habitat destruction. |
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Term
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Definition
Proposed to create a facismal of spp. That have dissapeared |
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Term
Problems with the re-wilding proposal |
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Definition
*Ecosystems have changed since late pleistocene *Modern day decendants are not the same *Re-wild fauna not adapted to life on the plains *Unforseen ecosystem effects *Possibel eating of people *Expensive? |
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Term
Siberias pleistocene park |
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Definition
*Reintorduction of large herbivores *Plans to reintroduce large prpedators *Cloned mammoth? |
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