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Ecology Mid-Term Exam
Definitons
70
Environmental Studies
Undergraduate 2
10/25/2015

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Term
Ecology
Definition
The scientific relationship between organisms and their environment
Term
Ecophysiology
Definition
Studies the response of an organism to its abiotic environment
Ex./ temp, moisture, light, nutrient, etc.
Term
Comparative Ecology
Definition
Investigates interspecific differences in responses to abiotic environment
Term
Community
Definition
Interacting organisms of all species in a given area
Term
Community Ecology
Definition
Studies interspecific interactions and the results of these, such as diversity and species composition
Term
Intraspecific
Definition
Organisms of the same species
Term
Interspecific
Definition
Organisms of different species
Term
Population
Definition
Group of individuals of the same species inhabiting a given area
Term
Population Ecologists
Definition
Study interactions with conspecific organism and the result of these interactions: numbers of individuals and the underlying processes (ex./ birth rates
Term
Evolutionary Ecology
Definition
Study of changes in population genetics in response to evolutionary processes, particularly natural selection
Term
Ecosystem
Definition
All organisms and abiotic components of a habitat (Ex./ pond, meadow)
Term
Ecosystem Ecology
Definition
Studies the effect of organism on the abiotic component: FLUX OF ENERGY AND MATERIAL CYCLES
Term
Biome
Definition
Climatically controlled large-scale biological unit with characteristic vegetation type and associated animal species Ex./ Grassland
Term
Biosphere
Definition
The part of Earth's volume that is occupied by living organisms
Term
Adaptation
Definition
Any heritable behavioural, morphological or physiological trait, evolved by natural selection that maintains or increases fitness of the organism
Term
Fitness
Definition
Proportionate contribution of an individual to future generation
Term
Convergent Evolution
Definition
Describes the process whereby not closely related organisms independently acquire similar characteristics while evolving under similar environmental conditions
Term
Divergent Evolution
Definition
occurs when organisms of common ancestry diverge over evolutionary time as they are exposed to different environmental conditions
Term
Ecosystem
Definition
biotic community and abiotic environment functioning as a system
Term
Autotrophs
Definition
Through photosynthesis the fix the energy of sunlight and CO2 to sugar
Term
Heterotroph
Definition
Some organisms require other organism for their energy needs
Term
Net Primary Production
Definition
The amount of energy the producers (mostly plants) are able to fix
Term
Autotrophs (CO2 to energy)
Definition
Assimilate CO2 into organic molecules and living tissue
Term
Photoautotrophs
Definition
Use solar energy to convert CO2 in organic molecules in photosynthesis
Term
Chemoautotrophs
Definition
Use energy derived from oxidation of inorganic molecules such as S or Sh2 to convert CO2 into organic molecules in photosynthesis
Term
Midday Depression
Definition
a reduction of photosynthesis during the hottest hours of a day caused by closing of stomata in order to save water
Term
Leaf Area Index (LAI)
Definition
total leaf area per projected ground area, expresses how well the vegetation uses available sunlight
Term
Phenotypic Plasticity
Definition
Helps a given genotype or species to acclimate to certain environmental conditions in a short term (adjustment)
Term
Laccases
Definition
Copper-containing oxidase enzyme in many plants, play a role in the formation of lignin
Term
Transpiration
Definition
Loss of water vapour from plants, mostly via stomata
Term
Evapotranspiration
Definition
Combo of eval. and transpiration
Term
Respiration
Definition
Using organic matter as a source for energy (ATP) by all organisms, mostly upon release of CO2
Term
CAM Photosynthesis
Definition
Crassulacean Acid Metabolism
Term
Photorespiration
Definition
Malfunctioning of the carbon-fixing enzyme RUBSICO, instead of adding CO2 to sugar, an O2 is added (pronounced at high temps and low CO2 concentration)
Term
What is cytosol composed of?
Definition
sugars, proteins, lipids
Term
Ecotone
Definition
The boundary or transitional zone between adjacent communities or biomes
Term
Sudbury Vegetation
Definition
Mixed deuduous, boreal and deuduous hardwood
Term
Biome
Definition
a biogeographical region or formation characterized by distinctive life forms
Ex./Tundra, tropical rainforest, etc
Term
Primary Consumers
Definition
Feed on plants
Ex./ Fungi
Term
Secondary Consumers
Definition
Carnivores
Term
Mammals
Definition
mostly protein, fat and hydroxyopatile (Ca3(PO4)2)
Term
Plants
Definition
Carbohydrates and lignin
Term
Arthropods
Definition
Chitin (Carb)
Term
Grazers: What they eat and example
Definition
grasses and herbs (slugs)
Term
Browsers: What they eat and example
Definition
Leaves of trees and shrubs (deer)
Term
Frugivores: What they eat and example
Definition
fruit, without damaging seed (bees)
Term
Granivores: What they eat and example
Definition
seeds, nuts and grains (squirrels)
Term
Sap-Suckers: What they eat and example
Definition
Phloem sap (aphids)
Term
Xylophagous Insects
Definition
wood (have wood decomposing yeast in their guts)
Term
Gribbles
Definition
Marine isopods with ability to digest cellulose
Term
Coprophagy
Definition
Fecal matter
Term
Omnivores
Definition
Mixed diet (depends on season)
Term
Decomposers
Definition
Consumers, heterotrophs
Term
Primary Productivity
Definition
Rate at which solar energy is stored by photosynthetic activity (unit dry mass production per area + time)
Term
Grass Primary Productivity
Definition
Total rate of photosynthesis
Term
Net Primary Productivity
Definition
Energy and matter available for consumers
Term
Mineralization Rate
Definition
Rate at which nitrate, ammonium and other nutrient ions are set free from decomposing organic matter
Term
Eutrophic
Definition
Productive ecosystem with a high nutrient availability
Term
Mesotrophic
Definition
Intermediate nutrient availability
Term
Oligotrophic
Definition
Nutrient poor ecosystem with a low productivity
Term
Eutrophication
Definition
Nutrient enrichment is caused by humans and plants use this oppurtunity
Term
Carrying Capacity
Definition
max number of organisms of a given species (consumers) that be supported in a given area- depends on net primary production
Term
Secondary Production
Definition
production of tissue by heterotrophic organisms, including their offspring
Term
Assimilation Efficiency
Definition
Assimilation/Ingestion
Term
Net Production Efficiency
Definition
Production/Assimilation
Term
Gross Production Efficiency
Definition
Production/Ingestion
Term
Ectotherms
Definition
Gain heat from the environment (variable body temp)
Term
Endotherms
Definition
produce their own heat (constant body temp)
Term
Ecological Pyramid (top to bottom)
Definition
Tertiary consumers, secondary consumers, primary consumers, producers
Term
Trophic Cascade
Definition
consumer effect in primary producers
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