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Definition
| Nonliving aspects of the environment; examples are climate, temperature, topography, altitude. |
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Term
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Definition
| Ecology is the study of the inter relationships between organisms and their physical and biological environments |
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Definition
| Person who is concerned with the impacts of humans on the natural world and generally believes in conservation and preservation of natural resources. They need not be an ecologist |
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Definition
| Person who studies ecology and may or may not be an environmentalist |
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Term
| Levels of Biological Organization |
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Definition
| Molecule; Cell; Tissue; Organ; Individual organism; Population; Community; Ecosystem; Biome; Biosphere. Ecologists must be trained in all; domain lies between individual organism and biosphere |
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| *Two Fundamental Issues* of ecology |
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Definition
1.) The abundance and distribution of living organisms
2.) The processes by which materials and energy move between living and nonliving systems |
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| *Two divergent approaches* to ecology problems |
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Definition
| Basic - Curiousity; Applied - Problem |
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Definition
| Motivated by intellectual curiousity; question oriented; goal is to further knowledge; typically leads to more questions; open ended |
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| Applied research approach |
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Definition
| Not motivated by curiousity, rather by human needs or problems. Solution oriented; goal is to achieve a tangiable result. The research can be predictive or after the fact. I.E. nuclear plants |
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Term
| Ecological Problems Ancestors Vs. Modern |
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Definition
| Ancestors: Local, immediate, tangible; Modern: Global, long term, diffuse |
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Definition
| 1. Natural History; 2.) Scientific Method |
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Definition
| The series of natural events that constitute an organism's life in the wild; goal is to record these events without disturbing organism; descriptive, nonexperimental, nonmanipulative. Can be quanitative or qualitative |
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Definition
| Descriptive; Non scientific; "Crack of Dawn" |
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Definition
| Scientific, precise, preferred method of recording. Can compare. Avoids value laden terms, uses objective language, Preferred because more accurate and can reconstruct. Verifiable, comparable. |
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Definition
| Also known as the Hypothetico-deductive Method. A cyclical, self correcting epistemic process that is based on objective formulation and testing of hypothesis; unending |
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Definition
| Hypothesis --- Prediction -- Data --- Decision -- Repeat -- new Prediction -- Data -- Decision--- New hypothesis |
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Definition
| One of the ways a hypothesis is formed; reasoning from a part to a whole or from particulars to generals. No single correct way; induction is the best way in science |
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Term
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Definition
| Biological evolution is the change over time in the genetic composition of a population of organisms. It does NOT refer to genetic change occurring within individual organisms and does refer to the genetic chagne occuring from generation to generation within a population (group of interbreeding individuals of the same species) |
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Term
| What are the ingredients of Natural Selection? |
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Definition
| 1.) Individuals w/in same species are different. 2.) Many differences are genetically based (variation within genes such as cold hardiness) 3.) Reproductive potential is higher than survivorship 4.) Environmental conditions limit survival and reproduct. 5.) certain genotypes leave more descendants than others 6.) Differential number of survivors produce a change in the genetic compositon of the pop over time. |
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Term
| What is Natural Selection? |
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Definition
| The process by which the environment favors the survival and reproduction of individuals with a given genotype at the relative expense of individuals with other genotypes. Not the same as artificial selection. |
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Term
| What is Artificial Selection? |
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Definition
| Human controlled; an example is choosing crops |
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Term
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Definition
| Each trait produced from NS. It is any genetically controlled characteristic of an organism that is the result of NS UNDER CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OR enhances survival and/pr reproduction relative to alternative characteristics |
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Term
| What does NS do for the organisms? |
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Definition
| Produces individuals that possess a MULTITUDE of traits that enhance survivalship and reproduction in current environment. Provides an integrated suite of adaptations. |
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Term
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Definition
| The ability of a particular individual to to contribute copies of its genes to SUBSEQUENT generations. Fitness is a metric of how well adaptations work; in theory fitness is measured over evolutionary time; within a population some individuals have greater fitness than others |
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Term
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Definition
| any trait that is a good predictor of the total contribution of genes a given individual will make to future relations; Indirect and shortterm. Such as amount of eggs female bullfrong lays. |
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Term
| Reasons a trait isn't an adaptaion |
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Definition
| 1.) Not all traits are products of NS. 2.) Not all traits are products of current environment. 3.) Not all traits are advantageous 4.) Cannot assume trait is advantageous over other alternatives without experimental evidence |
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Term
| What are physical features? |
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Definition
| Traits or responses that are always present, inflexible in expression, don't change during organism's life span |
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Term
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Definition
| traits or responses that might be short term, change during lifetime or individual, might come and go in response to environment, could be involuntary or voluntary. Can be adaptations as long as response to enviornment and has genetic basis |
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Term
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Definition
| plant's will bend in direction of light when not getting enough light |
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Term
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Definition
| Adaptations both help and hinder animals. They are ***context specific*** a given adaptation can be advantageous under one set of conditions and a liability under others. Evidence: Most species that evolved have gone extinct. Most extinctions are caused by climate changes' current wave of anthropogenic mass extinctions demonstrates species are fine tuned to environmnet |
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Definition
| Anything that can be consumed or used by an organism |
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Term
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Definition
| Abiotic factor that varies in time or space and that affects organism fitness differentially |
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Term
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Definition
| Determined by condition intensity; ability to survive, grow, and reproduce |
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Term
| 2 general patterns of condition intensity |
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Definition
| A given species typical performs best only under certain condition intensities; Different species can differ in shape and location of their peak performance |
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Term
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Definition
Minimum Performance - barely surviving day to day
Moderate performance - able to survive and grow
Maximum performance - ability to reproduce. Performance is bell shaped, higher the level of performance, the more narrow the range of condition intensity |
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Term
| Maximum performance depends on.... |
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Definition
| being in the right range of intensity for all conditions simultaneously. If conditions aren't right for maximum performance organisms will not be able to reproduce, will not replace itself, will extinct. "Living Dead" |
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Term
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Definition
| Radiant energy, Carbon Dioxide, Water, Oxygen, mineral nutrients, space |
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Term
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Definition
| Abiotic Resource - can be used in the sense that an area physically occupied by 1 org not available to another. Space may be defended so that others cannot use it. Also interrelated with time; organisms can share space by using at dif. times |
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Definition
| requires heat from environment |
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Term
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Definition
| cannot produce concentrated urine |
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Term
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Definition
| Group of organisms of the same species occupying a particular location. It is not the same as species. Individuals share a common gene pool. Species may occupy 2 or more disjunct location. |
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Term
| Three D's of spatial Organization |
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Definition
Dispersion - Physical relation of individuals
Density - Units per unit area
Dispersal - Movements |
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Term
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Definition
| Patterns of dispersal. Dispiersion is the internal distribution within a single population across landscape |
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Term
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Definition
| Random dispersion, uniform, and clumped |
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Term
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Definition
| All points in habitat as likley to contain organism as other. Occurs when environment is uniform and organisms ahve no tendency to aggregrate. VERY rare in nature. |
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Term
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Definition
| Equidistant spaceing of organisms. Regular, even, overdispersed. Occurs when there is competition for resources and no antagonism between members of pop. Not most common. |
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Term
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Definition
| Individuals more likely to be found close to each other. Populations tend to aggregrate. Most common dispersal patterns. likely response due to reproduction, loaw vagility (nheherent ability to move), social attraction, resource concentration |
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Term
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Definition
| Crude - Number of individuals per unit total area; Specific - Better than crude, no of individuals per habitate area. Where individuals are likely to be found. |
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Term
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Definition
| Number of individuals per unit area or volume. Denisty is often used to assess population since can't count individually |
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Term
| Index of relative abundance |
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Definition
| Indirect correlate of density that is proportional to true abundance. Assumes constant mathematical relationship between index and density. Utilizes standardized measuring methods. Allows comparisons among data sets, ev en though actual density remains unknwon |
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Term
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Definition
| Movement of individuals or their disseminules (seeds, spores) into or out of population; r = O Population staying the same, > 0 growing < 0 shrinking; dN - change in pop / dT change in time = rate of change times original pop size |
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Term
| Types of dispesal patterns |
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Definition
Emigration - one way out of population; decreases pop. size
Immigration - One way into pop. Tends to increase pop. size
Migration - Two way. periodic departure and return. If all individuals participate does not effect size |
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Term
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Definition
| Geographical - feature of environment physically prevents it; Ecological - some animals choose not to cross certain types of habitat even though tey could; Also vagility - inherent power of movement of individuals |
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Term
| Unrestrained Population Growth |
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Definition
| ALl natural populations have the potential to increase; In the absence of environmental constraints populations would increase at a rate deterimed by the max rate of increase |
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Term
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Definition
| Max birth rate - Min death rate. Determins pop increase |
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Term
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Definition
| (R) Intrisic Rate of Population Growth = (Instantaneous change in population size per change in time) / Population size |
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Term
| Future population equation |
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Definition
| Nt (population size after time has elapsed) = Starting pop size times lamba t = base of natural algorithim (2.71828) |
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Term
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Definition
| Cyclical exponential growth punctuated with sudden and drastic reproduction. Typical of species with short life cycles, reproduction at a young age, and high rates of reproduction. Terminated each year by climate such as freeze or drought such as thrips |
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Term
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Definition
| also S shaped or logistic. Slow early growth phase, same as regular J shaped. Rapid acceleration phase during which no environmental resistance. Reaches inflection point where it reaches carrying capacity changes from positive to negative acceleration. Finally, will have rapid deceleration phase. Reaches limit of pop size environment can support 5. Is reaching carrying capacity . Reperesented by logistic equation |
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Term
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Definition
| developed by Verhulst. As the population grows, gets closer to carrying cpacity. Death rate increases relative to birth rate. (K-N)/K = growth reduction factor. dN/dT = rN(K-N)/K |
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Term
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Definition
| factors responsible for constraining natural population growth; intensity f effect is constant for all N |
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Term
| Regulation factors - Density Independent |
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Definition
| Doesn't matter how big N is, still same effect. Factors are typically abiotic and short term. Effects species with high biotic potential, typically J shaped. |
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Term
| Regulating Factors - Density Dependent |
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Definition
| Bigger N, more effect. Operate throughout growth. Begin acting below k but intensify with growt . Primary agents in equilibrium. Effect species with long life cycles and low biotic potential. Intra(within) and inter (others) competition is an example |
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Term
| What happens when regulating factors fail? |
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Definition
| Population may shoot far ahead of K byt only temporarily. Environment will be damaged and then pop will crash. May repeat cycle but at a lower carry capacity |
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Term
| What is the ultimate goal of living organisms? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| Environment, systm implies that the ecosystem functions as a collection of related parts that function as a unit. Made up of two basic components : Biotic and Abiotic |
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Term
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Definition
| Abstracts; Simplifed representations of real systems. Concepts are limited to facts |
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Term
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Definition
| Use more than 50 percent of all freshwater resources, transformed 30 to 40 percent of terrestrial surface to produce food fuel etc |
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Term
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Definition
| The combination of temperature, humidity, preciptation, wind, cloudiness, and atmospheric conditions occuring at a specific place and time |
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Term
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Definition
| Long term average pattern of weather, may be local, regional, or global |
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Term
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Definition
| Electromagnetic energy eminating fromt he sun; Conceptualized by scientists as a stream of photons or packets of energy that behave either as waves or particles; Wavelengths (waves of energy) |
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Term
| Wavelength Frequency Definition |
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Definition
| Physical distances between successive crests, number of crests that occur at a given point per second |
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Term
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Definition
| Radiation primarily given off by the sun; given off by very hot surfaces |
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Term
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Definition
| Radiation given off by Earth's surface |
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Term
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Definition
| Receives short wave radiation from sun during day but emits long radition both day and night. Only 51 percent of solar radiation makes it to the surface. |
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Term
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Definition
| Earth's longwave radiation captured by CO2 in the environment, radiated back to earth. Earth's surface receives twice as much long wave radiation, radition budge of earth in balance |
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Term
| Electromagnetic Radiation |
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Definition
| Wavelengths; Visible light is 400 to 700 nm, known as PAR - photosynthetically active radiation. UV-A 315 to 380nm, B 280 to 315. IR - 740 to 4000, far infared 4000 to 100,000nm. |
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Term
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Definition
| Force exerted over given area of surface is atmospheric pressure; as climb in elevation decreases. Earths surface - Troposphere - stratosphere - mesophere -Thermosphere. Tropo and strato are most important for climate change. |
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Term
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Definition
| Decrease in temp through expansion rathre than through height loss. As volume of air rises decreasing pressure makes air expand and cool such as AC |
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Term
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Definition
| Rate of temp change with elevation |
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Term
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Definition
| Deflection of pattern of air flow due to the circumference of the earth, law of angular deflection |
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Term
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Definition
| Process by which water travels in a sequence from the air to the earth and returns to the atmosphere, solar radiation is the driving force, precipitation sets water cycle in motion |
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Term
| What is the largest reservoir in the global water cycle? |
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Definition
| The oceans; contain 97 percent of the total volume of water on Earth. The atmospher is the smallest but has a very fast turnover |
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Term
| Water Molecules Chemical Properties |
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Definition
| Polar covalent bonds; water molecules coupled with neighboring water polecules produce a lattice like structure with unique properties |
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Term
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Definition
| High surface tension due to stronger attraction of water molecules for each other than air. If a body is submerged in water and weighs less than the water it deplaces, subjected to upward force of buoyancy |
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Term
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Definition
| Both quantity and quality of light change with water depth; in pure water red and IR are absorbed first, blue last |
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Term
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Definition
| Region of vertical depth profile where the temperature declines most rapidly |
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Term
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Definition
| Epilimnion is surface water with lower density warmed by sun, mixes even througgh out until thermocline; thermocline is region of rapid temperature change; Hyoplimnion is the cold high density deep waters after the thermocline. |
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Term
| Water chemical properites |
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Definition
| Excellent solvent, can dissolve more substances than any other liquid. Most rivers or lakes contain low concentration of low minerals; oceans have a much higher concentration of solutes. Flow of freshwaters into the ocean continously adds to the solute content of the waters |
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Term
| Most soluteable chemical in ocean |
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Definition
| Sodium chloride; solubility is very high. Together with chlorine makes up 86 percent of sea salt. Concentration of chlorine is used as an index of slainity. Salinity is expressed as Practical salinty units |
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Term
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Definition
| Oxygen enters ocean through diffusion; amount of oxygen water holds depends on environmental conditions. Constant swirling races oxygen content |
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Term
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Definition
| measurement of aciditiy; negative logarithm concentration of H+ in solutions. Close relationship between amount of CO2 in the surface waters and acidity. |
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Term
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Definition
| Place where freshwater joins and mixes the the salt. Temperature fluctuates considerably |
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Term
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Definition
| Foilage density; area of leaves per unit of ground |
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Definition
| Medium for plant growth; principle factor controlling fate of water in terrestrial environments; nature's recycling system. Formation begins with the weathering of rock and minerals |
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Term
| Mechanical Weathering vs. Chemical |
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Definition
| Mecahnica- water, wind, temp and plants break down rock. Chemical - Activity of soil organisms, acids they produce, and rainwaters |
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Term
| Mechanical Weathering vs. Chemical |
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Definition
| Mecahnica- water, wind, temp and plants break down rock. Chemical - Activity of soil organisms, acids they produce, and rainwaters |
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Term
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Definition
| Results from interaction of parent material, climate, biotic factors, topography, and time. Texture described by parent mineral. Develops in layers called horizons |
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Term
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Definition
| Four layers: (Obac) O - organic layer; A - Horizon layer (Topsoil), B - horizon (subsoil) and C 0 horzion the unconsoldiated material underneath subsoil |
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Term
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Definition
| If both alleles on a locus are the same, individual is considered to be this. If not the same, they are considered to be heterozygous. |
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Term
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Definition
| Units of heredity; They are linearly arranged on threadlike bodies called chromosomes; Alternative form of genes are alleles. Pair of allels at a given locus defines genotype. Some of heritable information carried by individual is the genome. |
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Term
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Definition
| Physical expression of the genotype; manner in which it is exprfessed is known as the mode of gene action. Dominant is the gene that is express; recessive is the gene that is not expressed. If both are expressed are considered to be codominat. Most phenotypes have a continuous distribution because 1. most traits are affected by more than one locus and 2. most are affected by the environment. |
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Term
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Definition
| Occurs at three levels: within subpopulation, among subpopulations of the same species, and among different species. The gene pool is the sum of genetic information across all individuals in a population. |
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Term
| Types of natural selection |
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Definition
| Natural selection acts on phenotype; three general types: directional sleection, stabilizing, and disruptive. Target is the phenotypitc trait NS acts on |
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Term
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Definition
| Ability of a genotype to give rise to a range of phenotypic expression under different environmental conditions |
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Term
| Photosynthesis Processess |
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Definition
| Diffusion and transpiration; CO2 diffuses into leaf through stomata, stomat closes at night. Water loss through leaf is called transpiration; amount of water lsos depends on humidity |
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Term
| Aquatic vs. Terrestrial Plants |
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Definition
| Aquatic have direct diffusion of CO2 from waters adjacent to the leaf across cell membrane |
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Term
| Alternative Pathways of Photosynthesis |
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Definition
| C4 pathway involves two steps and is mad epossible from leaf anatomy. C4 have vas. bundles surrounded by cloropjhyll, fix Co2 into malate and asparete in the mesophyll cells. They transfer acid to bundle sheath cells where convereted into CO2+, photo. then follows C3 pathway. C4 plants have high water use efficiency |
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Term
| Essential nutrients effecting animal health of grazesr |
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Definition
| Sodium, Calcium, and Magnesium |
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Term
| How do animals generate energy |
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Definition
| Through aerobix respiration |
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Term
| Major groups of temperature regulation in animals: |
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Definition
| Poikilotherms - gain heat and lose heat to environment use behavioral means of regulation; Homeotherms - high internal body temp by oxidizing glucose use body insulation; Heteromtherms - function as either endo or ectotherms depending on environment |
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Term
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Definition
| Ability for an organism to leave behind reproducing offspring |
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Term
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Definition
| Animals have more than one mate - polygyny - male aqures more than one female, polyandry - female acquries more than one male |
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Term
| Semelparity vs. Iteroparity |
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Definition
| Semel - Invest maximum energy in a single reproductive effort; Itero - Allocate less energy each time to repeat reproductive efforts |
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Term
| Most animal populations are made up of... |
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Definition
| unitary individuals with definitive growth form and longetivity |
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Term
| Abundance is a function of... |
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Definition
| The population density and the area over which population is distributed |
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