Term
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Definition
| The study of the interactions between organisms and the living and nonliving components of their environment. |
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Term
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Definition
| Atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, ecosphere |
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| Levels of organization (most specific to most broad) |
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Definition
| Organism, population, community, ecosystem, biosphere |
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Term
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Definition
| Members of the same species living together in the same location at the same time |
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Definition
| A group of several populations living in the same locale at the same time |
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Definition
| Includes non-living factors as well as living populations (the interaction between the two) |
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Definition
| Anywhere that life exists |
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| Abiotic Factors (and examples) |
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Definition
| Non-living components (sunlight, wind, water, temperature, rocks, and soil) |
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Term
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Definition
| Living components (animals, plants, microorganisms) |
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Definition
| How many members there are in the population |
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Term
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Definition
| How the members are grouped |
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Term
| Types of Population Distribution (and an example of each) |
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Definition
| Clumped (fish), Random (trees), Uniform (penguins) |
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Term
| What causes a Uniform pattern of distribution? |
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Definition
| Food & resources are not abundant, so competition is heightened. This kind of distribution limits competition, which would ultimately be detrimental to the population since it would always result in a "loser." This system satisfies all members to the best extent. |
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Term
| What causes Random distribution? |
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Definition
| Trees & plants cannot control where their seeds land (dispersed by wind and water) |
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Term
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Definition
| The study of population dynamics (how populations grow and what factors limits their growth) |
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Term
| Per Capita Growth (formula) |
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Definition
| Birth rate - death rate = growth rate |
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Term
| What does the per capita growth model NOT take into effect? |
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Definition
| Immigrating/Emigrating members (too difficult to record) |
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Term
| Explain exponential growth. |
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Definition
| Growth model in which population starts off slowly, then increases rapidly within a short amount of time. Ideal model: does not take into account limiting factors. Bacteria often follow this model initially |
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Term
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Definition
| Growth model in which population starts off growing gradually, increases rapidly in a short amount of time, then levels off at a certain amount of members (K, carrying capacity). |
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Term
| What is carrying capacity and what causes it? |
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Definition
| The maximum number of individuals in a population that the environment can support at a given time. Caused by limiting factors that cap population growth (such as supply of nutrients/food, space/territory, weather/climate, sunlight, water) |
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Term
| Survivorship curves (look at graph and explain what each what means) |
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Definition
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Term
| What can members of the same species do? |
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Definition
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Term
| What occurs in a Competition type of interaction? (and give an example) |
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Definition
| Two species fight for the same prey; ultimately, each are negatively affected. Example: fox and coyote. |
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Term
| What occurs in Predation? (and give an example) |
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Definition
| One species preys on another species; the former benefits while latter is harmed. Example: lynx and hare. |
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Term
| What is Parasitism? (and give an example) |
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Definition
| One species (the parasite) depends on another species (the host) for survival and furthermore, harms the other species for its own benefit. Example: tapeworm and human |
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Term
| Mutualism? (and give an example) |
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Definition
| A system in which both species benefits from the other. Examples: yucca moth & yucca flowers, hippos & egret birds, clown fish & sea anemone |
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Term
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Definition
| One species benefits while the other species is (seemingly) unaffected. Example: wren & cactus (the wren makes a nest in the cactus), shark & ramora fish |
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Term
| What is a Keystone Species and why is it important? |
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Definition
| A keystone species is a species that is essential for the health of the community in which it lives. It maintains the level of biodiversity by keeping potentially dominant predators in check. |
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Term
| Explain competitive exclusion. |
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Definition
| Over time, two species that cannot healthfully share the same niche. gradually separate (result of evolution). Each species learns to capitalize & exploit their particular area of resources. |
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Term
| What is succession and what are the two types? |
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Definition
| Gradual and sequential rebuilding. Primary: where life never existed and there is no soil (cement sidewalks, volcanic eruption). Secondary: where life once did exist and the soil is intact (forest fires). |
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Term
| What is a pioneer species? |
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Definition
| The species that is first on the scene at the onset of succession. Typically these are small plants that require little nutrients, grow quickly, and reproduce quickly. |
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Term
| Why are periodic disturbances sometimes important for the health of a community? |
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Definition
| Periodic disturbances such as fires release nutrients, manage a potential domineering weed, clear underbrush, and germinate seeds (with the amount of heat). Also can increase sunlight by clearing away foliage. |
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Term
| What does a primary producer do and why it is important to every ecosystem? |
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Definition
| A primary producer (via photosynthesis) converts light energy from the sun into chemical energy, in the form of glucose, that can be consumed by consumers. They are responsible for fueling energy into the ecosystem! Other organisms depend on them for survival (they need energy) |
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Term
| Why does the amount of energy present within the food chain decrease as you move up trophic levels? |
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Definition
| Energy is never completely efficient, and is lost as metabolic heat when consumed by organisms. Furthermore, the metabolic processes are more complex as you move up trophic levels, so energy becomes increasingly less efficient. Also, the biomass decreases as you move up trophic levels because the populations become smaller. Thus, there is a greater total of energy among the lower trophic levels. |
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Term
| By what factor does energy decrease as you move up trophic levels? |
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Definition
| By a factor of 10. Producers: 10,000. Primary Consumers: 1,000. Secondary: 100. Tertiary: 10. |
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Term
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Definition
| A complex series of feeding relationships. |
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Term
| What substances are ESSENTIAL to an ecosystem? |
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Definition
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Term
| The products of one organism are the reactants of another. Explain this statement. |
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Definition
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Term
| Why is energy important for living things? |
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Definition
| Organisms require energy to carry out biological functions: reproducing, moving, eating, growing, and undergoing chemical reactions. |
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Term
| Why are plants so important in any ecosystem? |
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Definition
| They are responsible for "fixing" Co2 into a form that consumers can use (glucose) and creating oxygen. |
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Term
| What is the key component of the Nitrogen cycle and why? |
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Definition
| Bacteria because they "fix" Nitrogen into a form that plants can use. Plants need it to grow and be healthy. |
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Term
| All living things are made up of how much water? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is different about the Phosphorous Cycle from the other cycles? |
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Definition
| There is no atmospheric stage, since Phosphorous does not exist as a gas. The cycle is completely sedimentary. |
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Term
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Definition
| Essentially, long-term weather: temperature and rainfall. |
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Term
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Definition
| Topography, latitude/longitude, rotation of the Earth, the sun |
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Term
| Describe characteristics of a Tropical Rainforest? |
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Definition
| Warm & wet. Ideal conditions especially for plants, therefore an abundance of primary producers. Results in highest level of biodiversity. |
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Term
| Name other types of environments. |
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Definition
| Temperate Deciduous Forest (where we live), Taiga (Russian/Canadian forests), Savanna (tropical grassland), Temperate Grassland (prairie), Chaparral (California coastal area), Desert, Tundra, |
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Term
| What are the zones in lake or river? |
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Definition
| Littoral zone (shallow, by surface), benthic zone (underwater surface floor) |
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Term
| Why are wetlands important? |
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Definition
| Buffer zones- absorb excess water so prevent floods. |
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Term
| Characteristics of an estuary? |
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Definition
| High (and unique) biodiversity, high in nutrients, susceptible to pollution, salt water/fresh water, organisms here are very adaptable |
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Term
| Characteristics of an intertidal zone? |
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Definition
| Shorline & shallow ocean depths. Exposed to lots of sunlight means there are lots of primary producers, and a high (and unique) biodiversity. organisms are very unique because they have had to adapt (to fluctuating water levels, moving current, etc) |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| Characteristics of a coral reef? |
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Definition
| High in biodiversity (rivals the biodiversity of the rainforest). Home to millions of animals, including coral. Budding with life! |
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Term
| Describe coral and its importance to reefs. |
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Definition
| Coral is a type of animal. Has a mutualistic relationship with algae. Is a "specialist" species. Very sensitive to temperature changes, so climate change is very damaging. If the coral is destroyed, the entire ecosystem cannot exist. |
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Term
| Describe the concept of "Coevolution of Species." |
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Definition
| Species inhabiting the same biome interact, and adapt accordingly. Thus, they adapt to the biome together, in relation to one another, creating an "arms race of change" occurs. |
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