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29 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Ecology
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scientific study of the interactions between organisms and their environment
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Organism
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basic unit of ecological system
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Population
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group of individuals of the same species living at the same time
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community
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consists of all organisms that inhabit a particular area; assemblage of populations of different species
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ecosystem
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includes all biotic and abiotic factors within a specific area
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biotic factors
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living components of an ecosystem
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abiotic factors
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non living components of an ecosystem
sunlight water temperature wind rocks and soil |
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biosphere
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global ecosystem; sum of all the planets ecosystems- life and where it lives
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dispersal
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movement of individuals away from their area of origin or from centers of high population density
-contributes to global distribution of organisms |
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natural range distribution
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organisms reaching an area on their own in which they did not previously exist
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species transplant
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intentional or accidental release of species to areas where they were previously absent
-species must survive and reproduce -usually detrimental to native species |
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behavior
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preferences that may limit a species ability to disperse into other habitats
-dietary preferences of koalas and pandas limit their ability to disperse |
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climate
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long term, prevailing weather conditions in a particular area
-major components of climate: temperature precipitation sunlight wind |
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macroclimate
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climate patterns on the local, regional, and global level
-determined by input of solar energy in planets movement in space -suns warming effects on planets result in: temperature variations air movement cycles water evaporation |
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factors of macroclimate
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-affects local temperature and rainfall
-influences specie distribution -proximity of bodies of water -ocean currents influence climate along coasts heating/ cooling air -coastal climates tend to be moister than inland climates |
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seasonal variation of macroclimate
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axis of earths rotation and revolution around the sun affects:
day light solar radiation temperature - unusual occurrences in wind and ocean currents could result in el nino or la nina |
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microclimate
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fine climate patterns encountered by a community of organisms
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factors affecting microclimate
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trees casting shade
open areas exposed to sunlight low lying areas tending to be moister features such as logs and large stones |
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global climate change
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increase in temperature and change in weather patterns around the planet, mostly due to increasing CO levels from burning of fossil fuels
-form of long term climate change -terrestrial temperatures increase -aquatic temperatures increase -changes in precipitation |
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biome
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major terrestrial or aquatic life zone, characterized by vegetation type and physical environment
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characteristics of marine biomes
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-impact global climate, carbon cycles
-oceans=75% of earths surface -marine biomes= 3% salt content |
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stratification of marine biomes
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thermoclines
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narrow layer of abrupt temperature change, separating warmer upper layers from colder lower layers
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turnover
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semiannual (spring/fall) mixing of water due to changing temperatures resulting in OXYGEN RICH WATERS DESCENDING and NUTRIENT RICH WATERS ASCENDING
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stratification of freshwater biomes
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communities
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distribution of different populations of species- in both marine and freshwater based upon certain parameters
-form of aquatic biomes in general -depth of water -degree of light penetration -distance from shore -distance from surface |
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characteristics of terrestrial biomes
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determined by climate, altitude, and latitude
-usually named for climate features or predominant vegetation (also microorganisms, fungi and animals) -affected by weather patterns (consistent or inconsistent) -affected by annual mean precipitation -affected by annual mean temperature |
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disturbance
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event that changes a community by removing organisms and altering resources availability
-human activities -severe weather patterns -natural disasters *disturbances are essential to the survival of the community-especially dominant plant wildfires |
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stratification of terrestrial biome
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