Ecology Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What are types of diagrams used to show comparative biological productivity for each level of the food chain?

Food chains (correct)

Food webs (correct)

Trophic pyramids (correct)

Ecosystem maps

What is succession?

The replacement of one community by another, developing toward a climax.

What is a climax community?

A stable, mature community that undergoes little or no change in species over time.

What is an intermediate community?

The stage before climax community. Signup and view all the answers

What does extinction refer to?

No remaining living organisms, gone forever. Signup and view all the answers

What is natural selection?

The differential survival and reproduction of organisms with genetic characteristics that enable them to better utilize environmental resources. Signup and view all the answers

What is stabilizing selection?

A sub-type of natural selection where genetic diversity lowers as all members of a species have this favored trait. Signup and view all the answers

What is disruptive selection?

A sub-type of natural selection that favors traits at both extremes of the distribution. Signup and view all the answers

What is directional selection?

A sub-type of natural selection that favors one extreme variation of a trait. Signup and view all the answers

What is artificial selection?

Breeding organisms with specific traits to produce offspring with identical traits. Signup and view all the answers

What is a limiting factor?

An environmental factor that prevents a population from increasing. Signup and view all the answers

What does biodiversity refer to?

The variety of life within a biome or region. Signup and view all the answers

What does a survival curve of type I organisms look like?

A concave down graph with a low mortality rate when young and a high mortality rate when old. Signup and view all the answers

What does a survival curve of type II organisms look like?

A straight line graph with a mortality rate that stays the same throughout all life stages. Signup and view all the answers

What does a survival curve of type III organisms look like?

A concave up graph with a high mortality rate when young and a low mortality rate when old. Signup and view all the answers

What is a life table?

An age-specific summary of the survival pattern of a population. Signup and view all the answers

What does population growth measure?

How the size of a population changes over time. Signup and view all the answers

What is the intrinsic rate of growth (r-max)?

The rate of growth under ideal conditions. Signup and view all the answers

What is exponential growth?

Growth rate remains the same while the population grows, represented by a $j$-shaped curve. Signup and view all the answers

What is logistic growth?

Growth rate decreases as the population grows due to density-dependent factors, represented by an $S$-shaped curve. Signup and view all the answers

What are factors that increase mortality rates?

Density-dependent factors such as predation rates, competition, and disease. Signup and view all the answers

What is the age of reproduction?

The average age in an organism when it is capable of reproduction. Signup and view all the answers

What are r-selected organisms?

Organisms that focus on rapid growth and reproduction. Signup and view all the answers

What are K-selected organisms?

Organisms that focus on stable growth. Signup and view all the answers

What is geographic range?

The region where members of a species live, feed, and reproduce. Signup and view all the answers

What are cosmopolitan species?

Species that have ranges stretching over several continents. Signup and view all the answers

What are endemic species?

Species that have ranges isolated to a small area on a single continent. Signup and view all the answers

What is active movement?

Movement that requires an organism to use an appendage, such as walking, flying, or swimming. Signup and view all the answers

What is passive movement?

Movement where the organism uses an external force, such as wind or water. Signup and view all the answers

What is seed dispersal?

A form of passive movement where a plant scatters offspring to reduce competition. Signup and view all the answers

What is seed dispersal by wind?

Light seeds that have hairy growths acting as parachutes and can be carried far away. Signup and view all the answers

What is seed dispersal by water?

Fruits that float, like water lilies and coconuts, can travel long distances across seas. Signup and view all the answers

What is seed dispersal by animals and insects?

Animals eat fruit but digest only the juicy part; seeds pass through and germinate after being excreted. Signup and view all the answers

What is seed dispersal by explosions?

Plant pods can explode when ripe, shooting seeds out. Signup and view all the answers

What is seed dispersal by fire?

Some plants adapt to survive fire and can reproduce afterward. Signup and view all the answers

What is an adaptive trait?

A behavior, physical feature, or characteristic allowing a plant or animal to survive and utilize its habitat. Signup and view all the answers

What is acid rain?

A form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, with a pH below 5.2. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Types of Diagrams

Trophic pyramids, food webs, and food chains visualize biological productivity across the food chain.

Succession

Primary succession involves colonization of barren environments, leading to a climax community.
Secondary succession occurs when an existing community is disturbed but soil nutrients remain, allowing regrowth.

Climax Community

A stable, mature ecosystem that maintains species composition over time.

Intermediate Community

Represents the stage prior to reaching a climax community.

Extinction

The complete loss of a species, with no remaining living individuals.

Natural Selection

A process where organisms with advantageous genetic traits survive and reproduce more effectively. Includes stabilizing, disruptive, and directional selection.

Stabilizing Selection

A type of natural selection that reduces genetic diversity by favoring a specific trait across a population.

Disruptive Selection

Favors extreme traits over intermediate ones, resulting in a bimodal distribution of traits.

Directional Selection

Occurs when natural selection favors one extreme trait, shifting allele frequency in one direction.

Artificial Selection

The process of breeding organisms for specific traits to produce offspring with those traits.

Limiting Factor

Environmental constraints that can inhibit population growth, including resources, shelter, food, and disease.

Biodiversity

The diversity of life forms in a particular biome or region, essential for ecosystem health.

Survival Curves

Type I: Low juvenile mortality, high mortality in older age.
Type II: Constant mortality rate throughout life.
Type III: High juvenile mortality, low mortality in adulthood.

Life Table

An age-specific summary that predicts survival patterns in populations, used to generate survival curves.

Population Growth

Describes changes in population size, with humans exhibiting non-exponential growth.

Intrinsic Rate of Growth (r-max)

The maximum growth rate of a population under ideal conditions.

Exponential Growth

Characterized by a constant growth rate leading to a J-shaped growth curve.

Logistic Growth

Involves a decreasing growth rate as the population approaches carrying capacity, resulting in an S-shaped curve.

Density-Dependent Factors

Factors affecting mortality rates based on population density, including predation, competition, and disease.

Age of Reproduction

The average age at which an organism can reproduce.

R-Selected Organisms

Species that prioritize rapid growth and reproduction, typically in unstable environments, producing many offspring with low investment.

K-Selected Organisms

Species that focus on stable growth and reproductive success, often found in stable environments near carrying capacity, investing more resources in fewer offspring.

Geographic Range

The area where a species lives, feeds, and reproduces, subject to changes from species establishment or extinction.

Cosmopolitan Species

Species with a distribution spanning multiple continents.

Endemic Species

Species confined to a specific, small area on a single continent.

Movement Types

Active Movement: Involves the organism using its appendages (e.g., walking, flying).
Passive Movement: Relies on external forces for movement (e.g., wind, water).

Seed Dispersal

A passive movement strategy that aids plant survival by reducing competition, implemented through various methods:
- Wind: Light seeds that can be carried over distances.
- Water: Fruits that float and can travel vast distances.
- Animals/Insects: Fruits are consumed, and seeds are excreted at new locations.
- Explosions/Tensions: Pods that burst and eject seeds.
- Fire: Certain plants adapt to fire, using the heat to trigger seed dispersal.

Adaptive Trait

A characteristic that enhances an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.

Acid Rain

Precipitation that contains acidic components, resulting from pollution and adversely affecting ecosystems.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Test your understanding of key ecological concepts with these flashcards. Covering topics like trophic pyramids and succession, this quiz is designed for those studying ecological principles. Perfect for students participating in Ecology competitions.