General Ecology Final Test 2024 PDF

· ecology considers organisms at following levels : individual , population , community ecosystem...

· ecology considers organisms at following levels : individual , population , community ecosystem , , biosphere. g soils) (animated · biotope (inanimated and biocenosis elements ecosystem is made of elements e e g.: plants , - ,... , ·womamortishevelo as interbreeding. · the survival and reproduction of a particular species.. 2 and their characterisH CS Types of ecosystems - - S O natural ecosystems : forests , natural surface waters (lakes with vegetation seminatural cosystems grossesecosystemsmedopasturesa ⑧ - (lives vegetation close to and benefits from humans Types of ecosystems : Forest form of ecosystems plant life they provide · trees are the main for many species homes they help clean our - , , air and are sources of food and medicine. ecosystems · Tundra cold windy areas with little rain , these regions have short summers and long harsh winters , - , , the landscape is often covered in snow and ice. · Desert adapted ecosystems very dry and hot , plants and animals to survive with very little water -. · Freshwater supports ecosystems-water is not salty like the ocean , freshwater provides drinking water , agriculture, O Y  indicators tools used to 3 Biodiversity measure the state and trends of biodiversity in ecosystems - :. Species reflects of different species usually indicates · richness : the number within an ecosystem high , richness diverse a healthy , ecosystem. Species evaluates how evenly individuals distributed species balanced ecosystem · evenness are among a : , will not be dominated species overly by one. and provide for biodiversity Diversity indices combine richness numerical value. · : evenness to a assessment Indicator species · certain species sensitive to environmental absence changes making their a are presence : or , signal of ecosystem health or degradation. 4. and urban The role of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes : and Biodiversity supports ecosystem functions in both agricultural urban settings : Agricultural landscapes : (e bees) reproduction of many plants. · pollination : insects g are critical for crop fertilization and.. · pest control : birds , bats and insects reduce pests naturally , reducing the need for chemical pesticides. soil organisms le g. fungi) · soil health : and resistance. worms improve soil fertility and to erosion, maintaining long-term agricultural productivity. Urban landscapes : urban heat , absorb climate regulation green spaces mitigate CO2 , and produce oxygen improving air quality. · : , sound barriers trees and shrubs act especially in densely populated · noise reduction : as , areas. urban greenery helps filter rainwater , reducing pollutants and controlling surface water runoff · water quality : to prevent flooding.. 5 Problems and principles of ecosystems : Probl · · at %· U · of soil pollution contamination air water and negatively impacts living organisms. : , , ecosystems' · climate OUters distributions increases extreme weather events , and - co species , challenges the ability to adapt. Principles : S i oni sh balance - - Lavo i 00 f ecological " se: safeguards that · Species protection : species are rare , endangered, or endemic to ensure their survival.  7. of of Levels organization nature : Nature is organized hierarchically : individual units. 1 Organism level living beings , the basic of life. within groups of. 2 Population level : the same species interacting a specific area. communities of different. Biocenosis level 3 : species interacting with each other. 4. Ecosystem level : systems of biotic and abiotic interactions , such as forests or lakes.. 5 Landscape level : networks of ecosystems linked by natural and anthropogenic factors. 8. Landscape and its elements in an ecological aspect : Landscape-spatial unit with interconnected natural and authropogenic ecosystems , shaped by cultural physical biological , and factors. elements key L - natural anthropogenic : : forests · mid-field · agricultural fields with plantings wetlands · infrastructure (parks green · urban roofs , green , · rivers rain gardens · less valleys · meadows riparian forests · located along waterbodies in Role of landscape ecology : biodiversity · support - they provide habitats for a variety of species through diverse structural features like ecological corridors , buffer zones and green spaces. · surface runoff mitigate flooding water management-floodplain terraces and rain gardens control , retain rainwater, and. · climate and regulation trees and other vegetation in landscapes lower temperatures store carbon , enhance local - , microclimates. wetlands , and natural river Forest complexes valleys are essential for maintaining ecological balance. · , , Mid-field tree stands and hedgerows function ecological corridors and protect against soil erosion. · as and improve Green infrastructure in urban reduce pollution support biodiversity human well-being · areas ,.  energy flow 9. Biomes , biospheres , matter circulation and : biosphere-zone of the globe that is the habitat of the organic world (biotic part of Earth's ecosystem) · biomes-fragments characterized by typical environmental · of the biosphere conditions in a given area, separate large plant formations conditioned by climate and water availability , boundaries of biomes - transition zones. Main biomes of the Earth : · forests : moist equatorial forests (tropical forests), - evergreen -subtropical forests shedding leaves in the dry season, -hard-leaved forests and thickets - temperate forests shedding leaves for the winter , high-mountain forests and non-forests high mountain vegetation, -boreal coniferous forests (taiga · steppes and barbed forests · Savannas not semi-deserts and deserts · cool semi-deserts and deserts · tundra · salt water biomes · freshwater biomes · The Earth's to functioning of ecosystem is related the circulation of matter and the flow of energy. circulation of matter : Streams : · gases (e. oxygen air movement- refers to the circulation of air in the atmosphere , like wind , which distributes g. and carbon dioxide) essential for life and influences weather patterns. water · cycles the movement of water through evaporation condensation precipitation and runoff, - , , , which sustains life and shapes ecosystems. dispersal · nutrient zoogenic activities processes driven by animals such as grazing seed or cycling via - , , , helps spread within waste this matter ecosystems. · soil erosion the movement of soil particles by water , wind, or gravity which can deplete fertile land - , but also redistribute nutrients.  Climate factors : · temperature - affects processes like evaporation rates, plant growth , and animal metabolism. humidity-influences water availability and hydrological processes like precipitation and transpiration. · soil-provides nutrients for plants and a medium for matter transfer through erosion or organic decomposition. plants and animals nutrient · in key players cycling ; - plants absorb nutrients and animals redistribute them through and feeding waste. Material streams movement of matter that can deplete resources (e g.. deforestation) or create structures le Sediment deposition deltas).. g. forming Feedback loops : · positive feedback-amplifies a change , like more vegetation increasing soil stability. · negative feedback-balances changes , like vegetation regrowing after erosion. Energy flow : Energy from the sun-primary energy source for ecosystems , plants (producers) use sunlight for it chemical stored photosynthesis , converting into energy in their tissues. Food chains - represent the flow of energy through tropic levels , from producers to consumers (herbivores , carnivores , and decomposers). Tropic levels hierarchial stages in the food chain : · plants that convert into chemical producers or algae solar energy energy , - feed · primary consumers - herbivores that on producers , · Carnivores omnivores that feed other secondary tertiary consumers or on consumers. - Lindeman's that 10-20 % of energy transferred to the next trophic level law-states only is , at most is used for lost heat This limits food metabolic functions or as. chain length. Heat loss - during energy transfer , much is lost as heat due to metabolic activities , reducing the energy available for higher trophic levels. Energy transformations (like photosynthesis or decomposition) drive the movement and recycling of matter, showing their interdependence in ecosystems.  10. Types of mid-field and their role trees for biodiversity : Mid-field tree stands - single trees and shrubs or their clusters , which are not forests , located and in agricultural areas , growing near water reservoirs watercourses , along roads. Types of mid-field tree stands : single (soliter) · and · row-linearly arranged trees shrubs , e g.. along roads linear tree stands Com wide e g along rivers -. ,. of shrubs surface OOLha for example and meadows · trees and pastures group on - , of · clumpy-bigger group trees and Shrub-surface 0 02-0 1 ha.. · it's not tree stands bigger than 0 /ha but a forest -. , Roles : · and soil climate-forming wind inhibition , modification of rainfall distribution, impact on air temperature, - reduction of evaporation. · waterproofing reducing evaporation and surface runoff preventing chemical and biological - , contamination of water. soil and schrubs · protection-belts of trees , water erosion and wind erosion. (e livestock farm). · and unpleasant hygenic-stopping. from toxic sanitary dust pollution , gases , odors. g technical-covering unsightly places ( cans) defensive (barbed hedges) and fire-fightinga · inteGarbage , strengthening slopes , signaling road - · biocenotic-creating feeding places of birds insects (insects pollinate crops). · nests and and migration of plants and animals. · ecological corridors enabling the -  11. Alien , invasive species - terms and examples : Alien plant outside its natural species a animal or microorganism introduced to a new area range - , Invasive species - non-native species introduced intentionally or accidentally , often outcompeting native species , and alter they lead to a decline in native biodiversity ecosystem functions. examples : · pigeons , rats , · · poison ivy , · mint. 12. Urban ecosystems and the role of green areas in ecological structure of city : but critical Urban ecosystems are dominated by human activity play a ecological role. examples : parks , urban forests and green rooftops functions : habitats /species thriving environments). biodiversity · hotspots provide for synanthropic species in human - air and reduce pollution through filtration quality improvement · water - natural processes. recreational spaces mental and for · enhance physical health by providing green areas human use. - 13. Synanthropization process : synanthropization - adaptation of wildlife to human-altered environments , leading to increased presence of and weeds species like pigeons in urban or agricultural areas. impact : often results in reduced biodiversity favoring few dominant · , a species, disrupt and natural balances ecological functions. · can