Biology Chapter 4: Ecosystems and Communities – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
weather
answer
Condition of the atmosphere at a specific time and place
question
climate
answer
Overall weather in an area over a long period of time
question
greenhouse effect
answer
Natural situation in which heat is retained in Earths atmosphere by carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and other gases
question
greenhouse effect
answer
Natural situation in which heat is retained in Earths atmosphere by carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and other gases
question
polar zones
answer
cold areas where the suns rays strike Earth at a very low angle
question
temperate zones
answer
the zone that sits between the polar zones and the tropics and has a climate that ranges from hot to cold, depending on the season
question
tropical zones
answer
The area between the equator and the Tropic of Cancer and between the Tropic of Capricorn where the climate is generally hot.
question
biotic factors
answer
Biological influences on organisms within an ecosystem. These include the entire living cast of characters with which an organism might interact.
question
abiotic factors
answer
nonliving parts of an ecosystem
question
habitat
answer
A place where organisms live
question
niche
answer
Full range of physical and biological conditions in which an organism lives and the way in which the organism uses those conditions
question
resource
answer
Any necessity of life, such as water, nutrients, light, food, or space.
question
competitive exclusion
answer
Ecological rule that states that no two species can occupy the same exact niche in the same habitat at the same time
question
predation
answer
An interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism
question
symbiosis
answer
A close relationship between two or more species where at least one benefits
question
mutualism
answer
A relationship in which both species benefit
question
commensalism
answer
A relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected.
question
parasitism
answer
A relationship in which one organism lives on or in a host and harms it.
question
ecological succession
answer
Series of predictable changes that occurs in a community over time
question
primary succession
answer
Succession that occurs on surfaces where no soil exists.
question
pioneer species
answer
First species to populate an area
question
secondary succession
answer
Life recovering from either partial or total destruction - soil remains ex. forest fire
question
biome
answer
A group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms
question
tolerance
answer
Ability of an organism to survive and reproduce under circumstances that differ from their optimal conditions
question
microclimate
answer
Climate within a small area that differs significantly from the climate of the surrounding area
question
canopy
answer
Dense covering formed by the leafy tops of tall rain forest trees
question
understory
answer
A layer of shorter plants that grow in the shade of a forest canopy
question
deciduous
answer
Trees and shrubs that shed their leaves at the end of the growing season
question
coniferous
answer
Cone-bearing trees with year-round leaves that are long, thin, and needle-like.
question
humus
answer
Decayed plant and animal remains which provide nutrients to plants
question
taiga
answer
Biome in which the winters are cold but summers are mild enough to allow the ground to thaw
question
permafrost
answer
Layer of permanently frozen subsoil in the tundra
question
plankton
answer
Tiny organisms that float in the water
question
phytoplankton
answer
Unicellular algae supported by nutrient in the water
question
zooplankton
answer
Animal plankton that feed on phytoplankton
question
wetland
answer
An ecosystem in which water either covers the soil or is present at or near the surface for at least part of the year.
question
estuaries
answer
Wetlands formed where rivers meet the sea
question
detritus
answer
Made up of tiny pieces of organic material that provides food for organisms at the base of the estuary and food web
question
salt marshes
answer
temperate zones, estuaries dominated by salt tolerant grasses above the low tide line and by sea grasses under the water.
question
mangrove swamps
answer
Coastal wetlands that are widespread across tropical regions
question
photic zone
answer
well-lit upper layer of the oceans
question
aphotic zone
answer
Permanently dark layer of the oceans below the photic zone
question
zonation
answer
Prominent horizontal banding of organisms that live in a particular habitat
question
coastal ocean
answer
marine zone that extends from the low-tide mark to the end of the continental shelf
question
kelp forests
answer
Coastal ocean community named for its dominant organism-kelp, a giant brown alga
question
coral reefs
answer
Diverse and productive environment named for the coral animals that make up its primary structure
question
benthos
answer
organisms (plants and animals) that live at or near the bottom of a sea
