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144 Cards in this Set
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flowing bodies of water that start as freshwater springs or seeps, flow down slope, and merge into rivers.
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Streams
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a deep zone of a body of water, such as an ocean or a lake, located below the range of effective light penetration.
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profundal zone
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The ocean’s bottom formed of sediments and rocks. No penetrating light so rganisms live in continual darkness, and organic material from above is the basis of detrital food chains
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benthic province
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of a population, the number of individuals in each of several age categories
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Age structure
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a group of organisms of the same species who live in a specific location and breed with one another more often than they breed with members of other populations.
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Population
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ratio of males to females in a population.
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sex ratio
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when individuals leave a population
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emigration
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???
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Per capita growth rate
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Maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustain (k)
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Carrying capacity
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Has a greater effect in dense populations than less dense ones
Example: disease, parasites |
Density-dependent
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Area of Earth’s surface required to sustainably support one’s level of development and consumption
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Ecological footprint
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Statistics that describe a population
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demographics
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childbirths per 1,000 people per year
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birth rate
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???
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linear growth
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maximum pop’n growth under ideal circumstances
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biotic potential
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Age-specific traits like age at first reproduction, number of breeding events, length of reproductive stage, age of normal mortality
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life history pattern
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total number of individuals in a population; estimated by scientists using plot sampling, and mark-capture sampling
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population size
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Of a population, all
individuals who are of reproductive age or younger |
reproductive base
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deaths per 1,000 people per year
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death rate
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a population grows by a fixed percentage in successive time intervals; the size of each increase is determined by the current population size. "J Curve"
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exponential growth
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a necessary resource, the depletion of which halts population growth; divided into two categories: density-dependent and density-independent
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limiting factor
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graph showing the decline in numbers of a cohort over time
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survivorship curve
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number of individuals per unit area
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population density
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when new individuals enter a population
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Immigration
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for some interval, the added number of individuals divided by the initial population size
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per capita growth rate
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a population grows slowly, then increases rapidly until it reaches carrying capacity and levels off. "S Curve"
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logistic growth
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Happens regardless of population density
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density-independent
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Individuals who produce a maximum number offspring as quickly as possible have a selective advantage. Occurs when population density is low and resources are abundant.
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r-selection
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Individuals who produce offspring that outcompete others for limited resources have a selective advantage. Occurs when a population is near carrying capacity
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K-selection
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where an organism lives and reproduces
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Habitat
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The set of conditions under which a species can survive and reproduce
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fundamental niche
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The set of conditions under which a species does survive and reproduce
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realized niche
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one species lives in or on another in a commensal, mutualistic, or parasitic relationship
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symbiosis
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Both species benefit
Example: Cleaner wrasse fish eats dead skin and parasites off of other fishes |
mutualism
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One species is
benefitted, the other is neither benefitted nor harmed Example: Cattle egrets feed on insects disturbed by cattle |
Commensalism
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One species is
benefitted, the other is harmed Example: One insect species lays eggs on the larva of another species |
parasitism
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occurs when species compete for limited resources, with obvious winners and losers
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competition
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when one species captures, kills, and eats another
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predation
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when an animal feeds on plant parts
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herbivory
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Occurs when different species utilize a resource that is in limited supply. If the resource is not in limited supply, there is no competition.
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Interspecific competition
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No two species can occupy the same niche at the same time
Over time, either: 1.one species replaces the other 2. the two species evolve to occupy different niches |
competitive exclusion principle
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occurs when species shift niches; they no longer directly compete
Example: Five species of North American warblers reduce competition by feeding on different parts of the trees. |
resource partitioning
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outcome of competition between two species; similar traits that result in competition become dissimilar
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character displacement
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A form of protective mimicry in which an unprotected species, especially of an insect, closely resembles an unpalatable or harmful species and therefore is similarly avoided by predators.
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Batesian mimicry
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A form of protective mimicry in which two or more poisonous or unpalatable species closely resemble each other and are therefore avoided equally by all their natural predators.
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Mullerian mimicry
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Conspicuously recognizable markings of an animal that serve to warn potential predators of the nuisance or harm that would come from attacking or eating it.
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warning coloration
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???
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chemical defense
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???
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Physical defense
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???
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behavioral defense
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Small parasites that live inside the host.
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endoparasite
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Larger and remain attached to the body of hosts.
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ectoparasite
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when one egg-laying species benefits by having anothher raise its offspring
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Brood parasite
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insects lay eggs in another species’ living body
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parasitoid
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a new community becomes established in an area where there was no soil
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primary succession
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a new community develops where the soil that supported an old community remains
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secondary succession
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species that can colonize a new habitat
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Pioneer species
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An ecological community in which populations of plants or animals remain stable and exist in balance with each other and their environment; final stage of succession; remains relatively unchanged until destroyed by an event such as fire or human interference.
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climax community
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a species that has a disproportionately large effect on community structure
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keystone species
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number of species
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species richness
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number of individuals within each population
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Species diversity
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in an ecosystem, an organism that captures energy from an inorganic source and stores it as biomass; first trophic level
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Primary producer
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the rate at which an ecosystem's producers capture and store energy
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primary production
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organism that gets energy and nutrients by feeding on tissues, wastes, or remains of other organisms; a heterotroph
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consumer
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consumer that feeds on small bits of organic material
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detritivore
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organism that feeds on biological remains and breaks organic material down into its inorganic subunits
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Decomposer
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description of who eats whom in one path of energy in an ecosystem
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food chain
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set of cross-connecting food chains
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food web
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position of an organism in a food chain
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trophic level
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Shows the trophic structure of an ecosystem as a function of biomass, organism number, or energy content
of each trophic level in a food web |
Ecological pyramid
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???
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rule of 10%
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Circulation pathways of elements or compounds through the biotic and abiotic parts of an ecosystem
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biogeochemical cycle
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the portion of the environment that acts as a storehouse for the element. Can be living or not
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reservoir
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an area of land where all precipitation and snowmelt drains into a specific waterway. Often bordered by mountains or higher ground. May be small (like ours) or large (like the Mississippi River watershed, 41% of US land area).
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Watershed
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water that flows over soil into streams
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runoff
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soil water and water in aquifers
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groundwater
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porous rock layer that holds some groundwater
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aquifer
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Freshwater evaporates and condenses on the earth
Evaporation of water from the oceans leaves behind salts Rainfall that permeates the earth forms a water table at the surface of the groundwater…also taken up by plants |
Water cycle
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CO2 from the air combines with water to produce bicarbonate (HCO3), which is a source of carbon for aquatic producers, primarily algae
When aquatic organisms respire, the CO2 they release combines with water to Photosynthesis removes CO2 from atmosphere Respiration and combustion add CO2 to atmosphere form HCO3 |
carbon cycle
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Nitrogen gas becomes “fixed” through a process whereby N2 converted to NH4+ (ammonia) and added to organic compounds like amino acids, nucleic acids, and chlorophyll
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nitrogen cycle
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Weathering makes
phosphate ions (PO4 and HPO4 2- ) available to plants from soil and rocks Algae incorporate it into organic molecules Incorporated into ocean sediments |
phosphorous cycle
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likely will become endangered soon (orange flag)
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Threatened species
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faces extinction in all or part of its range (red flag)
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endangered species
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confined to area in which it evolved, not widespread
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endemic species
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Occurs after plowing/disturbance removes plants. Topsoil blows away, plants cannot establish.
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desertification
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results in increased: landslides, erosion, nutrient loss, flooding, temperatures, carbon in atmosphere. Experiments in OR, NH, Costa Rica, elsewhere confirms these results.
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Deforestation
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The act or process of polluting or the state of being polluted, especially the contamination of soil, water, or the atmosphere by the discharge of harmful substances.
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pollution
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low pH rain that forms when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides mix with water vapor in the atmosphere.
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acid rain
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The increasing concentration of a substance, such as a toxic chemical, in the tissues of organisms at successively higher levels in a food chain.
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biomagification
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pollution identifiable to one entity
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Point source pollution
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pollution that is the result of many entities
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nonpoint source pollution
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An unstable, poisonous allotrope of oxygen, O3, that is formed naturally in the ozone layer from atmospheric oxygen
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ozone
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high atmospheric layer with a great concentration of ozone (O3); prevents much ultra-violet radiation from reaching earth's surface.
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ozone layer
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A hydrocarbon deposit, such as petroleum, coal, or natural gas, derived from living matter of a previous geologic time and used for fuel.
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Fossil fuel
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Any of the atmospheric gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation produced by solar warming of the Earth's surface. They include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (NO2), and water vapor.
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greenhouse gas
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of a region, the genetic variation within its species, variety of species, and variety of ecosystems.
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biodiversity
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threatened region with great biodiversity that is considered a high priority for conservation efforts
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hot spot
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actively altering an area in an effort to restore or create a functional ecosystem
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Ecological restoration
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Describe how the Sierra Nevada Mountains result in a rain shadow effect that leaves Nevada drier than much of California.
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The warm, moist air from the Pacific runs over California until it meats the Sierra Nevadas. The moisture is blocked out by the mountains leaving Nevada dry and arid, thus producing a rain shadow.
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Explain how/why the same area of sunlight falling on the equator results in more energy for organisms there than the same area of sunlight falling on the Earth at 70° N or S.
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because of the Earth's elliptical shape, the area at 0 degrees is closest to the sun, thus, receiving the most sunlight. The area at 70 degrees is farther from the equator, so the further the area from the equator, the less sunlight will reach that area.
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Describe how trophy hunting (taking the biggest, showiest individuals) affects the age structure of a population of deer, fish, and bears. Is this an example of r-selection or K-selection? Why?
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Trophy hunting takes away the biggest, oldest, most fearsome predators who are are usually at the top of their respective food chain. This will create parity among the remaining younger species creating more competition.
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List three examples each of density-dependent and density-independent factors that limit population growth.
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IND: human-made forest fires, floods, clear-cutting
DEP: diseases, parasites, exponential growth |
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Assume a population of ladybugs in a cornfield has a per capita birth rate = 0.3 and a per capita death rate = 0.2. What is the per capita growth rate (r) for this population? Assume a starting population of 600 ladybugs, and assume that they reproduce every two weeks. How many lady bugs would there be after 10 weeks?
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R (per capita growth rate) = B (per capita birth rate) - D (per capita death rate)
so, 0.3 - 0.2 = 0.1 900 ladybugs after 10 weeks |
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Some researchers claim that climax communities do not exist, and that the notion of a climax community is a false one. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?
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the time required to achieve such succession is unrealistically long; in most cases, external disturbances and environmental change occur so frequently that the realization of a climax community is unlikely, and therefore it has come to be regarded as a less useful concept; yes, because factors such as soil and climate, chance events (such as arrival of new species), and the extent of disturbances in the habitat make a community's future unpredictable.
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Give an example of resource partitioning in nature, and how this phenomenon allows multiple species to live together in a common area.
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lizards in tropical rainforest share common food needs like insects They avoid competition by occupying different sections of the rainforest. Some live on the leaf litter floor while others live on shady branches, thereby avoiding competition over food in those sections of the forest.
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Describe the ultimate reason why predator and prey species evolve defenses and attack strategies against each other. How would a biologist explain this phenomenon?
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The ultimate reason is competition. A biologist would explain this as an example of natural selection. The two species are trying to adapt to their respective environmental pressures; the weak will die out and the strong will thrive.
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Imagine two communities with species A,B,C and D. Community one has 17 individuals of species A, and one individual each of B,C and D. Community two has 5 individuals of each species. Which is more diverse? Why?
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Community two is more diverse because the number of individuals and the number of species are important, a mere inventory of the species would not express this difference.
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Prairie dogs have been described as a keystone species in North American grasslands. They turn over soil, create patches of dissimilar vegetation, and keep harmful insect populations low. All of these actions serve to maintain high levels of plant species diversity in the system. Describe a plausible outcome in a grassland community if a Kansas farmer decided to kill all the prairie dogs on his property because he didn’t like “molehills.”
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The absence of the prairie dog species would allow competitive exclusion to come into play and allow the harmful insect populations to kill the prey species, the vegetation, off.
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You have a garden in Turlock and your friend in Florida also has one. What are some environmental variables that could influence primary production in these two gardens?
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daylength, temp., and the availability of nutrients and water.
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Where does Turlock’s water come from? Furthermore, what area is included in Turlock’s watershed, and what is our general level of “water security” here?
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All of Turlock's water comes from groundwater wells. Kesterson is included in Turlock's watershed. kesterson/San Joaquin watershed
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Describe why, in general, available energy and biomass of species declines by about 90% in each higher trophic level of a food chain.
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not all energy that an organism takes in is used to building body parts
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The longest food chain described in nature has six trophic levels, but most food chains only have three or four. Why is this?
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The length of food chains is constrained by the inefficiency of energy transfers. only 5-30% of the energy in tissues of an organism at one trophic level ends up in tissues of an organism at the next trophic level.
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Every organism needs nitrogen and phosphorous. Why? What are some reservoirs of these materials in the environment?
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Organisms need nitrogen and phosphorus to build proteins and nucleic acids. The main reservoir for nitrogen is the atmosphere which is 80% nitrogen; the main reservoir for phosphorus is found in phosphate ions in the air since there is no gaseous, free-flowing form of phosphorus anywhere.
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Average global land temperatures have increased about ¾ of a degree Celsius in the last 40 years, an average ocean temperatures have risen half a degree Celsius in that same time span. Why should a 0.5 – 0.75 degree increase be cause for concern? In the next 70 years (your life span) estimates range from another 1-4 degree Celsius increase in average ocean and land temperatures. Discuss some likely outcomes of this scenario.
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water expands as it is heated, and heating also melts sea ice and claciers. expansion and the addition of meltwater from glaciers cause sea level to rise. as a result, some coastal wetlands are disappearing. In addition, this will stress reef-building corals and increase the frequency of coral bleaching events.
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Many cities in the USA have decided to trap and kill wild cats to protect endemic birds. Do you agree with this practice? Why or why not?
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No, because killing wild cats affects the entire food chain, and offsets the stability of that community. Besides, there are other ways to protect endemic species besides killing their predators.
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Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Explain how desertification and deforestation also contribute to increased levels of CO2 in the atmosphere.
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When plants are killed (cut down), they can no longer perform photosynthesis which absorbs CO2 to produce oxygen. Less plants = equals more CO2 in the atmosphere.
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why is acid rain more concentrated in the northeastern part of the USA?
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Acid rain occurs in highly urbanized and industrialized areas like the northeastern United States where many fossil fuel burning factories operate. Due to the size of the population in the northeast, people driving vehicles that burn diesel and gasoline contribute to acid rain; the exhaust in vehicles release sulfur dioxide. In addition, many of U.S. power plants located in the Midwest blow their coal-burning pollutants toward the East Coast.
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how does the tilt of the Earth on its axis results in seasons?
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The Earth is not perpendicular to the plane of the ellipse because of the tilt so during different times of the year some areas of earth's surface receive more or less sunlight than others, resulting in seasons.
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what two abiotic factors constitute a biome?
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precipitation and temperature
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distinguish between population density and distribution
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density is how many individuals per unit of area or volume. distribution is the location relative to each individual.
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what are the three major categories of age structure in a population
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pre-productive, reproductive, and post-productive
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the equations for finding per capita growth rate and exponential growth
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PCGR: r (per capita growth rate) = b (per capita birth rate) - d(per capita death rate);
EG: G (population growth per unit time) = r (per capita growth rate) x N (number of individuals) |
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average weather conditions in a region over a long time period
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climate
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biome with little rain and low humidity; plants that have water-storing and conserving adaptations predominate
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desert
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biome in northern hemisphere; main plants are broadleaf trees that lose leaves and become dormant during winter/dry seasons
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temperate deciduous forest
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extensive high-latitude forest of the northern hemisphere; conifers are the predomimant vegetation; also know as tiaga
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boreal forest
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large natural stream of water emptying into an ocean, lake, or other body of water usually fed along its course by converging tributaries
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River
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highly productive ecosystem where nutrient-rich water from a river mixes with sea-water
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estuary
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the state of the atmosphere at a given time and place; variables include temperature, moisture, wind velocity and barometric pressure
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weather
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biome in the interior of continents where grasses and nonwoody plants adapted to grazing and fire predominate
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grassland
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highest latitude northern biome covered with snow many months of the year
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tundra
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nearest shore where sunlight penetrates to the lake bottom and aquatic plants are primary producers
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littoral zone
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highly diverse marine ecosystem centered around wave-resistant reefs by living corals that secrete calcium carbonate
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coral reefs
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one of four natural divisions of the year in the north and south temperate zones. each begins astronomically at an equinox or solstice.
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season
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the region near mountains that receive dry air masses
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rain shadow
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biome grasslands with scattered shrubs and trees that lie between tropical forests and deserts
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savannah
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conifers adapted to conserve water during drought or extreme cold - winters are long, cold, and dry; most rain falls short in the summer
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coniferous forest
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a large inland body of fresh water or salt water
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lake
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well-lit, open surface waters in a lake, away from the shore
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limnetic zone
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the oceans open waters over continental shelves and offshore; phytoplankton are primary producers in upper waters
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pelagic province
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discontinuous region characterized by its climate and dominant vegetation
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biome
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forests characterized by high rainfall
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rainforest
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biome of dry shrubland in regions with hot, dry summers and cool, rainy winters
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chapparral
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The Hardy-Weinberg Formula
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p^2(BB) + 2pq(Bb) + q^2(bb) = 1.0
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why do salts dissolve in water?
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Salt is comprised of two different elements (Na-sodium and Cl-chlorine) through an ionic bond. When the salt hits the water the ionic bonds slowly start to break down and you are left with the ion Na+1 and Cl-1 that float freely in the water.
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