Ecology

The scientific study of the interactions between organisms

non living components-temp. light water nutrients

living components all the organisms that are part of an individual's environment

concerns how an orgnaism's structure physiology and behavior meet the challenges posed by the environment

a group of indiviuals of the same species living in a particular geographic area

concentrates mainly of factors that affect how many individuals of a particular species live in an area

consists of all the organisms of all the species that inhabit a particular area

deals with the whole array of interacting species in a community-how abiotic factors influence the community

consists of all the abiotic factors in addition to the entire community of species that exist in a certain area(lake)

the emphasis is on energy flow and chem cycling among the various biotic and abiotic components

focuses on the factors controlling exchanges of energy materials and organisms among the ecosystem patches making up a landscape

a mosaic of different typees of patches in a seascape or landscape

the global ecosystem the sum of all the planet's ecosystems

and ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

the movement of individuals away from centers of high population density or from their area or origin

the prevailing weather conditions in a particular area-temp water sunlight and wind

patterns on the global regional and local level

very fine patterns such as those experienced by a community of organisms underneath a log

brings oxygenated water from a lake's surface to the bottom and nutrient rich water from the bottom to the surface-spring and autumn

major types of ecological associations that occupy broad geographic regions of land and water

sufficient light for photosynthesis-upper zone of lakes or oceans

little light penetrates-lower zone of lakes or oceans

at the bottom of all aquatic biomes-made of sand and organic and inorganic sediments

occupy the benthic zone

rapid temp change in oceans and lakes-seperates the warm upper layer from cold deeper waters

Oligotropic lakes-nutrient poor oxygen rich
Eutropic lakes-nutrient rich oxygen poor
Littoral zone-shallow-well lighted-rooted and floating aquatic plants
Limnetic Zone-too deep for plants-phytoplankton and cyanobacteria

and area covered with water for a long enough period to support aquatic plants-most productive biome on earth

the most promintent physical characteristic is current

a transistion area between river and sea

periodically submerged and exposed by the tides twice daily on most marine shores

is a vast realm of open vlue water constantly mixed by wind driven oceanic currents

formed largely from the calcium carbonate skeletons of corals-reef building corals are limited to the photic zone of relatively stable tropical marine enviroments with high water clarity-requirehigh oxygen levels and are excluded by high inputs of fresh water and nutrients

Marine benthic zone-consists of the seafloor below the surface waters of the coastal or neritic zone and the offshore pelagic zone
Abyssal-the very deep benthic

a plot of the temperature and precipitation in a particular region

upper layer of forests

area of integration between biomes

observations of animal behavior through studying how behavior is controlled and how it develops evolves and contributes to survival and reproduction

everything an animal does and how it does it

focus on the environmental stimuli that trigger a behavior as well as the genetic physiological and anatomical mechanisms underlying a behavioral act

address the evolutionary significance of a behavior

the scientific sturdy of how animals behave particularly in their natrual environments

a sequence of unlearned behavioral acts that is essentially unchangeable and once initiated is usually carried to completion

external sensory stimulus that triggers a FAP

type of behavior that includes both learning and innate compnents and is generally irreversible

a limited phase in an animals development that is the only time when certain behaviors can be learned

behaviors that one is born with and that are not learned

a simple change in activity or turning rate in response to a stimulus

more or less automatic oriented movement toward or away from some stimulus

a behavior that causes a change in another animals behavior

as essential element of interation between individuals

way of communication in which an animal emits a odor or chemical substance

the modification of behavior based on sepcific experiences

the modification of behavior based on experience with the spatial structure of the environment including the locations of nest sites and hazards

location indicator

an internal representation or code of the spatial relationships between objects in an animal's surroundings

the ability of many animals to associate one feture of the environment with another

in which a stimulus such as odor is associated with a reward or punishment

trial and error learning

the ability of an animals nervous system to perceive store process and use info gathered by sensory receptors

examines the connection between an animals nervious system and its behavior

views foraging behavior as a compromise between the benefits of nutrition and the costs of obtaining food

no strong pair bonds or lasting relationships

an often ritualized contest that determines which competitor gains access to a resource

evaluates alternative strategies in situations where the outcome depends not only on each individuals strategy but also on that of others

selflessness