Ecology terms

hadal zone

deepest zone, below 6000m

stream orders

headwater stream is 1 prime, (2) 1 prime streams form a 2 prime stream, (2) 2 prime streams form a 3 prime stream, (2) 3 prime streams form a 4 prime stream, and so on.

lithosphere

the earth's crust and the upper mantle

marsh

wetland dominated by herbaceous vegetation, has high plant diversity, has standing water for part of year, macronutrient-rich, mineral- rich, well-oxygenated, black mucky soil

Palustrine systems

wetlands, water may or may not be flowing, saturated soil, 3 types are: marshes, peatlands, and swamps

arrangement of continents and global mean temp

when there is a large landmass at the equator, it prevents much water from being warmed there, and so the earth goes into a cool period. the earth also goes into a cool period if the polar waters are blocked by landmasses, and cannot interact easily with warm equatorial waters

ecotone

where ecological boundaries occur, often stressful for organisms who live there, good places for accelerated evolution to occur

reaction rates and temperature

For every 10 degree C increase in temp, the rate of chemical reactions doubles.

plankton

organisms floating in or on water. Two divisions are phytoplankton and zooplankton. Jellyfish, Sargassum, duckweed, cyanobacteria, crustaceans, fish, and many other organisms can be plankton They may be able to move, but they cannot resist a moderate current.

epibiota

organisms growing on other organisms

PAR

photosynthetically active radiation

topography and soil

positive features (hills, mountains, etc) often have poorer soil. alluvial soils develop quickly from erosion from upland areas.

fringing reefs

reefs that hug shore of continent or island

barrier reefs

reefs that occur some distance from shore and are separated by a lagoon

biome

region of planet governed by particular climate (temperature and precipitation) and characterized by a predominant vegetation type.

3 types of parent material

residual (formed in place from weathering of bedrock), transported (such as from glaciers, wind, water, or gravity), or organic (aquatic sediments and peat)

eutrophic lake

rich in nutrients, usually because of human influence

insect fauna v. stream size

small streams have shredders that eat leaves that fall into the water. medium streams/rivers have grazers, that eat the abundant algae. large streams/rivers have collectors that strain for food particles in the turbid water

soil in regions with year-round growing season

soil is depleted of nutrients because everything is growing all the time, temperature is conducive to quick bacterial decay

mesopelagic zone

some solar radiation can occur, but no photosynthesis. 200-1000m, temp b/t 68 and 39 degrees Fahrenheit

downrigger

stiff rod used to keep a fishing line down at a certain depth. can be used with plankton net to analyze plankton abundance at certain depths

ecology

study of the relationships between organisms and the relationship between organisms and their environments. term coined by Ernst Haeckel who derived it from the Greek word "oikos", meaning "house"

deep sea communities

sustained by marine snow and by chemoautotrophic bacteria that use hydrogen sulfide from "hot smokers"

ecosystem ecology

the study of physical and chemical factors influencing communities, including energy flow

Tectonic lake basins

these are extremely deep and extremely old. They are formed through tectonic upheaval (like Lake Victoria) or in rift valleys (like lake Tanganyika).

glaciers

they are formed when summers aren't hot or long enough to melt last season's ice; they press down crust, and the crust rebounds when the glaciers are gone; they carry debris w/ them and leave it where they melt; they carve out lakes, including great lakes; sometimes they got buried in till, and melted underground for up to 1,000 years; last glaciation was called the Wisconsin glaciation

spring tide

unusually high tide, occurs when the moon is full or new, and so the sun and the moon align with earth

neap tide

unusually low tide, occurs when the moon is in its first or third quarter, and so the sun and moon are not aligned with both each other and earth.

tropical dry rainforest

up to 90 in. prec. per year; 2 seasons (6-month wet and 6-months dry); occur b/t 10 and 25 degrees N and S of equator; avg temp is 74-84 degrees F; soils better than in tropical rainforest because seasonality allows soils to rest and there is less rain to wash away nutrients in the soil; if soils aren't protected, erosion will damage them; tree height varies w/ soil moisture; deciduous trees may live here; it is an endangered biome b/c it has a much higher human population than tropical rain forests (wet rain forests) and it is used much more for agriculture

epilimnion

upper layer of lake, warmer during the summer

neritic zone

zone where photosynthesis can occur on seafloor

epipelagic zone

zone where photosynthesis occurs. 0-200m, 69 degrees Fahrenheit average temp.

blade

"leaf" for an algae

stipe

"stem" for a moss or an algae

layers of the tropical rainforest

(from top to bottom) emergent layer, canopy layer, understory layer, immature layer, herb layer

soil layers

(in order, from top to bottom): O horizon (large organic matter), A horizon (black, rich in decayed organic matter), E horizon (elluvial, zone of leaching), B horizon (illuvial, iron accumulates here), C horizon (broken parent material), R horizon (parent material)

geographic ecology

(landscape ecology) This focuses on long-term ecological processes in biomes and the biosphere.

holdfast

algae use this to cling to bottom surface

Abyssal zone

4000-6000m

tundra

55-70 degrees N of equator; avg annual temp is -71F; soils are peat-based (from un-decomposed remains of sphagnum moss and other bog plants); organic material doesn't rot because the coldness, low oxygen levels, and water don't help bacteria and fungi break it down; permafrost exists and causes water to collect above it during the summer; "drunken forests" are forests composed of dwarfed, stunted, leaning trees that grow where there is permafrost; tundra is world's youngest biome b/c they were covered by ice 10,000 years ago; vegetation dominated by grasses, sedges, mosses, and lichens; any trees that are present are dwarfed (birches and willows); large animals include caribou, musk oxen, bears, and wolves; fun fact: a frog (Rana sylvatica) lives in the tundra and it can survive being frozen!; if arctic warms, carbon sequestered in peat will be released as methane, and global warming will be greatly accelerated; methane is 23x stronger greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide; even today people are finding methane bubbles being released in many different localities; there is positive feedback b/t the methane and melting, b/c melting causes more methane to be released, which causes even more melting, and so on; 80 billion tons of methane lie underneath the ice

breakdown of global water:

97% in oceans, 3% freshwater(2% polar ice, .95% groundwater, .03% lakes, rivers, and streams, and .015% soil moisture)

soil

At the base of every biome is the soil. It is extremely complex, and has four main components: mineral matter, organic matter, water, and "air". Ideal ratio of matter (organic and mineral) to water and air is 50:25:25

suitability of Earth for life

Earth is a good place for life because of the effects of axial tilt, Jupiter, the Milankovitch cycle and Earth's large moon.

littoral zone

In freshwater ecosystems, from shore to the point on the bottom where PAR stops. In saltwater ecosystems, it is the area that is affected by the tides (supratidal fringe through upper subtidal)

N v. n

N=exact number of individuals n=sample that will get you a close estimation of N

intertidal zone

from the neap tide line (lowest) to the flood (spring) tide line (highest). Also includes normal high and normal low tide lines

Mid-Atlantic Ridge

a divergent boundary where geologists sent Alvin in the 1970's; discovered by depth-sounding equipment that was searching for the best telegraph route; new ecosystem discovered there at the bottom of the ocean

till

mineral debris deposited by glaciers

bog

a mineral-poor peatland

fen

a mineral-rich peatland (it has alkaline water)

peatland

a wetland dominated by herbaceous vegetation or dwarfed woody vegetation, peaty soils, low in oxygen, low in macronutrients, two types are: fens and bogs

swamp

a wetland that can have a variety of chemical features, dominated by woody vegetation, usually final stage in development of body of freshwater

supratidal zone

also known as supratidal fringe. Never submerged, but very affected by the ocean (ocean spray, etc.)

dysphotic zone

also known as the photolytic zone. This is where respiration exceeds photosynthesis

metalimnion

also known as the thermocline, it is where the change in temperature per meter of water depth is equal or greater than 1 degree Celsius

micronutrients

also known as trace elements. needed in small quantities by organisms, (like iron, manganese, boron, zinc, copper, molybdenum, chromium) Sometimes iron is a limiting nutrient for phytoplankton in the ocean.

euphotic zone

also known as trophogenic zone. This is where photosynthesis exceeds respiration

difference b/t aquatic sediments and soil

aquatic sediments are built up in successive layers, and soils mostly develop within the bedrock, with little vertical build-up

natural hierarchy of life

atoms, molecules, subcellular structures, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, biomes, biospheres

Quaternary Period

beginning of the glacial age we are in right now. started 2mya.

mesotrophic lake

moderately rich in nutrients, best for biodiversity, common before Europeans arrived

hypolimion

bottom layer of lake, colder during the summer

plate tectonics

causes movement of biomes; earth's crust has faults in it which divides the earth into plates (6 major and 6 minor lithospheric plates); these plates collide at convergent boundaries and pull apart at divergent boundaries; near convergent boundaries, subduction, assimilation, orogenesis, and vulcanism occur; convection currents of earth's magma powers plate tectonics; w/o plate tectonics, land would erode and all land would be covered by a shallow sea;

5 factors that affect soil formation

climate, nature of parent material, organisms, topography, and time

atolls

coral islets that have built up from submerged oceanic islands and form a coral "ring" w/ a lagoon in the center.

Diel migration

daily movement of organisms to the top of the water column at night, and the bottom of the water column during the day

nekton

opposite of plankton; a mobile organism

3 factors of Milankovitch cycle

orbital ellipticity, obliquity of the ecliptic, precession of the equinoxes

deserts

defined by their low moisture content, not by temperature; occur within 30 degrees N or S of equator, or in dry continental interiors; cover 20% of Earth's land area; ex. of rainfall is Sonoran Desert, which receives 12 in/year, but most of that is lost through evaporation and transpiration; hot deserts avg temp 86 F; cold deserts avg temp -4 F; soils are usually lithisols or aridisols, and can be very salty; halophilic (salt-loving) crops are needed; some deserts have rainy seasons that occur sporadically, so plants have seeds that can wait for many years for these events; animals are frequently nocturnal; some animals have adaptations to reduce contact w/ hot sand or to get water; humans have created many deserts through bad management of non-desert land that is near desert(ex; Madagascar has lost 10% of its land to desertification, and a chunk of land the size of Nebraska is lost every year to desertification); agriculture is low to nonexistent

ovovivipary

eggs hatch inside mother, no placental exchange

autecology

evolution of the physiology and behavior of a particular species that is adapted to the environment.

hypereutrophic lake

extremely rich in nutrients, usually because of human influence

population ecology

factors influencing population structure and process, such as adaptation, extinction, distribution, abundance, population growth and regulation, and reproduction

lotic system

flowing water (rivers and streams), less nutrient limited than lentic systems.

grazer food chain

food chain in which photoautotrophs like phytoplankton or plants are at the bottom of the food chain The ocean is mostly a grazer food chain through phytoplankton

detritus food chain

food chain in which rotting organic material is at the bottom of the food chain. This material is broken down by worms, etc, which are eaten by other organisms. Macroalgae is part of the detritus food chain

seagrass beds

form in a tropical region with a soft bottom. Turtle grasses (Thallasia) are dominant species) They need a lot of light, and so pollution and turbulence make it difficult for them to grow. They collect sediments and nutrients, making water clearer. They provide shelter for many important fish, including commercially important species. Seagrasses are food for many animals, like conchs, manatees, and sea turtles.

oxbow ponds/lakes

formed when bends of a river are pinched off

tropical savannah

grass-dominated, like temperate grasslands, but warmer, and with more trees; in africa, elephants help to keep savannah clear of trees; occur north or south of tropical dry forest, within 10 or 20 degrees N or S of the equator; seasonal climate, with total of 29 in. max/year, but usually only 4 in. in dry season and 15-20 in. in wet season; fires also keep savannah clear of trees, and they are not very hot, b/c there isn't very much above-ground biomass for them to burn; avg temp is 77 F; soils usually have low permeability, with clay pans being common; animal populations dominated by migrating herbivores; significant human influences when previously nomadic people settle down to raise cattle and crops; poaching and habitat loss are other problems; elephants and white rhinos are poached, but sustainable hunting operations funding conservation may be an option

distribution of biomes

influenced by shape of continents, location of mountain ranges, so do not occur in equal bands

community ecology

interaction of species (predation, parasitism, commensalism, mutualism)

ocean zones

intertidal zone, neritic zone, epipelagic zone, mesopelagic zone, bathypelagic zone, abyssal zone, hadal zone

source of mineral matter

it comes from the parent material or from glaciers that transported it

caldera lakes

lakes formed inside volcano cones, tend to be nutrient-poor

Temperate Grasslands (Prairies)

largest biome in N. america; occur N and S of desert zones, above 30 degrees; temp ranges from -40F to 100F; 20-35 in. yearly rainfall; frequently experience droughts; soils are variable, some deep, some shallow, but N. american prairies have deep, rich soil; majority of biomass is underground; grasses create thick, impenetrable sod; sod first quickly broken up by steam tractors; dominated by herbaceous vegetation (grasses and forbs); unknown relationship b/t temperate grasslands and ice age megafauna; fire suppression main threat to prairies; prairies forever changed by loss of grazers such as buffalo; poor soil conservation practices lead to soil loss and nutrient depletion (ex: Dust Bowl); plants becoming rare in grasslands are often found in cemeteries, where the grass is mown, or by railroad tracks, where sparks sometimes cause fires

ovipary

laying eggs externally

vivapary

live birth w/ placental exchange

species prospecting

looking for useful compounds that organisms produce

magnetosphere

magnetic field created by earth's core it aligns magnetic particles in molten rocks, so when the rocks cool, their particles retain their orientation, and so later a geologist can look at these particles to determine the location of the magnetic pole at the time that the rock was molten, and he can use that info to age the rock

tropical rainforests

mostly occur within 10 degrees N or S of equator; mean temp is 79 degrees Fahrenheit; annual precipitation is 80-160 in.; very acidic, thin, nutrient-poor soils; same temp. and prec. year round; agriculture is difficult b/c nutrients in soil get depleted and soil erodes; mostly evergreen trees; trees up to 120 ft tall; rainforest plants good at conserving nutrients; plants have extra ways of getting nutrients (carnivory and mycorhizal relationships); there are many epiphytes, such as bromeliads, which collect water in their leaves; plants have buttress roots to stabilize themselves in the thin soil; most biodiverse land ecosystem (for example, there are 300 tree species/hectare); many crops came from rainforest (corn (teosinte), rice, sugar cane); 25% of pharmaceuticals come from rainforest (pharmaceuticals are derived from plants' secondary metabolites that were used for defense or other non-vital uses); Earth's rainforest coverage declined from 14% to 6%, at current rate will be gone in 40 years, rainforests can take 1000 years to recover from damage

bathypelagic zone

no solar radiation reaches here. 1000-4000m, 39 degrees Fahrenheit

lentic system

non-flowing water

oligotrophic lake

nutrient -poor lake

macronutrients

nutrients needed in large amounts by organisms, (like nitrogen, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and sulfur) carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen form about 96% of an organisms dry weight, and they are also macronutrients. Macronutrients are more likely to be limiting factors in ecosystems. N>P>K (We need more N than P than K) (also order of numbers on bags of plant fertilizer)

steps of scientific method

observation, question, hypothesis, investigation (descriptive research or experimental research), conclusion, theory

temperate deciduous forest

occur b/t 30 degrees and 55 degrees N and S of equator; annual rainfall b/t 30 and 60 in.; mean annual temp is 50F; soils are good for farming; lower biodiversity than rainforests but equal or greater biomass; prominent understory of herbaceous vegetation; deer overpopulation negatively affecting understory; human influences include deforestation, deer overpopulation, and poor forestry practices like clear-cutting w/o stopping erosion and high-grading (removing trees with a good bole (long, straight, trunk))

boreal forest/taiga

occur b/t 50 and 65 degrees N of equator, and at elevation @ other latitudes; cover 11% of earth's land surface; vegetation dominated by evergreen coniferous forest (exception: larches are deciduous); avg temp is below freezing for 6 month out of the year; winter temp ranges from -65F to 30F; summer temp ranges from 20F-70F; there are 50-100 frost-free days; prec. is from 12-33 in.; soils are poor, thin, and acidic; spruce, hemlock, fir, and pine dominate; animals like moose, caribou, wolves, and bears dominate; less human destruction compared to other biomes, but there is some deforestation, mining damage, and oil exploration damage

kelp forests

occur in subpolar regions with hard bottoms. as a community, structurally similar to forests (tiered). Temp. variation b/t 10 and 20 degrees Celsius. Tolerant of a variety of different salinities. Managed by large fish that eat sea urchins.

coral reefs

occur in tropical regions with hard bottoms. Pollution and salinity change threaten coral reefs. A salinity of less than 27% causes corals to die. Average coral temps. are from 23-25 degrees Celsius, and corals will die <20 degrees C and >29 degrees C.

lake turnover

occurs when water has the same temperature throughout its depth. It replenishes the epilimnion's nutrient levels.