Biology Ecology
primary succession
formation of brand new ecosystem
How can similarities among organisms effect their lives in the same niche?
if the organisms are similar, it will take a fight to see who will win and claim the niche
How can differences among organisms effect their lives in the same niche?
if the organisms are very different, one is probably a better fit
Define organism as it relates to the levels of ecological organization
individual members of a species or population
what is a predator?
organism killing/hunting another for food
what is a prey?
organisms hunted, killed, and consumed for food by the predator
What is decomposers
organisms that break down nutrients.
how long does it take for primary succession to happen?
over a long period of time
How do lichens & mosses help the process of primary succession?
overtime, these organisms decompose & release nutrients to form a layer of soil that larger, more complex plants can grow in
How do scientist organize life?
taxonomy & cladograms and dichotomous keys
define habitat
the actual area in the ecosystem where an organism lives, including all of its abiotic & biotic resources
what are pioneer species of primary succession?
the first organisms to grow in a new environment
ecological succession
the process of ecological change in an ecosystem where one community is replaced by another community over time
define taxonomy
the study of describing, naming, & classifying organisms
ecology
the study of relationships between 2 organisms OR an organism & its environment
What is detritus?
the waste products of plants and animals.
Define cladograms & dichotomous keys
tools used to display relationships and classifying organisms using their characterisitics
define niche
- all of the things an organism needs and does within its habitat - the way an animal lives in its environment. This includes their indirect effect on the habitat, including the erosion of land because of where an animal builds its homes, etc.
Define ecosystem as it relates to the levels of ecological organization
- the same size as the community level, but taking into account the abiotic factors of the surrounding community - a limited area smaller than a biome in which living and nonliving things interact.
Define biodiversity as it relates to the levels of ecological organization
- the variety of organisms considered at all levels, from population to ecosystem. - refers to the number of species (species richness) in an area. - considers the species evenness, or proportionality of the populations of species, relative to each other.
Define biosphere as it relates to the levels of ecological organization
- this is our planet and all of the biotic & abiotic factors on it - extends a few kilometers in the atmosphere and extends a few kilometers into the earth's crust.
Define biome as it relates to the levels of ecological organization
- this level recognizes multiple ecosystems that share similar characteristics, such as amount of annual sunlight and precipitation - areas in a biosphere that are divided up that have fairly consistent environment and are home to a set of organisms suited to it.
What is parasitism?
-One organism benefits and the other is harmed -it is crucial in parasitic relationships that the parasite not kill the host - Example - tick sucking on giraffe
Define a symbiosis relationship
-any interaction that involves a close, physical, long term relationship between two species -one species always benefits from the other -always interspecific (between 2 different organisms)
What is mutualism?
-both organisms involved benefit -helps both organisms to survive - Example - oxpecker bird picks off and eats ticks off of giraffes and rhinoceroses.
Where & why does secondary succession occur?
-occurs in an area that was previously occupied by living organisms, but the community was destroyed by a disturbance
explain the process of primary succession
-once enough soil has been generated to retain nutrients, small plants, flowers, ferns, & shrubs can begin to grow -these plants further break down the rock, allowing more soil to be formed and retained -plants and animals continue to move into area
What are 2 forms of competition? Define each.
1. Interspecific: where competition is occurring between different species (inter - between) 2. Intraspecific: where competition is occurring within same species (intra - within)
What are the 3 types of symbiotic relationships?
1. Parasitism 2. Commensalism 3. Mutualism
What are the 6 criteria for life?
1. be composed of one or more cells 2. contains DNA as genetic material 3. be capable of growth & reproduction 4. demonstrates ability to respond to outside stimuli 5. ability to adapt to the environment 6. have a metabolism, meaning it consumes energy & produces waste
What are the 6 levels of ecological organization?
1. organism 2. population 3. community 4. ecosystem 5. biome 6. biosphere
What are the 2 types of reproduction?
1. sexual 2. asexual
What are two types of cells? Give an example of each.
1. unicellular (ex: bacteria) 2. multicellular (ex: you)
What is a omnivore?
An animal that eats both plants and animals - Example - Aardvarks eat cucumbers and termites
What is a carnivore?
Cloning, gene therapy, stem cells, selective breeding, hybridization
What are the levels of taxomy?
Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
Why do organisms interact?
Within an environment, there are limited resources to be used, many organisms share a habitat, each organism has a unique niche
What is a climax community?
a mature and stable community of plants and animals
Describe primary succession by definition, analogy, example, pioneer species, & result:
analogy: baking cookies from scratch with flour, butter, sugar, etc
Describe secondary succession by definition, analogy, example, pioneer species, & result:
analogy: baking cookies with pre-made dough
What is a scavenger?
animals that eat rotting flesh - Example - Vulture
What is a herbivore?
animals that get their food from plants - Example - Giraffe
How is the study of ecology important?
b/c it helps us understand what it means to be a living organism
Why are lichens & mosses pioneer species?
b/c they can grow in areas where other plants can not grow
Cells, cells, cells ... finish chant
cells, cells, cells, respond grow and reproduce, use energy, have DNA adaptive living dudes
Describe primary succession by definition, analogy, example, pioneer species, & result:
definition: building a brand new ecosystem from scratch; no soil
Describe secondary succession by definition, analogy, example, pioneer species, & result:
definition: recovering a previously existing community (ecosystem) after a disturbance but soil stays intact
How long does it take secondary succession to occur? Why this long?
established community was destroyed but the soil was left in tact, therefore it takes less time for secondary succession to occur than it did for the primary succession to happen
Describe secondary succession by definition, analogy, example, pioneer species, & result:
example: forest fires or hurricanes
Describe primary succession by definition, analogy, example, pioneer species, & result:
example: volcano erupts or glacier melts
what are examples of primary succession?
exposed rock, lava, melted ice, eroded sand
How has biodiversity changed over time?
it has increased
How long does secondary succession take?
less time than primary succession, but still takes a long time
What are examples of pioneer species?
lichens & mosses in primary succession
what is biotic?
living parts of an ecosystem. - Example - food an animal eats, other similar animals, predators, and parasites.
What is sexual reproduction?
mating between 2 organisms of same species
Define population as it relates to the levels of ecological organization
multiple individuals of the same species living together
Define community as it relates to the levels of ecological organization
multiple populations of different species living together. This is similar to the neighborhood you live in.
What is the competitive exclusion principle?
no two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time
what is abiotic?
non-living aspects of an ecosystem. - Example - Wind, rocky cliffs, cooler temperatures.
what is predation?
one animal kills another for food
What is commensalism?
one organism is benefited while the other is unaffected - Example - rhinos trample and munch their way through the savanna, raising up clouds of insects. Cattle egrets, a type of bird, trail the rhinos, eating insects.
What is asexual reproduction?
one parent produces offspring OR clone
Describe primary succession by definition, analogy, example, pioneer species, & result:
pioneer species: mosses & lichens b/c they don't need soil
Describe secondary succession by definition, analogy, example, pioneer species, & result:
pioneer species: weeds & grasses w/ some moss and lichens but soil is present
two types of succession
primary & secondary
What is metabolism?
process of your body doing cellular respiration to break down food for energy
What is secondary succession?
recovery of an old ecosystem
what is competition in terms of organisms interacting in a habitat
relationship that exists between two or more organisms that are fighting for the same limited resources
Describe primary succession by definition, analogy, example, pioneer species, & result:
result: mature & stable climax community
Describe secondary succession by definition, analogy, example, pioneer species, & result:
result: mature & stable climax community
What are cells?
smallest unit of life
What is the relationship between a stimulus & response?
stimulus = cause response = effect
What are the pioneer species in secondary succession?
weeds & grasses
when does primary succession occur?
when a community forms in an area that has not been previously occupied
