Succesion
changes in types of populations in a community over time following a disturbance
primary succesion
growth on a new mineral substance, not previously inhabited
SOIL IS NOT PRESENT
glacial recession, volcanic deposition, sand dunes, and land slides (abiotic)
secondary succesion
new organisms introduced but soil remains intact from a previous community
NOT BARREN LAND
fire, storm/flood damage, clear cuts (logging), and insect outbreak
mutualism
a symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit from the relationship ( + + )
ex) swollen thorn acacia tree and acacia ant
commensalism
symbiotic relationship in which one species benefit and the other species has no effect (+ 0 )
ex) shark and remora
parasitism
symbiotic relationship in which one species lives on or inside another organism and harms it.
ex) paddlefish and sea lamprey
density dependent limiting factors
the more dense a population, the more effects
with one population
ex) disease or invasive species
density independent limiting factors
affects all populations in a similar way, regardless of population size
ex) hurricanes, drought, flood, wild fires
R-selected strategies
unpredictable environments, greatest chance of death near birth, very high rates of birth with little to no parental care.
ex) fish, some reptiles, most insects, plants
K-selected strategies
stable environment, most individuals survive to adulthood, usually low birth numbers with high level care for their young.
ex) humans, bears, whales, elephant
what controls the size of the population
birth immigration
death emigration
exponential graph
how fast the population grows under ideal conditions with unlimited resources
the larger the population gets, the faster it grows
logistic graph
how population growth slows and then stops following a period of exponential growth
due to carrying capacity
carrying capacity
this is the maximum # of organisms tha an environment can support
controlled by limiting factors
limting factors
1) disease
2) competition (food, space, mates)
3) predation
4) weather/climate conditions
the order of size
individual, population, community, ecosystem, biome, and biosphere
bioaccumulation
amount of toxin in an organisms tissue (gets higher in amount the farther up the trophic levels
biomagnification
the amount of toxic chemicals found in animals in relationship to the food chain (when moving up the food chain)
keystone species
a single species that is not usually abundant in a community, yet exerts strong control on the structure of the community
ex) otter on sea urchins, sea urchins on kelp
habitat
where an organism lives
niche
the species way of life of the role that is plays in the environment
generalist
a species with a broad niche, can tolerate a range of conditions and resources
specialists
species with a narrow niche makes use of a few resources and habits
generalists are more succesful bc they can tolerate a larger range
fundamental niche
the range of conditions that a species can potentially use
realized niche
the resources an organism actually uses
competitive exclusion principle
two species cannot occupy the same niche
symbiosis
a relationship in which two species live closely together
competition
species competing for the same limited resources
predation
one organism kills and eats another
predator examples
sharp teeth/claws
speed
echolocation
vision
prey examples
cryptic coloration
warning coloration
mimicry
camouflage
food web
is all the food chains in an ecosystem
food chain
is a possible path of energy/nutrients may take as they move through the ecosystem (food chains make the food web)
detritivores
organism that eat nonliving plant and animal remains
decomposer
like fungi or bacteria and turn organic waste into inorganic materials
biomass
energy in living organisms
biomass decreases as trophic level increases
10% rule
as you go up in trophic level, the amount of energy decreases by 10%
disturbance
any physical force that results in mortality of organisms or loss in biomass
frequency, intensity, and scale
resistance
the ability to maintain structure and/or function during a disturbance
not as effected
resilience
the ability to return to its original conditions following a disturbance
ability to rebound
monoculture
one plant being grown
clearing large areas of land to plant a single highly productive crop
altered habitats
urban development split ecosystem into species
hunting
can lead to extinction
introduced/invasive species
threaten biodiversity by outcompeting and driving native species to extinction
population
a group of individuals of the same species that interbreed and live in the same area
populations can be ...
clumped, random, and uniform
type 2
equal chance of death at all times
ex) jellyfish, squirrels, and birds