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