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Ecology Exam I
Ecology
87
Biology
Undergraduate 4
09/25/2012

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Term
Ecology
Definition
The scientific study of the relationships between organisms and their environment. Interralionships. Greek words "oikos"- the family household/ "logy"- study of. "Management of the household"
Term
Ecosystem
Definition
"eco"- relates to environment
"system"- implies that the ecosystem functions as a collection of related parts that function as a unit.
Term
Biotic
Definition
living- plants animals microbes
Term
abiotic
Definition
nonliving(physical and chemical)- atmosphere, climate, soil, H20
Term
Population
Definition
a group of individuals of the same species that occupy a given area. Populations of plants and animals in an ecosystem does not function independently of each other
Term
Community
Definition
All populations of different species living and interacting within an ecosystem
Term
Landscape
Definition
an area of land (or water) composed of a patchwork of communities and ecosystems
Term
Biomes
Definition
Broad-scale regions dominated by similar types of ecosystems,such as tropical rain forests, grasslands, and deserts.
Term
Biosphere
Definition
Highest level of organization of ecological systems. The thin layer surrounding the Earth that supports all of life.
Term
Hierarchy of Ecological Systems
Definition
Individual, Population, Community, Ecosystem, Landscape, Biome, Biospere
Term
Theory
Definition
An integrated set of hypotheses that together explain a broader set of observations than any single hypothesis.
Term
Models
Definition
abstract,simplified representations of real systems. Allow us to predict some behavior or response using a set of explicit assumptions.
Term
Scientific Method
Definition
Observations, Question, Hypothesis, Predictions, Hypothesis Testing
Term
Observations
Definition
All scientific studies begin with observations of natural phenomenon
Term
Question
Definition
Observations give rise to questions that seek an explanation of the observed phenomenon
Term
Hypothesis
Definition
An answer the the question is proposed that takes the form of a statement of cause and effect. "educated guess"
Term
Hypothesis testing
Definition
The predictions that follow from the hypothesis must be tested through observations and experiments (field and lab). Data from these experiments mist then be analyzed and interpreted to determine if they support or reject hypothesis.
Term
independent variable
Definition
(x) the cause or controlled variable
Term
dependent variable
Definition
(y) observed variable
Term
Statistical population
Definition
collecting data-observations and measurements for testing hypotheses and drawing conclusions about populations
Term
Sample
Definition
the part of population that is observed
Term
Categorical data
Definition
qualitative-observations that fall into separate and distinct categories.
Term
Nominal data
Definition
subdivision of categorical data in which objects fall into unordered categories
Term
ordinal data
Definition
categorical data in which order is important
Term
Binary
Definition
presence or absence of a trait.
Term
Numerical data
Definition
"measured" based on some quantitative trait.
Term
Discrete data
Definition
subdivision of numerical data- only certain values are possible.
Term
Continuous data
Definition
subdivision of numerical data- ant value within an interval theoretically is possible limited only by the ability of the measurement device.
Term
Frequency distribution
Definition
A count of the number of observations (frequency) having a given score or value.
Term
Histogram
Definition
Once ovservations have been grouped into categories, the resulting frequency distribution can then be displayed as this. X axis represents discrete intervals of body length, Y axis represents the number of individuals whose body length falls withing each given interval.
Term
Scatter plot
Definition
When both variables are numerical. x and y axes each represent one of the two cariables being examined.
Term
Individual as the basic unit of ecology
Definition
The individual through the process of reproduction passes genetic info to successive individuals, defining the nature of individuals that will compose future populations, communities, and ecosystems. The collective birth and death of individuals define the dynamics of populations and the interactions among individuals of the same and different species define communities.
Term
Weather
Definition
combination if temp, humidity, precipitation, wind, cloudiness, and other atmospheric conditions occurring at a specific place and time.
Term
Climate
Definition
long term average pattern of weather. Local, regional, global.
Term
Earth's weather patterns
Definition
(distribution of rainfall for example) are influenced by the solar radiation intercepted by Earth's atmosphere and Earth's rotation and movement.
Term
Solar radiation
Definition
The electromagnetic energy or stream of photons produced by the sun.
Term
Photons
Definition
Behave as waves and particles depending on how they are observed.
Term
Electromagnetic energy
Definition
Measured in terms of wavelength and frequency.
Term
Wavelength
Definition
the physical distance between successive wave crests. Shorter wavelengths do more damage.
Term
Frequency
Definition
The number of crests that pass a given point per second
Term
Shortwave radiation
Definition
emitted by a very hot surface (sun=5800C)
Term
Longwave radiation
Definition
emitted by a cooler object (average Earth= 15C)
Term
Greenhouse effect
Definition
Selective energy absorption by CO2 in the atmosphere, which allows short wavelength energy to pass through by absorbs longer wavelengths and reflects heat back to Earth
Term
Visible light
Definition
wavelengths from 400-700nm aka PAR (photosynthetically active radiation because they include the wavelengths that plants use as a source of energy in the process of photosynthesis.
Term
Higher latitudes
Definition
solar radiation hits earths surface at a steeper angle. sunlight is spread over larger areas. Radiation must past through a deeper layer of air and so it encounters more particles in the atmosphere and is reflected. Solar radiation, temp, and day length increase.
Term
Earth is at an angle!
Definition
seasons are a result of the earths tilt (inclination) of 23.5 degrees
Term
Earths movements
Definition
Eliptic- earth travels about the sun in this plane
rotates around an axis going through north and south poles.
Term
Vernal and autumnal equinox
Definition
sun is directly overhead at the equator. exactly 12 hours of light and dark
Term
Diurnal cycle
Definition
(hours of daylight and darkness) varies with the season everywhere on earth except the equator.
Term
Summer solstice
Definition
Solar radiation falls directly on the Tropic of Cancer
Term
Winter solstice
Definition
Solar radiation falls directly on the Tropic of Capricorn
Term
Increase in altitude (elevation)
Definition
Temp decreases, air pressure and air density decrease
Term
Atmospheric pressure
Definition
amount of force exerted over a given surface area. Measured in terms of the total mass of air above that point.
Term
environmental lapse rate
Definition
rate at which temperature decreases with altitude
Term
Trophoshphere
Definition
weather occurs here
Term
Tropopause
Definition
temp increases because exposed to more sunlight
Term
Stratosphere, Stratopause
Definition
warmest
Term
Mesosphere, Mesopause
Definition
gets colder, no more molecules to collide
Term
Thermosphere
Definition
very little molecules but sunlight is unfiltered so very hot.
Term
Adiabatic cooling
Definition
A decrease in air temp through expansion rather than through heat loss. Rate depends on the moisture in the air and slows with an increase in moisture.
Term
Coriolis effect
Definition
Air masses and all moving objects in the Northern Hemisphere are deflected to the right (clockwise) and in the Southern Hemisphere to the left (counterclockwise motion)
Term
Equitorial low
Definition
Air heated in the equatorial zone rises upward creating a low pressure zone near the surface.
Term
Subtropical high
Definition
The descending air forms a semipermanent high=pressure belt at the surface and encircling Earth.
Term
Westerlies
Definition
moves northward toward the pole, diverting to the right by the Coriolis effect.
Term
Trade winds
Definition
Also diverted to the right, southward flowing stream becomes strong reliable winds
Term
Subpolar low
Definition
Zone of low pressure where surface coverges and rises.
Term
Polar easterlies
Definition
Southward moving air deflected to the right by Coriolis effect
Term
Currents
Definition
systematic patterns of water movement
Term
Gyres
Definition
two great circular water motions
Term
Latent heat
Definition
The amount of energy released or absorbed (per gram) during a change of state.
Term
Vapor pressure
Definition
the amount of pressure that water vapor exerts independently of the pressure of dry air
Term
Relative humidity
Definition
amount of water vapor in the air expressed as a percentage of the saturation vapor pressure.
Term
Dew point temp
Definition
for a given water content of a parcel of air, the temp at which saturation vapor pressure is achieved.
Term
Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)
Definition
narrow region where trade winds meet
Term
Rain shadow
Definition
Winward side of a mountain supports denser more vigorous vegetation and different species of plant and associated animals than does the leeward side, where in some areas dry, desert-like conditions exist.
Term
El-Nino- souther oscillation (ENSO)
Definition
phenomenon in the waters of Galapogos Islands. Ocean and atmosphere are connected to some major climatic variations occur at a regional scale. Recorded periods of unusually warm water.
Term
La Nina
Definition
injection of cold water causing surface of east pacific to cool. Results in droughts in southern America and heavy rainfall and even floods in eastern Australia
Term
Microclimates
Definition
Light hear moisture and air movement that organisms live in (under rocks, etc)
Term
Diffusiuon
Definition
occurs from areas of high concentration to low concentration, because of kinetic energy of molecules bumping into each other
Term
Water(Hydrologic) Cycle
Definition
water travels in sequence from the air to earth and returns to the atmosphere.
Term
Infiltration
Definition
Precipitation that reaches the soil moves into the ground
Term
Surface runoff
Definition
this water occurs when soil is saturated
Term
Groundwater
Definition
some water entering the soil seeps down to an impervious later of clay or rock to collect. not a limitless resource.
Term
Transpiration
Definition
evaporation of water from internal surface of leaves, stems, and other living parts.
Term
every nine days
Definition
entire water content of the atmosphere is replaced
Term
Water
Definition
polar. e- are unequally shared and spend more time around oxygen. specific heat=1.
Must absorb or lose great quantities of heat to change temp.
Term
Specific heat
Definition
energy required to raise 1 gram of water 1C
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