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Ecology
Midterm 1
75
Biology
Undergraduate 4
09/21/2009

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Term
* Observational Study-
Definition
observes individuals and measures variables of interest, but does not attempt to influence the responses. The purpose of an observational study is to describe some group or situation
Term
* Experimental Study-
Definition
deliberately imposes some treatment on individuals in order to observe their responses. The purpose of an experiment is to study whether the treatment causes a change in the response
Term
* Data-
Definition
observations and measurements from which hypothesis can be tested and conclusions drawn about a population
Term
* Nominal-
Definition
categories are unordered
Term
* Ordinal-
Definition
categories are ordered
Term
* Numerical-
Definition
data are quantitative Ð observations that are ÔmeasurementsÕ (height, weight)
Term
* Continuous-
Definition
theoretically, any value within an interval is possible
Term
* Herbivore-
Definition
Animals that feed exclusively on plant tissues
Term
* Carnivore-
Definition
Animals that feed exclusively on the tissues of other animals
Term
* Omnivore-
Definition
Animals that feed on both plant and animal tissues
Term
* Detritivore-
Definition
Animals that feed on dead plant and animal matter
Term
* Nutrient-
Definition
Substance an organism requires for normal growth and activity
Term
* Homeostasis-
Definition
The maintenance of a relatively constant internal environment in a varying external environment
Term
* Discrete-
Definition
only certain values are possible
Term
* Ecology-
Definition
the scientific study of the relationship between organisms and their environment
Term
* Population-
Definition
a group of individuals of the same species living in a given area at a given time
Term
* Community-
Definition
a group of interacting plants and animals inhabiting a given area
Term
* Ecosystem-
Definition
the biotic community and its abiotic environment, functioning as a system
Term
* Biosphere-
Definition
thin layer about earth in which all living organisms exist
Term
* Science-
Definition
a way of understanding the natural world based on the accumulation of observable, testable, and repeatable evidence
Term
* Model-
Definition
in theoretical and systems ecology, an abstaction or simplification of a natural phenomenon, developed to predict a new phenomenon or to provide insight into existing ones; in mimetic association, the organism mimicked by a different organism
Term
* Climate-
Definition
long-term average patterns of local, regional or global weather, esp. temperature and precipitation
Term
* Weather-
Definition
the combination of temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, cloudiness, and other atmospheric conditions occurring at a specific time and place
Term
* Temperature-
Definition
a measure of the average speed or kinetic energy of atoms and molecules in a substance
Term
* Precipitation-
Definition
all the forms of water that fall to earth
Term
* Conduction-
Definition
transfer of energy (heat through molecular motion; requires direct physical contact
Term
* Convection-
Definition
transfer of energy through the mass movement of a fluid, either a gas or liquid
Term
* Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR)-
Definition
part of the light spectrum between wavelengths of 400-700 nm; used by plants for photosynthesis
Term
Arctic Circle (~66 degrees N latitude)
Definition
marks the southernmost latitude at which the sun can remain continuously above or below the horizon for 24 hours
Term
Tropic of Cancer (~23 degress N latitude)
Definition
marks the northernmost latitude at which the sun may be seen directly overhead (at the June solstice)
Term
* Equator (0? latitude)-
Definition
the circle that is equidistant from both the North Pole and South Pole; it divides the Earth into the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere
Term
* Tropic of Cancer (~23?S latitude)-
Definition
marks the southernmost latitude at which the sun may be seen directly overhead (at the December solstice)
Term
* Tropical Latitudinal Zone-
Definition
latitudes between the equator and the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn
Term
* Temperate Latitudinal Zone-
Definition
latitudes between the tropics and the Arctic and Antarctic Circles
Term
* Polar Latitudinal Zone-
Definition
latitudes between the Arctic and Antarctic circles and the poles
Term
* Adiabatic Cooling-
Definition
a decrease in air temperature when a rising parcel of warm air cools by expanding (which uses energy) rather than losing heat to the surrounding air; the rate of cooling is approximately 1 ?C/100 m for dry air and 0.6?C/100 m for moist air
Term
* Coriolis Effect-
Definition
as a result of earthÕs shape and rotation, a moving object veers to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere relative to the EarthÕs surface
Term
* Gyre-
Definition
circular motion of water in major ocean basins
Term
* Relative Humidity-
Definition
water vapor content of air at a given temperature, expressed as a percentage of the water vapor needed for saturation at that temperature
Term
* Rain Shadow-
Definition
dry region on the leeward side of a mountain resulting from a reduction in rainfall
Term
* Microclimate-
Definition
climate on a very local scale, which differs from the general climate of the area; influences the presence and distribution of organisms
Term
"Interception-"
Definition
"the capture of precipitation by vegetation from which the water evaporates and does not reach the ground"
Term
"Infiltration-"
Definition
"downward movement of water into the soil"
Term
"Surface Runoff-"
Definition
"water flowing over the surface of the ground when the underlying soil is saturated"
Term
Groundwater
Definition
water found in pore spaces within bedrock and soil below the earth's surface that is free to move under the influence of gravity
Term
"Evaporation-"
Definition
"loss of water vapor from soil or open water or another exposed surface"
Term
"Transpiration-"
Definition
"loss of water vapor from internal surfaces of leaves, stems, and other living parts of a plant to the outside atmostphere"
Term
Evapotranspiration
Definition
sum of the loss of moisture by evaporation from land and water surfaces and by transpiration by plants
Term
"Specific Heat-"
Definition
"energy required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance 1?C; water has the capacity to store large amounts of heat with little increase in temperature"
Term
"Cohesion-"
Definition
"mutual attraction of similar molecules, overcoming the external forces that would break them apart"
Term
"Viscosity-"
Definition
"the property of a liquid which resists movement through it"
Term
"Salinity-"
Definition
"the total amount of dissolved materials (salts) in water"
Term
"Thermocline-"
Definition
"region of the vertical depth profile where water temperature declines most rapidly"
Term
"Upwelling-"
Definition
"when winds and the coriolis effect combine, bringing cold, nutrient-rich deeper water to the surface"
Term
"Spring Tides-"
Definition
"greatest tidal range; happens when the earth, moon and sun are in line"
Term
"Neap tides-"
Definition
"least tidal rangel happens when earth, moon, and sun form approximate right angle"
Term
"Estuary-"
Definition
"a partially enclosed embayment where freshwater and seawater meet and mix"
Term
Leaf Area Index (LAI)-
Definition
the total leaf area of a plant exposed to incoming light energy relative to the ground surface area beneath the plant
Term
Soil -
Definition
a natural product formed and synthesized by the weathering of rocks and the action of living organisms
Term
Mechanical Weathering-
Definition
breakdown of rocks and minerals in place by disintegration processes such as freezing, thawing, and pressure that do not involve chemical reactions
Term
Chemical Weathering-
Definition
the action of a set of chemical properties such as oxidation, hydrolysis, and reduction operating at the atomic and molecular level that break down and reform rocks and minerals
Term
Horizon-
Definition
major zone or horizontal layer soil, with its own particular structure and characteristics
Term
Saturated-
Definition
refers to air that contains the maximum amount of water vapor it can hold at a given temperature and pressure
Term
Field Capacity-
Definition
amount of water held by soil against the force of gravity
Term
Wilting Point-
Definition
moisture content of soil at which plants wilt and fail to recover their turgidity when placed in a dark, humid atmosphere; measured by oven drying
Term
Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)-
Definition
ability of a soil particle to absorb positively charged ions
Term
Autotroph-
Definition
(primary producers) organisms that produce organic material from inorganic chemicals and some source of energy
Term
Heterotroph-
Definition
(secondary producers; consumers) organisms that are unable to manufacture their own food from inorganic molecules and thus rely on other organisms, living and dead, as a source of energy and nutrients
Term
Photosynthesis-
Definition
use of light by organisms to convert carbon dioxide and water into simple sugars
Term
Respiration-
Definition
metabolic assimilation of oxygen, accompanied by breakdown of organic compounds, release of energy, and production of carbon dioxide and water
Term
Net Photosynthesis-
Definition
photosynthesis - respiration
Term
Light Compensation Point-
Definition
light level (value of PAR) at which photosynthesis and respiration balance each other
Term
Light Saturation Point-
Definition
light level at which maximum photosynthesis is achieved
Term
Stomata-
Definition
pores in the lead or stem of a plant that allow gaseous exchange between the internal tissues and the environment
Term
Water Use Efficiency-
Definition
ratio of carbon fixed (photosynthesis) per unit of water lost (transpiration)
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