Ecology and Biogeography Terms: Definitions and Interconnections, Quizzes of Geography

Download Ecology and Biogeography Terms: Definitions and Interconnections and more Quizzes Geography in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 Ecology DEFINITION 1 Study of relationships among organisms adn their environment TERM 2 Biogeography DEFINITION 2 Spatial ecology TERM 3 Ecosystem DEFINITION 3 Community of organisms interacting with their habitat (Ecosystem = Community + Habitat) TERM 4 Habitat DEFINITION 4 Physical environment (air, water, chemical environment, etc.) TERM 5 Limiting Factor DEFINITION 5 A measure that limits a species (temp, moisture, etc.) TERM 6 Niche DEFINITION 6 Occupation, function, or role of an organism TERM 7 Competitive Exclusion DEFINITION 7 In a stable community no 2 species can occupy the same niche TERM 8 Ecosystem Structure DEFINITION 8 Abiotic + biotic components TERM 9 Abiotic Components DEFINITION 9 Non-living: 1. energy 2.physical factors (temp, light, humidity) 3. chemicals TERM 10 Biotic Components DEFINITION 10 Living: 1. Producers (autotrophs) 2. Consumers (heterotrophs) 3. Detrivores (decomposers) TERM 21 Net Primary Productivity DEFINITION 21 Rate at which plants produce usable chemical energy/biomass TERM 22 4 Trophic Levels DEFINITION 22 1. Autotrophs/producers 2. Herbivores, primary consumers 3. Secondary consumers 4. Tertiary consumers, top carnivore TERM 23 Energy Transfer DEFINITION 23 10% chemical energy available for transfer between trophic levels, 90% is lost (low efficiency) TERM 24 Succession DEFINITION 24 Plant communities give way to one another over time TERM 25 Darwinian Evolution DEFINITION 25 Over generations organisms are better adapted to their physical environment (*Randomness, *Genetic Drift) TERM 26 Convergent Evolution DEFINITION 26 Idea that many unrelated organisms sho similar adaptive strategies to environments