Define the Environment Management Flashcards

This is for my ecology test

172 cards   |   Total Attempts: 182
  

Cards In This Set

Front Back
Ecology
the study of the ‘home life’ of living organisms
Defined "Ecology" first
Ernst Haeckel
Ecology is
the science by which we study how organisms (animals, plants, and microbes) interact in and with the abiotic environment.
Califonia Sea Otter case demonstrates
Importance of ecological understanding

(hunting sea otters, and harvesting kelp --> fish population decline due to lack of kelp forests)
Nile Perch case demonstrates
Importance of ecological understanding

(Perch = predator; introduction lowered the overall biomass available to catch in Lake Victoria)
Levels of Organization in Ecology


(lowest --> highest)
Individual- fundamental unit
Population- multiple ind. from 1 species
Community- multiple species in one habitat
Ecosystem- community + abiotic environment
Biosphere- global ecosystem
Research questions about individuals
1. Survival & reproduction
2. Unit of Natural selection
Research questions about populations
1. Population dynamics
2. Unit of Evolution
Research questions about Communities
1. Interactions among populations
Research questions about Ecosytems
1. Energy flux
2. Nutrient cycling
Research questions about Biosphere
1. Global processes
Approaches to Studying ecology
1. Observation
2. Experimental - field or laboratory
3. Theoretical Models
Population Distributions

Explanation for species absence in a location
1. Dispersal Limitations
2. Inter-species interactions (Predation, Competition)
3. Abiotic factors (Harsh physical or Chemical env)
Zebra Mussel case demonstrates
Dispersal limitations

Once introduced to NA from Russia --> invasive
Gypsy Moth case demonstrates
Dispersal limitations

Once introduced to NA from Europe--> invasive