Unit 1
What is an ecosystem?
An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment.
What is genetic diversity?
Genetic diversity is the variety of genetic traits within a species, which allows populations to adapt to changing environmental conditions.
What is a specialist species?
A specialist species has a narrow ecological niche and is highly adapted to specific environmental conditions.
What is soil?
Soil is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms that together support life.
What is strip mining?
Strip mining is the removal of surface layers of soil and rock to expose and extract mineral resources, which can lead to habitat destruction and pollution.
What defines a desert biome?
A desert biome is characterized by low precipitation, extreme temperature variations, and specialized plant and animal adaptations.
What are provisioning services?
Provisioning services are the products obtained from ecosystems, such as food, water, and raw materials.
What is a Type I survivorship curve?
A Type I survivorship curve represents species with high survival rates in early and middle life and a steep decline in survival in later life, such as humans.
What is the stratosphere?
The stratosphere is the second layer of Earth's atmosphere, containing the ozone layer, which absorbs and scatters ultraviolet solar radiation.
What is monoculture?
Monoculture is the agricultural practice of growing a single crop species over a large area.
What is parasitism?
Parasitism is a relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another, like ticks feeding on mammals.
What is habitat loss?
Habitat loss is the destruction or alteration of the natural environment, leading to a decline in species that depend on it.
What is total fertility rate (TFR)?
Total fertility rate is the average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime.
What is seafloor spreading?
Seafloor spreading is the process by which new oceanic crust is created at mid-ocean ridges and slowly moves away from the ridge, expanding the ocean floor.
What is selective cutting?
Selective cutting involves removing only mature trees of certain species, allowing for forest regeneration and biodiversity maintenance.
What is the 10% rule?
The 10% rule states that only about 10% of the energy is passed on to the next trophic level; the rest is lost as heat.
Why do larger islands support more species?
Larger islands have more diverse habitats and resources, allowing them to support a greater number of species.
What is exponential growth?
Exponential growth occurs when a population grows at a constant rate, resulting in a J-shaped curve.
What causes wind?
Wind is caused by the uneven heating of Earth's surface by the sun, creating pressure differences that air moves to equalize.
What is urban sprawl?
Urban sprawl refers to the uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into surrounding rural land, leading to habitat loss and increased pollution.
What is the nitrogen cycle?
The nitrogen cycle involves the transformation of nitrogen into various chemical forms, including nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification, and ammonification.
What is species evenness?
Species evenness measures how evenly individuals are distributed among the different species in an ecosystem.
What are density-independent factors?
Density-independent factors are factors that affect population size regardless of the population's density, such as natural disasters.
What are trade winds?
Trade winds are persistent easterly winds found in the tropics, blowing from the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and from the southeast in the Southern Hemisphere.
What is salinization?
Salinization is the accumulation of salts in soil, often due to excessive irrigation, which can degrade soil quality and crop yields.