EcologyThe Extras for AP

Aquatic BiomesThe photic zones are areas in bodies of water

where there is enough sunlight for photosynthesis

The aphotic zones are areas where little light penetrates.

At the bottom of all aquatic biomes, the substrate (sand and sediment) is called the benthic zone.

Terrestrial Biomes

The canopy is the upper layer of trees/leaves in a forest.

The litter layer is another word for the forest floor.

BehaviorEthology is the study of animal behavior

Imprinting is when animals learn a behavior through watching others

Kinesis is a change in activity due to a stimulus

Taxis is an automatic movement towards or away from a stimulus

BehaviorPheromones are chemical substances that

animals use to communicate (usually related to reproduction)

Promiscuous species form no strong bonds or relationships

Monogamous species have one male mate with one female, for life (birds)

Polygamy is when an individual of one sex mates with many of the other sex

BehaviorPolygyny is when one male mates with many

females (crickets, tortoises)

Polyandry is when one female mates with many males (lions, deer)

Altruism is when an animal behaves in a way that reduces its individual fitness but benefits other individuals in a population.

PopulationsA population is a group of inter-breeding

individuals of a single species living in the same general area.

Density is the number of individuals per unit area

Dispersion is the pattern of spacing between these individuals.

Immigration is when animals move INTO an area

Emigration is when animals move OUT of an area

CommunitiesCryptic coloration is camouflage, where animals

blend in to their surroundings (chameleons)

Aposematic coloration is when animals that are toxic/poisonous are brightly colored (dendrobates)

Batesian mimicry is when a harmless species mimics a dangerous one (moths that look like snakes)

Mullerian mimicry is when two or more unpalatable species look like each other (bees and yellow jackets)

CommunitiesParasites derive nourishment from hosts, which

ARE harmed in the process. (+/-)

Pathogens are disease causing agents (bacteria, viruses, protists, prions, fungi) (+/-)

In mutualism an interaction benefits BOTH species (+/+) (shark and remora)

In commensalism one species is benefited, the other is not affected. (+/0) (whale and barnacles)

CommunitiesA keystone species

is a species (not necessarily abundant) that exerts strong control on the community structure

Dominant species are the ones that are most abundant (have the most biomass)

CommunitiesA disturbance is an event that changes a

community

In succession, things grow back from small to big:

Prokaryotes (bacteria) then lichens and mosses then grasses then shrubs and trees last.

In primary succession, no soil is left behind after a disturbance (a glacier or volcano)

In secondary succession, soil is left behind (fire)

Humans doing bad things There are too many humans!

Agriculture reduces soil and nutrients

Water pollution kills plants and animals

Air pollution causes acid rain

Toxins in the environment magnify up the food chain

Increased carbon dioxide causes climate change more rapidly than normal

Increased carbon dioxide causes “greenhouse effect” which raises ocean temps

Hole in the ozone layer kills plants and causes cancer