Ecology final

Pink bollworms. -Pectinophora gossypiella.

takes place when water bodies receive large inputs of nutrients, stimulating plant growth, particularly algae. increased plant growth in turn increases inputs to decomposer systems (more plants present, more plants dying) = deoxygenation of water, which can cause aquatic animals to die.

a change in the composition of a population from one generation to the next.

when individuals with certain traits survive and reproduce at higher rates than others

individuals vary. everyone is different.

offspring resemble parents. passed genetically from parents to offspring.

survival and reproduction are selective. individuals with certain traits survive and reproduce at higher rates than those with other traits.

• a systematic difference in survival and reproductive success of individuals with different genotypes or phenotypes.
• -natural selection can lead to evolutio.

automatic changes across generation. survival and reproduction becomes common.

with one or more assumptions do not apply, composition of population may fluctuate.

• factors: under or on water, amt of sunlight, availability of nutrients, pH, and other species living in that area.
• two main factors: temperature and moisture.

process by which water vapor in atmosphere condenses and falls to Earth. occur as rain, snow, sleet, hail, or water vapor condensation.

• limits on environmental conditions that an organism cacn tolerate.
• outside that range, species stops functioning properly.

evaporation of water from plants to atmosphere. occurs thru stomata of leaves, stems and flowers. draws water up the plants from roots, along vessels i nstems and trunks, and to leaves.

sum of transpiration and evaporation. total amt of water leaving the ground and going back into atmosphere.

• aka PET.
• total amt of evapotranspiration that takes place if there is enough water available. actual evapotranspiration is less than PET when ground is too dry.

means to lose water and dry out. organisms living in very dry places such as deserts frequently evolve adaptations to prevent or cope with desiccation.

...temperature and precipitation sets a broad range; other factors: soil texture and drainage, light, slope and aspect, nutrient availiability, and competition from other plants.

growth and reproduction are limited by most scarced resource, which is specific for each species and environment.

• 1. distribution simply follows climate.
• 2. species unable to deal with dramatic change and goes extinct.
• 3.species change to better fit the environment.

• individual level: acclimates to new environment.
• population level: over several generations, population can adapt to new environment.