Understanding Ecological Concepts and Environmental Dynamics
Tema 6:
Population: Group of individuals of a species that live in an area.
Community: Set of populations.
Biotope: The physical environment where organisms live.
Habitat: The conditions necessary for organisms to live, including:
- Biosyn: The consequence of the presence of living beings.
- Abiotic: Non-living factors that affect living organisms.
Temperature: Varies preferentially by day, season, altitude, and latitude.
- Ecotone: Temperature depends on external sources.
- Endotherms: Organisms that control their body temperature.
Humidity: The amount of water vapor in the air.
Texture:
- Arenas: Large-sized particles.
- Clay: Fine particle size.
- Mixed: Intermediate texture.
Water:
- Hydrophilic: Organisms that require a lot of water.
- Xerophile: Organisms that can survive with little water.
pH:
- Halophile: Organisms that endure salty soils.
- Neutral: Preferable for many organisms.
Light:
- Euphotic: Light for photosynthesis, up to 50m deep.
- Oligophotic: Twilight zone.
- Aphotic: Dark zone, deeper than 500m.
Competition:
- Intraspecific: Competition among individuals of the same species with similar needs.
- Interspecific: Competition between individuals of different species with similar needs.
Cooperation: Interactions that provide benefits to involved species.
Predation:
- True Predators: Kill and eat their prey.
- Browsers: Do not kill, only consume parts.
- Parasites: Live on or inside their host, feeding off them.
Mutualism: Beneficial interactions between two species.
Commensalism: One species benefits while the other is unaffected.
Niche: The role of a species in its environment, including what it eats and how it affects others.
- Specialists: Species with specific resource needs.
- Generalists: Species that can utilize a wide range of resources.
Threats to Species:
- Destruction: Total or partial destruction of habitat.
- Introduction of Exotic Species: Non-native species that disrupt local ecosystems.
- Overexploitation: Unsustainable use of species.
- Climate Change: Alterations in climate affecting species survival.
Tema 7:
Producers: Organisms that produce organic matter from inorganic sources.
Consumers:
- Herbivores: Primary consumers.
- Carnivores: Secondary consumers.
- Decomposers: Break down dead organic matter.
- Omnivores: Feed on both plants and animals.
Trophic Chain: Represents who eats whom in a community, with different trophic levels.
Food Web: A set of interconnected food chains.
Energy: Energy is lost through respiration, waste, and storage.
Biomass: The quantity of organic material at an individual or ecosystem level.
Production:
- Net Production: The increase in biomass.
- Gross Production: Total biomass produced.
Pyramids: Represent energy storage and trophic levels over time.
- Biomass: Amount of biomass at each level.
- Numbers: Number of individuals at each level.
Carbon Cycle: Involves photosynthesis, respiration, sedimentation, and combustion.
Nitrogen Cycle: Involves nitrogen-fixing bacteria and decomposition processes.
Tema 8:
Population: All individuals in a specific area, with size changes due to density.
Biotic Potential: The maximum reproductive capacity of a species.
Reproduction: Influenced by fertility and mortality rates.
Curves:
- J-Shape: Represents unlimited resources leading to population explosions.
- S-Shape: Represents limited resources and carrying capacity.
Environmental Factors: Biotic and abiotic factors that limit population growth.
Sustainable Capacity: The maximum population that a habitat can sustain without degradation.
Predator and Prey: The relationship between abundant prey and their predators.
Competition: Similar species competing for identical resources cannot coexist.
Pests: Unwanted organisms that interfere with human activities.
Pesticides: Chemicals used to control pest populations.
Natural Predators: Introducing natural enemies to control pest populations.
Rhythms:
- Circadian: Body adjusts rest and activity cycles.
- Seasonal: Behavior associated with seasonal changes.
- Tides: Regularly affect prey living in coastal areas.
Fire: Natural fires can lead to ecological succession.
Ecological Succession: The orderly transition from one community state to another.
- Primary Succession: Occurs in areas never colonized.
- Secondary Succession: Follows disturbances in previously existing ecosystems.
Components of Ecosystems: Include both biotic and abiotic factors.
- Inorganic Matter: Rocks, minerals, water, and air.
- Organic Matter: Includes humus and other decomposed materials.
Soil Formation: Involves processes that increase soil thickness and complexity.
Degradation: Caused by deforestation, overexploitation, and excessive consumption.
Tema 9:
Relief Forming Factors:
- Rock Type: Influences the landscape.
- Climate: Affects erosion and sedimentation processes.
Relief: The physical features of the land, influenced by various factors.
- Karst: Characterized by low permeability and weathering resistance.
- Granites: Resistant to physical weathering.
Influence of Climate: Affects surface water and erosion processes.
Gravity Processes:
- Landslides: Free fall of materials.
- Slip: Loss of contact with the ground.
- Flow: Mass movement of materials.
Surface Water Modeling:
- Erosion: Differential erosion creates unique landforms.
- Deposits: Accumulation of materials in various forms.
Coastal Erosion Forms:
- Cliffs: Formed by intense wave action.
- Beaches: Accumulations of sand or gravel.
- Deltas: Formed at river mouths.
Influence of Structure on Relief:
- Structural Plains: Horizontal strata protect softer layers.
- Relief on Coasts: Gentle slopes and abrupt cuts.
Evolution of Relief:
- Youth: Sharp, intense erosion.
- Maturity: Rounded mountains and open valleys.
- Aging: Almost flat peneplain with minimal erosion.