3.3 Flashcards
What is Ecological succession
Ecological succession is the process by which the mix of species and habitat in an area changes over time.
What is Primary succession
Primary succession happens when a new patch of land is created or exposed for the first time.
What is Secondary succession
Secondary succession happens when a climax community or intermediate community is impacted by a disturbance.
What is Pioneer species
Pioneer species are hardy species that are the first to colonize barren environments or previously biodiverse steady-state ecosystems that have been disrupted.
What are Seral stages
The various vegetation communities that occupy disturbed sites and make up a sere.
What is Climax community
A climax community is the final stage of ecological succession attainable by a plant community.
What is Species Richness
Species richness is the number of species in a community.
What is Species Evenness
Species evenness is the distribution of abundance across the species in a community.
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What is Genetic Diversity
Genetic Diversity is the range of different inherited traits within a species.
What is Ecological Diversity
Ecological diversity includes the variation in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
What is Keystone species
A keystone species is an organism that helps define an entire ecosystem.
What is Invasive Species
An invasive species is an introduced, nonnative organism that begins to spread or expand its range from the site of its original introduction and that has the potential to cause harm to the environment, the economy, or to human health.
