Basic Ecology Flashcards
What is ecology?
the study of individual organisms and their environments.
The levels of ecological organisation are:
Organism Population Community Ecosystem Biomes Biosphere
Food Chain levels:
- Primary Producer
- Primary Consumer
- Secondary Consumer
- Tertiary Consumer
- Quaternary Consumer
Consumers get how much of their energy from the previous trophic level?
10%
Commensalism
one species benefits without affecting the other
Mutualism
both species benefit
Parasitism
one species benefits at the expense of the other species (its host); reduces host’s fitness, and exploites for resources, genetic dispersal, etc…
Predator-Prey
one species benefits at the expense of the other; uses another as food
Competition
vying for the same resources; interspecific– different species; intraspecific– same species
What is a niche?
the sum total of all the ways a species uses its resources and lives in its habitat
Two Models of Population Growth
Exponential & Logistical
Exponential Growth
Rapid Growth…exceeds carrying capacity…..crashes
Many offspring, mature rapidly
Logistical Growth
Rapid growth that stabilizes at the carrying capacity
What are the limiting factors?
Density Independent & Density Dependent
Density Independent Factor
Factors that have nothing to do with organisms; examples: seasons, volcanoes, drought
