Definitions- Ecosystems Flashcards
Sere
Each individual stage in the progression.
Succession
The change in a plant community through time.
Climatic climax
Where the plant species live in perfect balance with the current environment conditions.
Primary succession
Where vegetation begins to colonise a surface that has had no previous vegetation e.g. Lave flows.
Secondary succession
Where vegetation begins to colonise a surface which previously had vegetation e.g. Forest fire/ deforestation.
Xerosere
Primary succession on dry land.
Hydrosere
Primary succession in water.
Lithosere
Primary succession on bare rock.
Biome
An area with a distinctive climate and vegetation.
Ecosystem
A set of relationships between all the organisms and the non-living factors in a particular area.
Biomass
Total mass of living matter.
Biodiversity
The variety of organisms living in a particular area
Fragile environment
Ecosystems that are easily disturbed and can’t adapt to change e.g. Coral reefs
Biotic factors
Living organisms e.g. Birds
Abiotic factors
Non-living organisms e.g. Plants
Tropic level
Stages of a food chain or web
Pioneer species
The first species to colonise an area e.g. Marram grass on sand dunes
Psammosere
A primary succession on sand
Niche
The function or position of a species within an ecological community
Soil moisture budget
The balance between the water inputs and water outputs
Micro habitat
Under stones, under logs, under hedges etc.
