Ecological Succession Flashcards
Ecology
the study of how organisms interact with their environment
Ecosystem
a system consisting of all of the interactions that occur between the abiotic & biotic factors within an environment
Ecological Succession
transition of species present in a community in an area virtually barren of life, or after a disturbance
Primary Succession
series of changes that occur in an area where NO ecosystem previously existed
Secondary Succession
series of changes that occur after a disturbance in an existing ecosystem
Pioneer Species
organisms that do not need soil to survive; they start the soil building process (lichen & moss)
Climax Community
a relatively stable state of succession, or the end product of succession
Limiting Factor
a factor that limits the ability of a habitat to sustain a population
Microhabitat
a very small specialized habitat, such as the Space under a rock
Sustainability
able to last or continue for a long time
Biodiversity
the number of different species of plants & animals in an area
Adaptation
an inherited trait that increases an organism’s chance of surviving & reproducing in a particular environment
Habitat
a place where an organism naturally lives & grows
Niche
the role that an organism plays in a habitat or ecosystem
Climate
the long term average temperature & rainfall that occur in a particular region
