Ecological Succession Flashcards
Ecology
The study of how organisms interact with their environment
Biome
Large geographic areas with smaller climates and ecosystems
Ecosystem
A system consisting of all the inter-reactions that occur between the abiotic and biotic factors within an environment
Climate
The long term average temperature and rainfall that occur in a particular region
Ecological Succession
Transition of species present in a community in in 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 to soil building up 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
Bio diversity
The number of different species of plants and animals in an area
Sustainability
Able to last or continue for a long time
Adaptation
An inherited traits that increases in organisms chance of surviving and reproducing in a particular environment
Habitat
A place where in organism naturally lives and grows
Microhabitat
A very small specialized habitat, such as the space under a rock
