Ecology Flashcards
Trophic Level
each of several hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, comprising organisms that share the same function in the food chain and the same nutritional relationship to the primary sources of energy.
Theory
A theory is a well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world that can incorporate laws, hypotheses, and facts.
Semelparity
The condition of an organism that has only one reproductive cycle during its lifetime.
Realized Niche
the set of conditions actually used by a given animal (population, species), after interactions with other species (predation and especially competition) have been taken into account.
Population
A population is a subset of individuals of one species that occupies a particular geographic area and, in sexually reproducing species, interbreeds.
Organism
an individual animal, plant, or single-celled life form that is living.
Niche
In ecology, the term “niche” describes the role an organism plays in a community.
Productivity
Productivity is the rate at which energy is added to the bodies of a group of organisms (such as primary producers) in the form of biomass.
Net Primary
Net primary production (NPP) is the amount of biomass or carbon produced by primary producers per unit area and time, obtained by subtracting plant respiratory costs (Rp) from gross primary productivity (GPP) or total photosynthesis.
Iteroparity
The term iteroparity refers to a reproductive strategy characterized by multiple reproductive cycles over the course of a lifetime.
Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a concept or idea that you test through research and experiments.
Fundamental Niche
A fundamental niche is the entire set of conditions under which an animal (population, species) can survive and reproduce itself.
Fertility
The capacity to conceive or induce conception and thus generate offspring.
Fecundity
Fecundity is the ability to produce offspring.
Environmental Resistance
Environmental resistance is a process in which certain different elements or factors stop the growth of species uncontrollably.
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscape, work together to form a bubble of life.
Ecology
Ecology is the study of organisms and how they interact with the environment around them.
Ecological Pyramid
An ecological pyramid is a graphical representation showing the relationship between different organisms in an ecosystem.
Dispersal
Dispersal is an ecological process that involves the movement of an individual or multiple individuals away from the population in which they were born to another location, or population, where they will settle and reproduce.
Community
an interacting group of various species in a common location.
Carrying Capacity
a species’ average population size in a particular habitat.
Biotic
living or once-living components of a community.
Biome
a biogeographical unit consisting of a biological community that has formed in response to the physical environment in which they are found and a shared regional climate.
Biomass
the total quantity or weight of organisms in a given area or volume.
Biomagnification
the condition where the chemical concentration in an organism exceeds the concentration of its food when the major exposure route occurs from the organism’s diet.
Biogeography
the study of the geographic distribution of plants, animals, and other forms of life.
Abiotic
all the non-living factors present in an ecosystem.
