Ecology Flashcards
Population:
A group of similar individuals who tend to mate with each other in a limited geographic
Individual:
Organism with unique DNA and cells
Community:
The relationships between groups of population
Ecosystem:
The relationship of populations with each other/environment
Biome:
A regional ecosystem characterized by distinct types of vegetation/animals
Biosphere:
The parts of the earth and its atmosphere where organisms live
Habitat:
The types of environment in which an organisms live.
Ecological niche:
The place or function of a given organism within its ecosystem. (It’s job)
Organisms need…
- Air
- Water
- Food
- Shelter
- Space
OTSS:
Only the strong survive
Interspecific:
Over resources between different species
Intraspecific:
The same species compete for resources
Interference:
Fighting/disrupting
Exploitative:
Sharing resources
Competitive exclusion:
One thrives, the other goes extinct
Predator
An organism that lives by eating other organisms.
Prey
An animal hunted for food.
Generalist:
Eats a lot of different types of food.
Specialist:
Eats one type of food.
Diversity:
The variety, or number of kinds of species
Camouflage:
An adaptation that allows the animal to blend in with its environment to avoid being detected
Mimicry:
The resemblance of a species to another species or a natural objects.
The four types of camouflage…
- Concealing coloration-color
- Disruptive coloration-false vision
- Disguise-shape/texture
- Mimicry-look like something else
Two general types of parasites…
1) Endoparasites: inside the host
2) Ectoparasites: outside the host
Parasitism:
One benefits while the other is harmed.
Mutualism:
A relationship between organisms that both benefit.
Commensalism:
One benefits and the other is unharmed.
Symbiosis:
Long term relationship between two organisms.
Food web:
A complex network of many interconnected food chain and feeding interactions.
