Ecology Flashcards
What is ecology?
Study of relationships between living things and their environments, especially the controls over the distribution, abundance, and health conditions of living things
What is environmental geology?
The study of geological processes and their effects on the environment
What is a species?
A group of individuals capable of interbreeding
What is a population?
A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area
What is a community?
A group of populations of different species living in the same area
What is biota?
All organisms living in an area or region
What is the biosphere?
The part of Earth where organisms exist and function
What are indigenous species?
Species found in the area they evolved
What are exotic species?
Species brought into an area or region by humans purposefully or accidentally
What are invasive species?
Exotic species that compete with indigenous species and replace them
What is the ecosystem?
An ecological community and its surrounding environment in which the flows of energy and cycles of chemicals support a living community
What are the three types of ecosystems?
Natural indigenous, human modified, human constructed
What are natural functions of ecosystems?
Processes responsible for producing clean air, water, and diverse living matters
What are direct natural functions of ecosystems?
- Cycle of chemical elements
- Flow of energy and nutrients
- Removal of pollutants
What are buffering functions of ecosystems?
Provide protections from natural hazards
