Ecology Flashcards
Abiotic
Nonliving factors in an environment
Biodiversity
Variety of species on earth
Biome
Large region classified by living organisms, climate, and geographical features
Biotic
Living factors in an environment
Community
Population of multiple species living in same area
Disturbance
Abrupt event in environment (changes type of organisms, resources available, kinds of species present)
Ecological Sucession
When disturbed area is taken by new species/group
Ecology
Study of living things and how they interact with each other and environment
Ecosystem
Community of various organisms within particular environment
Habitat
Specific environment that an organism lives in
Organism
Individual, forms basic life functions
Primary Sucession
Ecological succession that starts where there were no living organisms (on rock)
Resilience
Ability of ecosystem to recover after major disturbance
Resistance
Ability of ecosystem to resist external influence, such as a disturbance
Secondary Sucession
Ecological Succession that occurs where there I are some living organisms (after Forrest fire)
Amensalism
One species is harmed, other neither benefits or harmed
Commensalism
One species benefits, other is neither benefited or harmed
Consumers
Organisms that eat other organisms to survive
Dead Zone
Area of water that is so depleted by oxygen organisms must migrate
Decomposers
Organisms that obtain energy by eating dead/decaying organisms
Energy Pyramid
Diagram that shows energy available at each level of organisms
Eutrophication
Dramatic increase of in nutrients in aquatic environment (increases plant growth)
Food web
Diagram of relationship between interacting food chains
Mutualism
Symbiotic relationship, both benefit
Parasitism
Symbiotic relationship, one benefits other harmed
Phytoplankton
Plankton capable of photosynthesis
Plankton
Drifting aquatic organisms, mostly live in open waters
Producers
Organisms capable to make their own energy
Symbiosis
Close ecological relationship between organisms
Food web
Diagram of relationship between interacting food chains
Mutualism
Symbiotic relationship, both benefit
Parasitism
Symbiotic relationship, one benefits other harmed
Phytoplankton
Plankton capable of photosynthesis
Plankton
Drifting aquatic organisms, mostly live in open waters
Producers
Organisms capable to make their own energy
Symbiosis
Close ecological relationship between organisms
Food web
Diagram of relationship between interacting food chains
Mutualism
Symbiotic relationship, both benefit
Parasitism
Symbiotic relationship, one benefits other harmed
Phytoplankton
Plankton capable of photosynthesis
Plankton
Drifting aquatic organisms, mostly live in open waters
Producers
Organisms capable to make their own energy
Symbiosis
Close ecological relationship between organisms
Food web
Diagram of relationship between interacting food chains
Mutualism
Symbiotic relationship, both benefit
Parasitism
Symbiotic relationship, one benefits other harmed
Phytoplankton
Plankton capable of photosynthesis
Plankton
Drifting aquatic organisms, mostly live in open waters
Producers
Organisms capable to make their own energy
Symbiosis
Close ecological relationship between organisms
Zooplankton
Plankton that derive energy from food they eat (often other plankton)
Carrying capacity
Largest population of a species that an ecosystem can support long-term
Density-dependent factors
Factor that changes when population density changes (amount of food per individual)
Density- independent factors
Factor that is not directly affected by population density (effect of natural disaster)
Limiting factor
Causes change in particular variable (such as population)
Population
Group of individuals of same species, live in same general area, able to reproduce
Population growth rate
Rate of change in a population over specified intervals of time
Invasive species
Nonnative species that enters new area, causes harm to native species and environment, economy, or human health
Nonnative species
Species considered not to be found in an environment
