Biology Chapter 22 – Community Ecology Vocabulary

36 key vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts from Chapter 22 on Community Ecology.

Pollen

Small, thick-walled plant structures that contain cells that develop into sperm.

Pollination

The transfer of pollen from male to female plant structures so that fertilization can occur.

Keystone species

A species on which many others depend; its removal has a dramatic impact on the community.

Community

A group of interacting populations of different species living together in the same area.

Stamen

The male reproductive structure of a flower, made up of a filament and an anther.

Pistil

The female reproductive structure of a flower, composed of a stigma, style, and ovary.

Stigma

The sticky "landing pad" on the pistil where pollen adheres.

Style

Tube-like stalk of the pistil that connects the stigma to the ovary.

Seed

A plant embryo with a starting food supply, encased in a protective covering.

Food chain

A linked series of feeding relationships where organisms higher up feed on those below.

Producers

Autotrophs (photosynthetic organisms) that form the base of every food chain.

Consumers

Heterotrophs that obtain energy by eating organisms lower on the food chain.

Predation

An interaction in which one organism (the predator) feeds on another (the prey).

Herbivore

Predation on plants, which may or may not kill the plant preyed on.

Trophic levels

Feeding levels that represent positions in a food chain.

Food web

A complex interconnection of feeding relationships in a community.

Parasitism

A symbiotic relationship in which one member benefits at the expense of the other.

Symbiosis

A relationship in which two different organisms live together, often interdependently.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship in which both members benefit ("win-win").

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship in which one member benefits and the other is unharmed.

Niche

The space, environmental conditions, and resources a species needs to survive and reproduce.

Competition

Interaction between organisms that rely on the same limited resource.

Competitive exclusion principle

When two species compete for identical niche resources, one is inevitably driven to extinction.

Filament

Stalk that supports the anther in a flower.

Anther

Part of the stamen that produces pollen.

10% rule

Only about 10 % of energy is transferred to the next trophic level; the rest is lost as heat.

Decomposer

An organism that breaks down wastes and dead organisms.

Detritivore

An organism that feeds on plant and animal remains and other dead matter.

Omnivore

An animal that eats both plants and animals.

Primary consumer

A consumer that feeds directly on producers.

Secondary consumer

A carnivore that eats herbivores (primary consumers).

Tertiary consumer

An organism that eats secondary consumers.

Foundation species

A species that shapes a community by creating or enhancing habitat that benefits others.

Invasive species

Species that enter new ecosystems and multiply, harming native species and habitats.

Endemic species

Species native to and found only within a limited geographic area.

Endangered species

A species whose population is so small that it is at risk of extinction.