Studied by 2 people
Ecosystem
every organism in a specific environment, interacting with the abiotic and biotic factors in that ecosystem.
Environment
any space within an ecosystem, equivalent of saying nature (can be chemical, physical or biological).
Habitat
Specific place in an ecosystem where an organism resides.
Community
All the species that are in an environment at the same time that do not need to interact with each other, but can.
Population
Communities are made up of populations. A population consists of a number of individuals of the same species.
Ecosystem
dynamic and constantly changing due to the interactions between organisms and their environment.
Ecological niche
a role a species plays in that ecosystem. Multiple organisms can have multiple niches that include but are not limited to food, habitat, where it reproduces, relationships with other species
Abundance
How many organisms in a specific area
Distribution
How spread out organisms are. Geographical area over where individual oirganisms are dispersed
Symbiotic relationships
Interaction between species, where at least on species benefits
Parasitism
one organism lives on or inside another organism and harms it
Ammensalism
relationship when one organism is harmed, the other is unaffected
Commensalism
one organism benefits and the other is unaffected
Mutualism
both organisms benefit and neither are harmed
Competition
the struggle between organisms to survive in a habitat with limited resources
Scavenger
feeds on already deceased animals
Detritivore
organism that feeds on plant and animal remains and other dead matter
Decomposer
an organism that breaks down wastes and dead organisms
Obligative mutualism
one cannot survive without the other
Facultive mutualism
can live without each other
Adaptation
features that suit organisms to their specific environment
Structural adaptations
physical features of an organism
Behavioral adaptations
the way an organism acts to help them survive
Physiological adaptations
the way an organism processes to help them survive
Convergent evolution
process by which unrelated organisms independently evolve similarities when adapting to similar environments
Divergent evolution
when two or more species sharing a common ancestor become more different over time
Comparitave embryology
compares the similarities and differences between different species' embryos as evidence of evolution
Selection pressures
forces that promote reproductive success of some individuals more than others
Positive selection pressure
a factore that increases the likelihood of particular species or variations within a species surviving to reproduce
Negative selection pressure
a factor that decreases the likelihood of particular species or variations within a species survivin to reproduce
Biodiversity
The variations found within the genetics, species and ecosystems of living things
Interspecific competition
competition in an ecosystem for resources such as food and habitat between members of different species
Intraspecific competition
competition in an ecosystem for resources such as food and habitat between members of the same species
Competition exclusion principle
no two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time
Natural selection
a process in which individuals that have advantageous inherited traits survive and pass those traits onto their offspring, and those without these traits will die more easily
Four steps of natural selection
variation, selective reproduction, inheritance, gradual change in population
Sexual selection
a form of natural selection in which individuals with favourable traits are more likely than other individuals to obtain mates
Microevolution
small changes that occur in the genetic biodiversity of a species over time. these occur in response to natural selection
Speciation
the formation of two or more distinctive species from one ancestral species
Repoductive isolation
prevention of mating between members of due to physical separation or variation in traits involved in mating
Comparative anatomy
the study of similarities and differences among structures of living species as evidence for a common ancestor
Selective breeding
the human practice of breeding animals or plants that have certain desired traits
Biogeography
Study of past and present distribution of organisms, as evidence for evolution
The fossil record
chronological collection of life's remains in sedimentary rock layers and comparison between these fossils
Vestigal structure
structure in an organism that is genetically inherited that no longer appears to function in the same way as it did in an ancestor (useless organ or bone)
Complete count
locating and counting every single indicidual in a population to accurately determine the precise population size
Random quadrats
all organisms are counted that are found within a 1x1 metre square and is repated in randomly chosen places to estimate the total population sixe within a given area.
Capture-mark-recapture
a method of estimating the population size of moving animals based on safely trapping and marking individuals the recapturing a sample and noting how many are marked
Transect sudy
an approach to exame the distribution of an organism often in response to an abiotic factor. population estimates at different regions of the area can be determined
Biosphere
part of earth in which life exists including land, water, and air or atmosphere
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