Population Ecology

Vocabulary flashcards based on concepts and definitions from Population Ecology.

Advocate

An environmental advocate works for changes in policy or human behavior to benefit the environment.

Ecology

The science that studies the interactions among organisms and their interactions with the environment.

Ecological Society of America

An organization of professional scientists that strives to ensure the appropriate use of ecological science in environmental decision making.

Basic Ecology

Research on the distribution and abundance of species and how species interact with each other and the environment.

Applied Ecology

Develops conservation and management plans to limit or repair damage to ecosystems from human actions.

Species Composition

The identity and number of species present in an ecosystem.

Conservation

The act of preserving, protecting, or restoring the natural environment and wildlife.

Microevolution

The study of evolution at its smallest scale, focusing on changes in allele frequencies within populations.

Population

A group of organisms of the same species occupying a particular place at a particular time.

Population Ecology

The study of how and why populations change.

Population Size (N)

The total number of individuals in a specific area.

Population Density

The number of individuals per unit area.

Dispersion

The way individuals are distributed across a range; can be random, clumped, or uniform.

Demography

The composition of a population, including factors like age structure and immigration rates.

Life Table

A table providing detailed demographic information, such as age structure and survival rates.

Genetic Drift

The change in the frequency of an existing gene variant in a population due to random sampling.

Inbreeding

Reproduction between closely related individuals, which can increase the likelihood of genetic disorders.

Extinction Vortex

A situation in which a small population becomes more vulnerable to extinction due to inbreeding and genetic drift.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in the world, including the variability among living organisms and the ecological complexes they inhabit.

Genetic Diversity

The genetic variation within populations and between populations.

Species Diversity

The variety and abundance of species present in an area.

Ecosystem Diversity

The variety of ecosystems in a given place.

Species Richness

The number of different species present in a specified area.

Species Evenness

A measure of the relative abundance of different species in a community.

Shannon Index

An index that measures the diversity of a community, accounting for both species richness and evenness.

Endemic Species

Species that are found in a very limited area and are not naturally found elsewhere.

Carrying Capacity (K)

The maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can support sustainably.

Logistic Growth

Population growth that begins exponentially but slows as the population approaches carrying capacity.

Density-Independent Factors

Factors that affect population size regardless of the population's density, such as natural disasters.

Density-Dependent Factors

Factors that limit population growth as a result of population density, like competition and predation.

Community Ecology

The study of how groups of species interact and form functional communities.

Mutualism

A type of interaction where both species benefit.

Commensalism

A type of interaction where one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Predation

An interaction where one species (the predator) consumes another (the prey).

Competition

An interaction where species compete for limited resources, which may negatively impact both.

Intraspecific Competition

Competition between individuals of the same species.

Interspecific Competition

Competition between individuals of different species.

Cryptic Coloration

A form of camouflage that allows an organism to avoid detection by predators.

Keystone Species

A species that plays a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community.

Trophic Cascade

An ecological phenomenon triggered by the addition or removal of top predators, resulting in changes to the ecosystem.

Island Biogeography

The study of the ecological relationships and distribution of species on islands.

Primary Succession

Ecological succession that begins in lifeless areas, such as a region left bare by a retreating glacier.

Secondary Succession

Ecological succession that occurs in areas where a disturbance has altered a community but left the soil intact.

Ecosystem Services

The benefits that humans derive from ecosystems, including provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services.

Nutrient Cycling

The movement and exchange of organic and inorganic matter back into the production of living matter.

Biogeochemical Cycles

Cycles that describe the movement of elements and compounds through biological, geological, and chemical processes.

Carbon Cycle

The process by which carbon is exchanged between the biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.

Nitrogen Cycle

The series of processes by which nitrogen and its compounds are interconverted in the environment and in living organisms.

Eutrophication

The process where water bodies receive excess nutrients, leading to increased growth of algae and depletion of oxygen.

Greenhouse Effect

The trapping of the sun's warmth in the planet's lower atmosphere due to the presence of greenhouse gases.

Habitat Destruction

The process in which natural habitat is rendered unable to support the species present.

Invasive Species

Non-native species that spread wildly in a new environment and cause harm to the native ecosystem.

Phenological Shifts

Changes in the timing of natural events, such as flowering and migration, due to climate change.

Resistance

The ability of an ecological community to resist disturbances.

Resilience

The ability of an ecological community to recover from disturbances.

Intrinsic Value

The inherent worth of biological diversity, independent of its utility to humans.

Biological Magnification

The increasing concentration of toxic substances within each successive link in the food chain.

Natural Selection

The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Ecological Niche

The role and position a species has in its environment, including all interactions with biotic and abiotic factors.

Fundamental Niche

The potential mode of life of a species, occupying the full range of conditions under which it can survive.

Realized Niche

The actual conditions and resources in which a species exists due to biotic interactions.

Resource Partitioning

The process by which competing species use the environment differently to coexist.

Succession

The process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time.

Overexploitation

The action of excessive use of species or resources, leading to a decrease in their populations.

Climate Change

Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, primarily caused by human activities.

Biodiversity Hotspots

Regions with significant levels of biodiversity that are under threat from human activities.

Sustainable Development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Agricultural Intensification

The process of increasing agricultural productivity per unit of inputs.

Conservation Biology

The scientific study aimed at protecting biodiversity and the natural resources on which it depends.

Ecosystem Restoration

The process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed.

Wildlife Corridors

Connective strips of land that facilitate wildlife movement between larger habitats.

Urban Ecology

The study of ecosystems that include human-made environments.

Ecological Footprint

A measure of how much land and water area a human population requires to produce the resources consumed and absorb the wastes generated.

Sustainable Agriculture

Farming that focuses on producing food in a manner that maintains the health of the ecosystem.

Permaculture

An agricultural philosophy that facilitates sustainable land use and food production through natural ecosystems.

Organic Farming

An agricultural method that uses natural substances and processes to produce food.

Climate Adaptation

Adjusting practices, processes, and structures to mitigate possible damages caused by climate change.

Fossil Fuels

Natural fuels formed from the remains of living organisms, including coal, oil, and natural gas.

Carbon Sequestration

The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Sustainable Resources

Natural resources that are used and managed in ways that maintain their availability for future generations.

Ecosystem Health

The state of an ecosystem relative to its ability to support biodiversity and function effectively.

Forest Management

The administration of forested lands to meet diverse needs while ensuring conservation.

Water Management

The activity of planning, developing, distributing, and managing the optimum use of water resources.

Climate Mitigation

Efforts to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases.

Green Infrastructure

A strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural areas designed to deliver a wide range of ecosystem services.

Anthropocentrism

A viewpoint that places humans at the center of consideration in environmental ethics.

Ecocentrism

An environmental ethical stance that recognizes the intrinsic value of all living beings.

Biodiversity Conservation

The practice of protecting and managing biodiversity to prevent extinction and loss of habitats.

Habitat Fragmentation

The process by which habitat loss results in the division of larger, continuous habitats into smaller, more isolated remnants.

Ecosystem Services Valuation

The process of assigning economic value to the benefits provided by ecosystems.

Environmental Policy

A course of action taken by governments to manage human activities with regard to the environment.

Restoration Ecology

The scientific study of repairing disturbed ecosystems through human intervention.

Zoning Laws

Regulations that define how land in specific geographic zones can be used.

Ecological Literacy

The ability to understand the interconnectedness of human activities and the environment.

Conservation Priorities

Areas or species that are identified as critical for conservation actions based on various criteria.

In situ Conservation

The conservation of species in their natural habitats.

Ex situ Conservation

The preservation of species outside their natural habitats, such as in zoos or botanical gardens.

Community-Based Conservation

Conservation efforts that engage local communities in managing their natural resources.

Agroecology

An ecological approach to agriculture that views agricultural areas as ecosystems.

Ecotourism

Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.