Ecology Vocabulary

Energy Budget

energy taken in from food vs the energy expended on various life functions

Torpor

a time of decreased metabolism & lower body temp. that may occur daily

Winter Sleep

occurs in larger animals. Large energy reserves sustain these animals during winter inactivity. Body temps drop.

Aestivation

period of inactivity in some animals that must withstand extended periods of dryness. Common in invertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians

Abiotic

all nonliving things

Hibernation

a time of decreased metabolism & lowered body temperature that may last for weeks or months

Biotic

living characteristics of a habitat.

Exponential Growth

the population grows exponentially rapidly. This form of growth does not last forever

Logistic Growth

population growth curve that assumes an S shape where it reflects rapid growth followed by a slow growth rate or no growth rate

Density-Independent Factors

actors influence a population regardless of how many are in the population

Herbivore

animals that feed on plants

Interspecific competition

is when two different species compete for resources

Coevolution

happens when ecologically related species exert a strong selective influence on the other

Niche

a species niche includes all of the animals attributes

Density-Dependent Factors

factors influence a population more severely when population is high