Ecology and Marine Biology Concepts

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing essential terms and concepts in marine ecology and biology.

Ecology

The branch of biology that studies the relationships between living organisms and their environment.

Carrying Capacity (K)

The maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely.

Biotic Factors

Living components that affect organisms, such as predation, competition, and mutualism.

Abiotic Factors

Non-living physical and chemical elements in the ecosystem, such as temperature, salinity, and water pressure.

Community

All populations of organisms living in a defined area.

Niche

The role of an organism in its environment, including its habitat and interactions with biotic and abiotic factors.

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Biomass

The total mass of all living matter in a specific area.

Autotrophs

Organisms that produce their own food, typically through photosynthesis.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that consume other organisms for energy.

Plankton

Organisms that drift in water currents; includes phytoplankton and zooplankton.

Nekton

Free-swimming aquatic organisms that can move against water currents.

Estuaries

Areas where freshwater inputs meet the sea, characterized by variable salinity.

Trophic Structure

The hierarchical levels in an ecosystem related to energy flow and feeding relationships.

Euphoric Zone

The sunlit upper layer of a body of water where photosynthesis occurs.

Thermocline

A layer in a body of water where temperature changes rapidly with depth.

Coral Reefs

Complex marine ecosystems characterized by reef-building corals and high biodiversity.

Mangroves

Coastal vegetation that thrives in saline conditions, providing habitat and stabilization to shorelines.

Phytoplankton

Microscopic, photosynthetic organisms that serve as primary producers in aquatic ecosystems.

Zooplankton

Small aquatic animals that feed on phytoplankton and are crucial to aquatic food webs.

Cyanobacteria

Photosynthetic prokaryotes, often referred to as blue-green algae, key in oxygen production.

Sediment

Particulate matter that settles at the bottom of water bodies, often influencing habitat.

Adaptation

A characteristic that enhances an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.

Keystone Species

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.