CH6: Ecology: Preserving the Animal Kingdom

Ecology

Ecology

Study of relationships of organisms to their environment.

Habitat

All living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) characteristics of an area in which animals live.

Tolerance Range

Range of values for any abiotic factor that is compatible with life for an animal.

Range of Optimum

Range of values that defines the conditions under which the animal is most successful.

Limiting Factor

Any combination of abiotic factors that is outside the tolerance range for that factor.

Taxus

Orientation of an animal with respect to an abiotic factor.

Energy Budget

An accounting of an animal's total energy intake and description of how energy is used.

Heterotrophic

Organisms that supply energy needs by ingesting other organisms.

Autotrophic

Organism that carry on photosynthesis or other carbon fixing activities to supply food.

Heat Loss

Infrared and heat radiations to surroundings, convection to air, evaporative heat from the animal.

Heat Gain

Solar radiation and infrared and heat radiation from surroundings to the animal.

Torpor

Decreased metabolism & lowered body temperature during brief daily periods.

Hibernation

Decreased metabolism and lowered body temperature for weeks or months.

Winter Sleep

Body temperature drops, but less than hibernation; animal is easily aroused.

Aestivation

Period of inactivity through extended periods of drying, often within burrows.

Moisture

Water lost must be replaced for survival.

Light

Influences timing of daily activities for organisms.

Geology and Soils

Texture, organic matter, and water content of the environment.

Populations

Groups of individuals of the same species that occupy a given area at the same time.

Population Growth

Changes in populations over time due to birth, death, and dispersal.

Exponential Growth

Potential for population increase by a constant ratio per unit time.

Environmental Resistance

Constraints on growth imposed by climate, food, space, and other factors.

Carrying Capacity (K)

Maximum population size that a particular environment can support.

Logistic Population Growth

S-shaped growth curve as population reaches carrying capacity.

Density-Independent Factors

Factors that limit population growth regardless of size.

Density-Dependent Factors

Factors that have a greater impact when population density is high.

Intraspecific Competition

Competition for resources among members of the same species.

Interspecific Competition

Competition among different species for the same limiting resources.

Coevolution

Reciprocal evolutionary change between pairs of species or groups as they interact.

Symbiosis

Close association of two different species living together.

Parasitism

One member (parasite) lives at the expense of the host.

Commensalism

One member benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Mutualism

Both members benefit from the relationship.

Camouflage

Color patterns that help hide an animal from predators.

Countershading

Contrasting coloration that helps conceal an animal.

Aposematic Coloration

Warning coloration that signals unprofitability to predators.

Mimicry

Species resembling one or more other species for protection.

Communities

All populations living in a specific area.

Community Stability

The ability of a community to maintain its structure and function over time.

Succession

Predictable changes in community structure over time.

Pioneer Community

The first community to become established in a new area.

Seral Stage

A successional stage where life forms make the area less fit for themselves.

Climax Community

A stable final community that can tolerate its own reactions.

Ecosystems

Communities and their physical environment.

Primary Production

Energy converted to living tissues per unit time.

Biomass

Total mass of all organisms in an ecosystem.

Food Chain

Sequence of organisms through which energy moves.

Food Web

Complexly interconnected food chains within an ecosystem.

Trophic Levels

Groupings of organisms based on their energy source.

Producers

Autotrophs that create their own food.

Consumers

Heterotrophs that ingest other organisms for energy.

Biogeochemical Cycles

Recycling of matter within ecosystems from nonliving to living and back.

Gaseous Cycles

Cycles involving gases like oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen.

Sedimentary Cycles

Cycles involving elements like sulfur, phosphorous, and calcium.

Biodiversity

Variety of living organisms in an ecosystem, contributing to sustainability.

Countershading

Aposematic coloration

Mimicry

Camouflage