Learning Module 13 A&B

This set of flashcards focuses on key vocabulary related to ecology and community structure, including definitions of important concepts, interactions, and ecological processes.

Ecology

The study of interactions between organisms and their environment.

Community Ecology

The study of how organisms interact within a community and how these interactions shape community structure.

Interspecific Interaction

Relationships between different species in a community, which can be classified based on their impact on each other.

Competition

An interspecific interaction where both species are negatively impacted (- -).

Predation

An interaction where one species (the predator) kills and eats another species (the prey), resulting in a benefit for the predator (+ -).

Herbivory

An interaction where an herbivore eats parts of a primary producer, causing some harm to the plant (+ -).

Parasitism

A relationship where a parasite derives nourishment from a host, harming it in the process.

Mutualism

An interaction where both species benefit from the relationship (+ +).

Ecological Niche

The sum of a species’ use of biotic and abiotic resources; also known as its ecological role.

Resource Partitioning

Differentiation of ecological niches, enabling similar species to coexist.

Fundamental Niche

The niche that a species could potentially occupy.

Realized Niche

The niche that a species actually occupies, often smaller due to competition.

Character Displacement

An evolutionary change that occurs when the distributions of two similar species overlap.

Trophic Structure

The feeding relationships between organisms in a community, often represented as food chains.

Food Web

A complex network of feeding relationships among organisms within an ecosystem.

Disturbance

An event that changes a community, removes organisms, and alters resource availability.

Primary Succession

Ecological succession that occurs in an area where no soil exists.

Secondary Succession

Ecological succession that begins in an area where soil remains after a disturbance.

Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis

The theory that species diversity is highest at moderate levels of disturbance, allowing coexistence.