Ecology Review

Vocabulary flashcards for ecology lecture review.

Biodiversity

The variety of life within an ecosystem.

Abiotic

Nonliving factors in an ecosystem, such as air, water, temperature, light, and soil.

Biotic

Living factors in an ecosystem, such as rabbits, foxes, and sparrows.

Habitat

The address where an organism lives.

Niche

An organism's occupation or role in an ecosystem (only one organism can occupy one niche).

Biosphere

The portion of Earth that supports life.

Ecosystem

Interactions among populations in a community and their physical surroundings.

Community

A collection of interacting populations; changes in one can affect others.

Population

A group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live within the same habitat.

Exponential Growth (J-curve)

Population growth under ideal conditions with unrestricted growth over time.

Logistic Growth (S-curve)

Population growth that is restricted over time due to carrying capacity.

Carrying Capacity (K)

The maximum number of organisms that an environment can support.

Limiting Factors

Environmental factors that affect an organism's ability to survive.

Density-Dependent Limiting Factors

Factors that depend on population size, such as shelter & space, and disease.

Density-Independent Limiting Factors

Abiotic factors that limit population size, such as earthquakes and fires.

Emigration

Movement of organisms out of an area.

Immigration

Movement of organisms into an area.

Intraspecific Competition

Competition between organisms within the same species for resources.

Interspecific Competition

Competition between organisms of different species for resources.

Predator/Prey Relationship

As predator populations increase, prey populations decrease, and vice versa.

Symbiosis

Relationships between organisms involving close association.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit (e.g., clownfish & anemone).

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits, and the other is unaffected (e.g., barnacles & whales).

Parasitism

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits, and the other is harmed (e.g., tapeworm & animal).

Food Chain

Shows how matter and energy flow from autotrophs to heterotrophs to decomposers.

Trophic Levels

Steps in a food chain (10% rule for energy transfer).

Autotrophs

Producers in a food chain.

Heterotrophs

Consumers in a food chain.

Primary Consumers

Herbivores in a food chain.

Secondary/Tertiary Consumers

Carnivores in a food chain.

Ecological Succession

The series of changes that occur in a community after a disturbance, leading to a climax community.

Primary Succession

Succession that occurs on newly formed land with no soil, involving pioneer species (e.g., lichen/moss).

Secondary Succession

Succession that occurs after a natural disaster (e.g., forest fire), starting with existing soil.

Ozone Layer Depletion

Thinning of the ozone layer caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

Acid Rain

Rain with a pH less than 5.6, caused by sulfur oxides released from factories.

Biomagnification

An increase in the concentration of a toxic substance at each trophic level.