Lecture Notes on Community Ecology and Biodiversity

Set of 100 vocabulary flashcards to assist in studying community ecology concepts.

Community

An association of interacting species living in a particular area.

Community Ecology

The study of the structure and organization within biological communities.

Biodiversity

The variety of life forms and the interactions within a biological community.

Community Structure

Influences biodiversity and perceptions of beauty in ecological contexts.

Abundance

The number of individuals of each species in a given area.

Guilds

Categories of animals within a community based on resource exploitation.

Feeding Guild

A group of organisms that exploit food resources in similar ways.

Carnivore

Organisms that primarily eat other animals.

Herbivore

Organisms that primarily consume plants.

Detritivore

Organisms that feed on decomposing organic matter.

Pisivore

Carnivores that eat fish.

Insectivore

Carnivores that eat insects.

Sanguivore

Organisms that feed on the blood of other animals.

Mesocarnivore

Mid-level carnivores that prey on smaller animals.

Foliivore

Herbivores that consume leaves.

Fruitivore

Herbivores that eat fruits.

Xylophage

Herbivores that feed on wood.

Woody Plants

Plants such as trees and shrubs with hard, fibrous structures.

Herbaceous Plants

Non-woody plants, including forbs and grasses.

Vines

Climbing plants that may be woody or herbaceous.

Relative Abundance

The abundance of a species compared to other species within a community.

Species Richness

The total number of different species in a community.

Species Evenness

The distribution of individuals among the species present.

Rank Abundance Curves

Graphs that plot relative abundance against species rank.

Alpha Diversity

The number of species at one specific site.

Beta Diversity

The change in diversity between different sites.

Gamma Diversity

The total number of species across a larger geographic area.

Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis

Suggests that moderate levels of disturbance can enhance biodiversity.

Trophic Biology

The study of feeding relationships in ecosystems.

Food Web

A model illustrating feeding interactions within a community.

Keystone Species

A species that has a disproportionately large impact on its environment.

Trophic Levels

Levels in a food web defined by the organism's position in the energy flow.

Trophic Cascade

The effects of predators on prey populations and their influence on community structure.

Ecological Succession

The gradual process of change and replacement in a community.

Primary Succession

The colonization of previously unoccupied habitats.

Pioneer Species

First species to colonize barren environments.

Climax Community

A stable, mature community that undergoes little change.

Secondary Succession

Recovery of an ecosystem after a disturbance without soil loss.

Nutrient Cycling

The movement and transformation of nutrients within ecosystems.

Carbon Cycle

The series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment.

Phosphorus Cycle

The movement of phosphorus through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.

Nitrogen Cycle

The series of processes by which nitrogen and its compounds are interconverted.

Ecosystem

A biological community interacting with its physical environment.

Trophic Dynamics

The patterns of energy transfer and nutrient cycling within ecosystems.

Absorption Spectrum

The range of wavelengths absorbed by an organism.

Ecological Efficiency

The percentage of energy transferred from one trophic level to the next.

10% Rule

Typically, only about 10% of energy is passed on to the next trophic level.

Ecosystem Services

Benefits that humans derive from ecosystems.

Habitat Fragmentation

The process of breaking up larger habitats into smaller, isolated patches.

Habitat Corridors

Strips of natural habitat that connect separate patches of wildlife habitat.

Biogeography

The study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space.

Species Richness vs. Area

Larger areas typically host more species.

GIS

Geographic Information Systems; tools for analyzing spatial patterns in ecology.

Biome

A large geographical biotic unit with similar climate and life forms.

Ecotone

The transition area between two biological communities.

Edge Effects

Changes in population or community structures that occur at the boundary of two habitats.

Anthropogenic Activities

Human activities that impact ecosystems and their functions.

Conservation Biology

The study of protecting Earth's biodiversity.

Sustainable Practices

Methods that reduce environmental impact and conserve resources.

Climate Change

Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.

Eutrophication

The enrichment of water bodies with nutrients, often leading to excessive growth of algae.

Trophic Levels

Producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers.

Intraspecific Competition

Competition among members of the same species.

Interspecific Competition

Competition among different species.

Ecosystem Stability

The ability of an ecosystem to maintain its structure and function over time.

Energy Flow

The transfer of energy through food chains and webs.

Diversity Indices

Mathematical measures that reflect how many types (varieties, species) exist in a dataset.

Conservation Strategies

Plans and actions to protect and restore biodiversity.

Phytoplankton

Microscopic marine alga that forms the basis of the aquatic food web.

Ocean Upwelling

A process where deep, cold water rises to the surface.

Soil Composition

The combination of organic and inorganic materials present in soil.

Niche

The role or function of an organism or species within an ecosystem.

Ecosystem Engineers

Species that significantly modify their environment.

Resource Partitioning

The division of resources by coexisting species to reduce competition.

Estuary

A coastal area where freshwater from rivers meets the ocean.

Biodiversity Hotspot

A region with a significant level of biodiversity that is threatened by human habitation.

Human Activity

Actions by humans that affect the environment.

Adaptive Management

A systematic approach for improving resource management.

Solar Energy

Energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy.

Biomass

The total mass of organisms in a given area.

Ecosystem Resilience

The capacity of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

A process for evaluating the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project.

Pollution,

Introduction of harmful substances into the environment.