Forest Ecology - Module 01 to 03

Vocabulary flashcards covering the origins of ecology, biotic and abiotic environmental factors, scales of environment, and vegetation dynamics in tropical forests.

Ecology

The study of organisms in their home, derived from the Greek words oikos (home) and logos (the study of).

Ernst Haeckel

The German zoologist who introduced the term ecology approximately a century ago.

Environment

The summation of all biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) factors that surround and potentially influence an organism.

Biotic Factors

Living elements or interactions in an area, including flora, fauna, competition, mutualism, and allelopathy.

Abiotic Factors

The chemical and physical aspects, such as temperature and soil, that influence plant growth and distribution.

Competition

A biotic interaction occurring within and between species as they vie for limited resources, playing a crucial role in natural selection.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where two different species benefit from their interaction, such as bees pollinating flowers while obtaining nectar.

Allelopathy

A chemical interaction where one plant species releases allelochemicals that affect the growth or survival of nearby plants.

Allelochemicals

Chemicals released into the soil by certain plants, such as black walnut trees, to inhibit the growth of neighboring species.

Sunlight

An abiotic factor that captures energy during photosynthesis and influences forest structure by fueling competitive interactions in the canopy.

Tropical Forest Soil

Often nutrient-deficient, especially lacking nitrogen and calcium due to rapid decomposition and nutrient leaching.

Tropical Forest Temperature

Maintains a steady warmth between $25-31^{\circ}\text{C}$ with no frost, allowing for year-round tree growth.

Tropical Forest Humidity

Maintains a level of $70-80\%$ year-round, aiding nutrient absorption through foliar feeding.

Average Annual Rainfall

In tropical forests, this ranges from $203-1016\,\text{cm}$, ensuring consistent moisture for lush growth through convectional precipitation.

Macroenvironment

The prevailing regional environment characterizing a particular large geographical region.

Microenvironment

The environment close enough to an organism to be immediately influenced by it.

Edaphic factors

Abiotic factors specifically related to the soil.

Barometer

A tool used to measure atmospheric pressure in the environment.

Vegetation

The collective plant species in a region (flora), including their arrangement over space and time.

Dominant Plants

The biggest and most common species that define the characteristics of a specific vegetation type.

Lowland Dipterocarp

The most extensive original habitat type in Peninsular Malaysia, found at altitudes less than $300\,\text{m}$.

Lianas

A plant growth form characterized by woody climbing vines.

Epiphyte

A plant growth form that grows on the surface of another plant, deriving moisture and nutrients from the air or rain.

Deciduous

A plant growth form characterized by the seasonal shedding of leaves.

Needleleaf

A plant growth form featuring narrow, needle-like leaves, common in certain forest types.