Environmental Stability Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering population metrics, growth models, limiting factors, ecological niches, symbiotic relationships, biodiversity types, ecological succession, and natural resources sustainability based on the lecture text.

Population

A group of individuals within one species living in a geographic area.

Geographic Range

The area in which a population can be found.

Population Density

The number of individuals of the same species in an area (for example, $50\text{ balsam poplars/acre}$).

Population Growth

How quickly a population size is changing.

Linear Growth

A pattern of population increase in a constant amount.

Exponential Growth

A pattern of population increase at a constant rate (for example, doubling).

J Curve

The curve created on a graph when biological populations grow exponentially.

Natality

The addition of new individuals (birth) to a population.

Fecundity

The ability of an organism to reproduce.

Fertility

The number of offspring produced by an organism.

Mortality

The death rate within a population.

Life Expectancy

The predicted length of survival for an individual.

Limiting Factors

Environmental limits that keep populations from increasing indefinitely by causing organisms to die or move out of an area.

Density-Dependent Factors

Limiting factors that have an increasing effect as the population increases, which are usually biotic (for example, predators, disease, and competition).

Density-Independent Factors

Limiting factors that affect all populations regardless of size, which are usually abiotic (for example, temperature, storms, floods, and drought).

Carrying Capacity ($K$)

The number of organisms that an environment can support over a long period of time.

Logistic Growth

Growth model where a population stabilizes at carrying capacity, creating an $S$ curve.

S Curve

The graphical pattern formed by logistic growth as a population reaches carrying capacity.

Niche

The unique role a species plays in the environment, determined by factors such as optimum temperature and required resources.

Habitat

Where an organism lives, including food, shelter, and resources.

Fundamental Niche

The role an organism can occupy without competition.

Realized Niche

The smaller niche an organism occupies because of competition.

Tolerance

The ability of an organism to survive in changing conditions within its niche.

Specialists

Organisms that have limited tolerance and can only withstand small changes in their niche.

Generalists

Organisms that adapt easily to changes in their niche due to large ranges of tolerance.

Symbiotic Relationships

Interactions where two species live in close contact for some or all of their lives.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit.

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected.

Parasitism

A symbiotic relationship where one organism is harmed and another benefits.

Predation

An organism interaction where one is harmed and one benefits, characterized by being short-lived.

Competition

An organism interaction that harms both organisms involved.

Biodiversity

The variety of living things.

Species Diversity

The number of different species in an area.

Genetic Diversity

The different genes within a species.

Ecosystem Diversity

The variety of ecosystems in an area.

Resilience

An ecosystem's ability to withstand natural and human-caused impacts to the environment due to high biodiversity.

Invasive Species

A species artificially introduced into an ecosystem that often undergoes rapid population growth because it has few natural limiting factors.

Ecological Succession

The process of change within a community over time.

Primary Succession

Succession that occurs where soil has not previously existed, such as on glaciers, newly exposed rocks, and lava flows.

Pioneer Species

The initial species, like lichens, that break down rock to form soil during primary succession.

Secondary Succession

Succession that occurs after disturbances like hurricanes, floods, and fires, occurring more quickly than primary succession because soil is already in place.

Climax Community

Historically defined as the final stage of succession where an ecosystem returned to a level of stability.

Renewable Natural Resources

Natural resources that are naturally replenished over short periods of time, such as sunlight, fresh water, topsoil, and trees.

Nonrenewable Natural Resources

Natural resources that take a long time to replenish, such as fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas).

Ecological Footprint

A measure of the demands made by one person or group on global natural resources, including consumed resources and waste disposal.

Sustainability

Pursuing global development in ways that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.