BIOL 101 Community Interactions Flashcards

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to community interactions in ecology.

Community

An assemblage of all the populations of organisms living close enough together for potential interactions.

Interspecific Interactions

Interactions between two different species in a community.

Mutualism

A type of symbiotic relationship where both species benefit from the interaction.

Competition

An interaction that is harmful to both species, occurring when they need the same limited resource.

Predation

An interaction where one species (predator) kills and eats another species (prey).

Herbivory

An interaction where an animal consumes plant parts, benefiting the animal but harming the plant.

Parasites/Pathogens

Organisms that live on or in a host from which they obtain nourishment, benefiting the parasite while harming the host.

Ecological Niche

The unique ecological role of each species within a community.

Intraspecific Competition

Competition that occurs between individuals of the same species.

Coevolution

The evolutionary change in which adaptations in one species act as a selective force on a second species, prompting adaptations in return.

Mechanical Defenses

Physical structures in prey that help protect against predators, such as spines or shells.

Chemical Defenses

Toxic or repellent substances produced by prey to deter predators.

Stealth

A predator's ability to remain hidden and undetected while approaching prey.