Community Ecology: Concepts, Boundaries, and Gradients

Vocabulary flashcards covering key community ecology terms, community classification models (holistic vs. individualistic), ecological boundaries, and environmental gradients based on the lecture.

Community

All the living organisms that inhabit a particular location or space.

Mutualism

An ecological interaction between organisms that is positive and beneficial for both participants.

Antagonism

An ecological interaction between organisms that is positive for one participant and harmful to the other.

Competition

An ecological interaction between organisms that results in negative consequences for both participants.

Keystone species

A species whose removal completely changes the structure, function, and species composition of the entire community.

Indicator species

A species that provides information about environmental conditions, such as levels of pollution.

Holistic concept

An ecological perspective that views a community as a discrete, distinct unit or superorganism with recognizable boundaries separating it from adjacent communities.

Closed community

A community defined by sharp, distinct, and recognizable boundaries separating it from adjacent communities, often driven by abrupt environmental variations.

Aspect

The compass direction (north, south, east, or west) that a slope faces, influencing the amount of direct sunlight received and moisture retained.

Ecotone

A transitional zone or boundary between two adjacent communities that contains species from both communities as well as species unique to the boundary itself.

Estuary

A highly productive and diverse ecotone where freshwater meets and mixes with saltwater, serving as critical nursery habitat for many marine species.

Brackish water

Water that consists of a mixture of freshwater and saltwater, commonly found in estuaries.

Riparian buffer

A vegetated transitional strip located between an agricultural field and a waterway that filters out eroding soil, nutrients, and pesticides before they can contaminate the stream.

Individualistic concept (Open community concept)

An ecological perspective proposing that communities lack sharp boundaries and higher-level organization, consisting instead of overlapping species distributed gradually along environmental gradients.

Environmental gradient

A gradual, continuous change in one or more environmental factors (such as moisture, temperature, altitude, or soil nutrients) across a landscape.