Ecology and Ecosystems Lecture Review

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the fundamental concepts of ecology, energy flow, species relationships, and ecological succession.

Ecotone

The area where two biomes meet.

Ecoregion

A small region within a biome that has distinct features.

Biodiversity

A measure of ecosystem health within an ecosystem.

Pyramid of Energy

A model showing that $10\%$ of energy is passed on from one trophic level to the next, while $90\%$ is lost as HEAT.

Producers

Autotrophs that create their own energy using photosynthesis.

Net Primary Productivity

$$\text{Net Primary Productivity} = \text{Gross Primary Productivity} - \text{plant cell respiration}$$

Consumers

Heterotrophs that must eat to obtain energy.

Detritivores

Organisms that consume non-living organic matter, such as dead animals and plant litter.

Decomposers

Bacteria and fungi that absorb nutrients from nonliving organic matter and recycle materials back into inorganic forms.

Bioaccumulation

The accumulation of a substance in the body tissue of a single organism.

Biomagnification

The increase in concentration of toxins in higher trophic levels moving up the food chain.

Evolution

A process requiring many generations that involves natural selection and speciation, where individuals best fit for their environment are more likely to reproduce.

Niche

How a species uses the resources in its environment; can be realized (actual) or fundamental (ideal).

Intraspecific competition

Competition for resources between members of the same species.

Interspecific competition

Competition for resources between members of different species.

Symbiotic Relationships

Categorized interactions between species including Mutualism, Commensalism, and Parasitism.

Keystone species

A species that plays a very important role in an ecosystem, contributing to diversity; its extinction would lead to the extinction of other species.

Indicator species

A species used to evaluate the health of an ecosystem.

Generalist

A species that can live in many environments, often exemplified by invasive species.

Specialist

A species that requires a specific environment to survive.

Primary Succession

The process where an ecosystem begins to form in a lifeless area with NO SOIL.

Secondary Succession

The process of ecosystem formation after a fire, tornado, human impact, or other disaster where the SOIL IS STILL INTACT.