EE 1- Introduction to Ecology: Scales and Hierarchy

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the fundamental definitions, biological hierarchy, and concepts of scale and population as presented in the Introduction to Ecology lecture.

Ecology

The branch of biology that deals with the relationship between organisms and their surrounding biotic and abiotic environment, attempting to understand the distribution and abundance of organisms over space and time.

Organism

A functional unit of biological organization where organ systems work together.

Population (Ecological context)

Individuals of a single species that occupy the same general area, rely on the same resources, have a high likelihood of interacting with one another, and are influenced by similar environmental factors.

Population (Genetic context)

A group of individuals living in close enough proximity to have both the potential to interbreed with conspecifics and a reasonable likelihood of that occurring.

Community

The populations of different species that populate the same area.

Ecosystem

A community together with the nonliving (abiotic) environment.

Biosphere

The highest level of biological organization, consisting of Earth and all of its communities.

Abiotic factors

Nonliving components of the environment that influence organisms, such as temperature, climate, and $pH$.

Biotic factors

Living components of the environment, including adjacent cells, predator abundance, and interactions with humans for food.

Scale dependence

The property of ecological processes where patterns change based on the spatial or temporal scale being studied.

Jonathan the giant tortoise

An example of an organism experiencing a long temporal scale, being over $193$ years old (born before $1832$).

Dragonfly temporal scale

An organism that typically lives for only $2$ to $4$ weeks and does not experience seasonal changes.

Lynx canadensis and Lepus americanus

The scientific names for the Lynx and Hare respectively, used to illustrate predator-prey dynamics and population fluctuations between $1845$ and $1925$.

Chemical level

The level of biological organization where atoms join to form molecules and macromolecules, such as proteins and DNA.

Cellular level

The level where atoms and molecules make up the cytoplasm and form organelles, such as the nucleus and mitochondria.

Predictive models

A practical research method used to explore scale and move from observed patterns to understanding underlying biological processes.

Population ecology

The study of population growth rates, stability, dynamics of age distribution, and patterns of survival.

Community ecology

The study of inter-specific interactions, dispersal, rates of diversification, and community stability.

Biogeography

The study of the spatial distribution of biodiversity and the dispersal of species across different areas.