Ecological Tolerance and Disturbances

This set of flashcards covers key concepts related to ecological tolerance, disturbances, and succession as discussed in the lecture notes.

Ecological Tolerance Niche

The ability of a species to tolerate disturbances and various environmental conditions, leading to greater adaptability.

Natural Disruptions

Events that have drastic impacts on environmental conditions, resulting in changes to the composition, structure, or function of a community or ecosystem.

Disturbance

An event that drastically alters environmental conditions and affects the ecosystem.

Acid Rain

Rainfall with a lower pH that negatively impacts plants and aquatic organisms.

Carbonic Acid

A natural acid formed when CO2 combines with H2O, contributing to the acidity of rainfall.

Ecological Succession

The process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time.

Resistance

The ability of an ecosystem to remain unchanged when subjected to disturbances.

Resilience

The capacity of an ecosystem to recover quickly from disturbances and return to its original state.

Facilitation

A process where early successional species create conditions that enable other species to inhabit an area.

Inhibition

A process that creates inhospitable conditions for other species through competition or allelopathy.

Desertification

The process by which a grassland is disturbed to the extent that it becomes desert, often exacerbated by climate changes.

Keystone Species

A species whose removal has significant effects on the ecosystem, often leading to trophic cascades.

Indicator Species

Species that are very sensitive to changes in their environment, indicating the health of the ecosystem.

Primary Succession

The development of an ecological community from a lifeless substrate such as bare rock, initiated by pioneer species.

Secondary Succession

The recovery of an ecological community after disturbance where soil and some organisms still remain intact.

Pioneer Species

The first organisms to colonize previously disrupted or damaged ecosystems.

Trophic Cascade

An ecological phenomenon triggered by the addition or removal of top predators, which impacts lower trophic levels.