Plant Community

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to plant communities, including definitions of succession, community structure, and species diversity.

Community

A group of species that occupy a given area, interacting either directly or indirectly.Spatial concept

Species Diversity

The total number of species in a community (richness) and the relative abundance of individuals among those species (evenness).

Succession

The gradual and directional change in community structure through time.

Primary Succession

Occurs on a site previously unoccupied by a community.

Secondary Succession

Occurs on previously occupied (vegetated) sites after disturbance.

Zonation

Changes in the physical and biological structure of the community across landscapes.

Dominant Species

Species that predominate within a community, often reflecting number, size, or both.

Sere

The sequence of communities from one stage to another in succession.

Seral Stage

Each of the changes within the sere, characterized by its own structure and species composition.

Rank-Abundance Diagram

A graphical representation used to compare patterns of species richness and abundance.

Keystone Species

A species whose impact on its community or ecosystem is disproportionately large relative to its abundance.

Ecological Niche

The role and position a species has in its environment, including all its interactions with the biotic and abiotic factors.

Climax Community

The stable, mature community that eventually develops into a state of equilibrium with the local environment, resulting from ecological succession.

Species Richness

The number of different species present in a community.

Species Evenness

The relative abundance of individuals among the species in a community; how similar the abundances of different species are.

Disturbance

Any relatively discrete event in time that disrupts ecosystem, community, or population structure and changes resources, substrate availability, or the physical environment.

Association

A group of species recurring together due to shared environmental preferences or biotic interactions.

Physical Structure (of a community)

The arrangement of species in space, often defined by features like growth forms, stratification, and patchiness.

Biological Structure (of a community)

The organization of a community based on species interactions such as food webs, competition, and mutualism.

Relative Abundance

The proportion of each species within a community relative to the total number of individuals of all species.

Dominance (in ecology)

The characteristic of a species that exerts a strong influence on the community due to its high abundance, biomass, or impact.

Early Succession (Pioneer Stage)

The initial stages of ecological succession, characterized by colonization by pioneer species that are typically fast-growing and tolerant of harsh conditions.

Late Succession (Climax Stage)

The later stages of ecological succession, characterized by species that are typically slower-growing, long-lived, and competitively dominant, leading towards a stable community.