Ecology and Conservation

Community structure

The number of species found in a community, the particular species that are present, and the relative abundance of these species

Interspecific interaction

include competition, predation, herbivory, parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism

Competition

A -/- interaction that occurs when individuals of different species each use a resource that limits the survival and reproduction of both individuals

Competitive exclusion

Local elimination of an inferior competitor

Ecological niche

The specific set of biotic and abiotic resources that an organism uses in its environment

Resource partitioning

The differentiation of niches that enables similar species to coexist in a community is called

Character displacement

Tendency for characteristics to diverge more in sympatric than in allopatric populations of two species is called

Exploitation

Much of the drama in nature involves this, a term for any type of +/- interaction in which individuals of one species benefit by feeding on individuals of the other species

Predation

+/- interaction in which an individual of one species kills and eats an individual of the other species

Aposematic coloration

Warning coloration, such as a poison dart frog

Cryptic coloration

Camouflage, makes prey difficult to see

Batesian mimicry

A palatable or harmless species mimics an unpalatable or harmful species to which it is not closely related

Mullerian mimicry

Two or more unpalatable species, such as the cuckoo bee and yellow jacket, resemble each other

Herbivory

Exploitative (+/-) interaction in which an organism eats part of a plant or alga, thereby harming it but not killing it

Parasitism

(+/-) exploitative interaction in which one organism gets its nourishment from another organism that is then harmed in the process

Endoparasites

Parasites that live within the body of their host

Ectoparasites

Parasites that feed on the external surface of a host

Positive interactions

Term that refers to a +/+ interaction between members of two species in which at least one individual benefits and neither is harmed

Mutualism

+/+ interaction that benefits individuals of both of the interacting species

Commensalism

Interaction that benefits the individuals of one of the interacting species but neither harms nor helps the individuals of the other species

Biomass

The total mass of all organisms in a habitat

Trophic structure

The feeding relationships between organisms

Food chain

The transfer of chemical energy from its source in plants and other autotrophs through herbivores, to carnivores and eventually to decomposers

Trophic level

Position an organism occupies in a food chain

Food web

A group of food chains linked together

Energetic hypothesis

suggests that the length of a food chain is limited by the inefficiency of energy transfer along the chain

Foundation species

Have strong effects on their communities as a result of their large size or high abundance

Keystone species

Not usually abundant in a community

Ecosystem engineers

Species that create or dramatically alter their environment

Bottom up control

The abundance of organisms at each trophic level is limited by nutrient supply or the availability of food at lower trophic levels

Top-down control

The abundance of organisms at each trophic level is controlled by the abundance of consumers at higher trophic levels

Disturbance

An event that changes a community by removing organisms from it or altering resource availability

Nonequilibrium model

Describes most communities as constantly changing after disturbance

Intermediate disturbance hypothesis

Moderate levels of disturbance foster greater species diversity than do high or low levels of disturbance

Ecological succession

The disturbed area may be colonized by a variety of species, which are gradually replaced by other species, which in turn are replaced by other species

Primary succession

Process of succession happening in a virtually lifeless area

Secondary succession

Involves the recolonization of an area after a major disturbance has removed most but not all of the organisms in a community

Evapotranspiration

The evaporation of water from soil and plants

Species-area curve

All other factors being equal, the larger the geographic area of a community, the more species it has

Pathogens

Disease causing microorganisms

Zoonotic pathogens

Those that are transferred to humans from other animals

Vector

Intermediate species aiding in the transfer of diseases

Ecosystem

The sum of all the organisms living in a given area and the abiotic factors with which they interact

Law of conservation of mass

Matter cannot be created or destroyed

Primary producers

The trophic level that ultimately supports all others consists of autotrophs

Primary consumers

Herbivores, which eat plants and other primary producers

Secondary consumers

Carnivores that eat herbivores

Tertiary consumers

Carnivores that eat other carnivores

Decomposers

Group of heterotrophs, consumers that get their energy from detritus

Detritus

Nonliving organic material, such as the remains of dead organisms, feces, and fallen leaves

Primary production

The amount of light energy converted to chemical energy by autotrophs during a given tie period.

Gross primary production (GPP)

Total primary production is an ecosystem is known as that ecosystem’s _____________________, the amount of energy from light converted to the chemical energy of organic molecules per unit of time

Net primary production (NPP)

Equal to gross primary production minus the energy used by the primary producers because they used by primary producers for their cellular respiration

Net ecosystem production

Measure of the biomass accumulation by producers and consumers during that time

Limiting nutrient

The element that must be added for production to increase

Eutrophication

Primary production can increase dramatically when the nutrient status of an ecosystem changes from nutrient-poor to nutrient-rich

Secondary production

The amount of chemical energy in consumers’ food that is converted to their own new biomass during a given period

Production efficiency

The percentage of energy stored in assimilated food that is used for growth and reproduction, not respiration

Biogeochemical cycles

Nutrient cycles involve both biotic and abiotic components are called this

Bioremedation

To detoxify polluted ecosystems

Conservation biology

A discipline that integrates ecology, physiology, molecular biology, genetics, and evolutionary biology to conserve the diversity of life on Earth.

Genetic diversity

Comprises not only the individual genetic variation within a population, but also genetic differences betweenpopulations.

Species diversity

The number of species in an ecosystem or across the biosphere

Endangered species

In danger of extinction throughout all or much of its range

Threatened species

Considered likely to become endangered in the future

Ecosystem services

Encompass all the processes through which natural ecosystems help sustain human life. Purify the air and water

Introduced species

Invasive, non-native or exotic species, those that humans move intentionally or accidentally from the species’ native locations to new geographic regions

Over harvesting

Harvesting of wild organisms at rates exceeding the ability of their populations to rebound

Extinction vortex

A small population is vulnerable to inbreeding and genetic drift, can draw the population down this toward smaller and smaller populations size until no individuals survive

Minimum viable population (MVP)

The minimum population size at which a species is able to sustain its numbers is known as this

Effective population size

Based on the breeding potential

Movement corridor

Narrow strip or series of small clumps of habitat connecting otherwise isolated patches, can be important for conserving biodiversity

Biodiversity hotspot

Relatively small area with numerous endemic species, species found no where else in the world, and a large number of endangered and threatened species

Zoned reserve

Extensive region that includes areas relatively undisturbed by humans surrounded by areas that have been changed by human activity and are used for economic gain

Urban ecology

Examines organisms and their environment in urban settings

Critical load

The amount of added nutrient, usually nitrogen or phosphorous, that can be absorbed by plants without damaging ecosystem integrity

Biological magnification

Happens because the biomass at any given tropic level is produced from a much larger biomass from a much larger biomass ingested from the level below

Microplastics

Plastic particles less than 5 mm in size

Climate change

A directional change to the global climate

Sustainable development

Economic development that meets the needs of people today without limiting the ability of future generations to meet their needs