Ecology Lecture Notes Review

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from lecture notes on ecological succession, interactions, biodiversity, and related topics.

Ecological Succession

The natural process of change in the structure and composition of an ecosystem over a long time.

Primary Succession

The gradual process of ecosystem development in areas where no previous life existed, such as bare rock or newly formed land.

Pioneer Species

Hardy species that colonize an area during primary succession, like lichens and mosses, which break down rock and create a thin layer of organic material.

Secondary Succession

Succession that occurs in areas where an ecosystem previously existed but was disturbed or altered, with soil already present.

Niche

The role an organism plays in its ecosystem, including its interactions with other organisms and the environment.

Competition

An interaction where organisms compete for resources such as food, shelter, territory, mates, light, and oxygen.

Predation

An interaction where one organism (the predator) hunts and kills another organism (the prey) for food.

Symbiosis

A relationship between organisms of two different species, which can be beneficial, harmful, or neutral; includes mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where both species benefit.

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship where one species benefits and the other is unaffected.

Parasitism

A symbiotic relationship where one species benefits and the other is harmed.

Bottle Neck Effect

A population suddenly reduces in size - reduced genetic diversity

Natural Selection

Traits that provide an advantage for survival & reproduction become more common influencing genetic diversity

Stratification

Verticle layers of organisms in an ecosystem example being in forests.

Zonation

Horizontal bands, horizontal distribution of organisms across different environmental gradient. Seen in mountain and coastal ecosystems

Speciation

Process of new forming species, when organisms become so genetically different they con no longer interbreed to produce fertile offspring with the original population.

Genetic Diversity

Variety of genetic material within genes of a population. Differences in DNA sequences that contribute to variation in traits like appearance behaviour and resistance to disease.

Gene Flow

Movement of individuals between population increase diversity.

Ecosystem Diversity

Range of ecosystems in biosphere.

Species Diversity

Range of species in an ecosystem

Food Chain

Represents a single pathway of chemical energy flow and matter within an ecosystem

Producers (Autotrophs)

Organisms that make their own food using sunlight, such as plants.

Consumers (Heterotrophs)

Organisms that ingest food from other plants and animals

Detritivores

Organisms feed on decomposing organic waste

Decomposers

Break down organic matter leave to be returned to the environment to absurd fungi and bacteria

Community

Different populations living together

Population

Many organisms of the same species together

Biosphere

Is where all organisms on earth live. Contains biomes, ecosystems and organisms

Biomes

speciofoc abiotic and biotic factors Biosphere is divided into biomes such as grassland or aquatic

Tolerance

The ability of an organism to withstand this variation in the environment.