apes unit 2.3-2.4 vocab

A ____ is the role an organism plays in its ecosystem, including how it obtains food and interacts with other organisms.

niche

The range of abiotic and biotic conditions under which a species can survive, grow, and reproduce is called its ________.

niche

The _____ niche represents the full range of environmental conditions and resources a species could theoretically use.

fundamental

The ____ niche represents the actual conditions and resources a species uses due to competition and other biotic factors.

realized

______ is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment survive and reproduce more successfully.

Natural selection

Traits that improve an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce are called _____.

adapations

When different species evolve similar traits due to similar environmental pressures, it is known as ____ evolution.

convergent

When a population is separated by geographic barriers and evolves into different species, it is called _____ speciation.

allopatric

Speciation that occurs without physical separation, often due to behavioral or genetic changes, is called ____ speciation.

sympatric

The process of two species influencing each other’s evolution is known as ______.

coevolution

The disappearance of all members of a species from Earth is called _____.

extinction

The background rate of extinction is estimated to be about one species per _____ species per year.

one million

A species that can tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions is known as ____ species.

generalist

A species with a narrow range of tolerance or specific habitat requirements is known as a _____ species.

specialist

The American alligator and the beaver are examples of _____ species because they create or maintain habitats for other species.

keystone

A species that serves as an early warning of environmental change is called an ____ species.

indicator

Species introduced to an area where they are not native and cause harm are known as ____ species.

invasive

The study of how ecological communities respond to natural disturbances is called ____ ecology.

disturbance

A sudden event such as wildfire, hurricane, or volcanic eruption that changes an ecosystem is a ____ disturbance.

natural

The gradual replacement of one community by another following a disturbance is called ecological _____.

succession

Succession that begins on bare rock or after a lava flow is known as ____ succession.

primary

The first organisms to colonize a new area during primary succession are called _____ species.

pioneer

Succession that occurs in areas where soil remains after a disturbance is called ____ succession.

secondary

The stable, mature community that results at the end of succession is called the ____ community.

climax

Forest fires are often considered a natural and necessary part of many ecosystems, promoting ____ and renewal.

regeneration

Large disturbances can lead to a reduction in biodiversity, but moderate disturbances may actually ____ biodiversity.

increase

A volcanic eruption creating new land is an example of a _____ disturbance that leads to primary succession.

natural

The _____ tolerance concept explains how species survive only within a specific range of abiotic conditions.

range of

Coral bleaching events are often caused by increased ocean ____ and are an example of ecosystem disruption.

temperature

The intermediate disturbance hypothesis suggests that ecosystems with ____ levels of disturbance have the highest diversity.

moderate