Community Ecology 1

These flashcards cover key concepts from community ecology, focusing on interactions between species, their adaptations, and relationships.

What is community ecology?

The study of the interactions of multiple species in an environment.

Species diversity

The number of species occupying the same habitat in relative abundance, impacting levels of species interaction and competition.

Predation

Consumption of animal material, involving catching or killing animal targets.

Predator-Prey cycles

The mutual impact of the cyclical abundance (boom and bust) of predator and prey species.

Boom and bust

Cycles in population size where predator populations typically lag behind prey populations.

Herbivory

Consumption of plant material, leading to complex relationships between plants and their predators.

Physical defenses

Defenses that plants employ against herbivores, such as thorns or spines.

Chemical defenses

Defensive chemicals produced by plants to deter herbivores.

Camouflage

A form of animal defense where organisms blend into their background to avoid detection.

Aposematic coloration

Warning colors that indicate poison or venom to potential predators.

Mimicry

Imitation of the appearance and/or behavior of one organism by another.

Batesian mimicry

A harmless species imitates a dangerous species to avoid predation.

Müllerian mimicry

Multiple dangerous species share the same warning coloration.

Pseudocopulation

Attempted copulation involving reproductive functions without physical union.

Competitive exclusion principle

Two or more species cannot occupy the same niche in a habitat.

Resource partitioning

When two or more species occupy different microniches by utilizing different resources.

Niche

The role an organism plays in its environment.

Symbiosis

Close interactions between individuals of different species over an extended period that impact abundance.

Predation outcome in symbiosis

One species benefits (predator) at the expense of another (prey) through fatal consumption.

Parasitism

A relationship where one species (the parasite) feeds on another species (the host), harming it.

Mutualism

A relationship where both species benefit from their interaction.

Commensalism

A relationship where one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Resource partitioning example: Lions and hyenas

Different species can occupy similar niches by dividing resources based on time, such as day and night activity.

Pollination in herbivory

Some plants leverage herbivory by using it for pollination and seed distribution.

Animal defense strategies

Various methods animals use to protect themselves from predation, including camouflage and threat displays.

Chemical defenses in plants

Compounds produced by plants that deter herbivores by making them unpalatable or toxic.

Importance of species diversity

A higher number of species in a habitat can lead to more robust interactions and ecosystem health.