Bio - populations, communities, energy transfer, adaptations

population

group of organisms of the same species living in the same area and time

community

multiple populations living in the same area and time

species

similar characteristics and can interbreed to produce fertile offspring

carrying capacity

maximum size of a population an environment can support due to limiting factors

random sampling

positions of sampling points are selected at random to avoid bias

systematic sampling

positions of sampling points are assigned at fixed intervals

lincoln index

1st round of capture x (2nd round of capture/marked individuals in the 2nd capture)

exponential growth phase

rapid increase in population, mortality is low

transitional phase

resources become limited, natality falls and mortality rises

plateau phase

mortality = natality, population reaches carrying capacity

pathogenicity

infectious microorganisms living inside or on a host organism and causing disease

endemic species

native to a defined geographic region

alien species

transferred from natural habitat to new environment

invasive species

alien species with detrimental effect on food chain; large fundamental niche, faster reproduction rates, lack a predator

allelopathy

an organism releases chemicals that influence the growth, survival or reproduction of another organism

examples of allelopathy

antibiotics like penicillin

top-down control

pressures applied by a higher trophic level to control population dynamics of ecosystem

bottom-up control

pressures applied by lower trophic levels

habitat

environment in which a community, species, population, or organism normally lives

abiotic factors

nonliving environmental conditions that can function as limiting factors

range of tolerance

populations have optimal survival conditions within minimal and maximal thresholds

optimal zone

central portion of curve, conditions that favor maximal reproductive success and survivability

zones of stress

regions flanking optimal zone, where organisms can survive but with reduced success

zones of intolerance

outermost regions where organisms cannot survive

ecosystem

consists of all interactions between a group of organisms and their environment

examples of inorganic compounds

ammonia, hydrogen gas, iron oxide

examples of organic compounds

carbohydrates, lipids, proteins

autotrophs

synthesize organic compounds from inorganic substances, may use sunlight or oxidation of inorganic molecules for energy

heterotrophs

obtain molecules from other organisms via different feeding mechanisms

saprotrophs

heterotrophs that gain organic nutrients from dead organisms via external digestion

ecological niche

functional position and role of an organism within its environment

fundamental niche

entire set of conditions under which an organism can survive and reproduce, theoretical

realized niche

set of conditions used by an organism after including interactions with other species, actual habitat

mixotrophs

organisms that use both autotrophic and heterotrophic modes of nutrition

evolution

cumulative change in something over a passage of time

biological evolution

cumulative changes that occur within the heritable characteristics of a population