Unit 1-9 Ecology and Environmental Science Vocabulary Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from Units 1–9, including ecosystems, cycles, biodiversity, populations, Earth systems, resources, pollution, and global change.

Ecosystem

A complex system of living organisms (biotic) interacting with their physical (abiotic) environment, influenced by resource availability and species interactions.

Predator

An organism that hunts and eats another organism (the prey).

Prey

An organism that is hunted and consumed by a predator.

Predator–Prey Relationship

A dynamic interaction where predators regulate prey populations and influence ecosystem structure.

Symbiosis

A close, long-term interaction between two different species in an ecosystem.

Mutualism

A type of symbiosis where both species benefit.

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Parasitism

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of the other.

Competition

When organisms vie for limited resources, potentially within or between species.

Resource Partitioning

Using resources in different ways, places, or times to reduce competition.

Terrestrial Biome

Large land-based ecological communities defined by climate and dominant vegetation (e.g., taiga, deserts, tundra, tropical and temperate forests, grasslands, shrublands, savannas).

Taiga

A boreal forest biome characterized by cold winters and coniferous trees.

Temperate Rainforest

A moist, temperate biogeographic region with high rainfall and diverse species.

Tropical Rainforest

A warm, wet biome with high biodiversity and stratified canopies.

Desert

An arid biome with low precipitation and sparse vegetation.

Tundra

A cold, dry biome with permafrost and low biodiversity.

Savanna

A grassy, open landscape with scattered trees and seasonal rainfall.

Temperate Grassland

Grass-dominated biome with rich soils and moderate rainfall.

Shrubland

Biome with drought-tolerant shrubs, often Mediterranean in climate.

Freshwater Biome

Aquatic biomes such as streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes.

Marine Biome

Oceans, coral reefs, marshes, and estuaries; major aquatic ecosystems.

Algae

Photosynthetic organisms in aquatic biomes that contribute substantially to Earth's oxygen.

Carbon Cycle

Movement of carbon among reservoirs (air, water, soil, organisms, fossils) through processes like photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and combustion.

Reservoir (Carbon)

Places where carbon is stored for varying time periods (e.g., atmosphere, oceans, soils, biomass, fossils).

Nitrogen Cycle

Movement of nitrogen among reservoirs (air, soil, water, organisms) including fixation and mineralization.

Nitrogen Fixation

Conversion of atmospheric N2 into ammonia or related forms usable by plants.

Phosphorus Cycle

Movement of phosphorus among rocks, soils, water, and organisms; no atmospheric reservoir; often a limiting nutrient.

Water Cycle (Hydrologic Cycle)

Movement of water through oceans, atmosphere, and land via evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.

Primary Productivity

Rate at which solar energy is converted to organic matter by photosynthesis.

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

Total rate of photosynthesis in an area.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

Energy stored as plant biomass after subtracting plant respiration.

Trophic Levels

Levels in a food chain/web representing energy transfer from producers to consumers.

10% Rule

About 10% of energy is transferred to the next trophic level; rest is lost as heat or used for metabolism.

Food Chain

Linear sequence showing energy transfer from one organism to another.

Food Web

Network of interconnected food chains showing energy and nutrient flow in an ecosystem.

Biogeochemical Cycles

Recycling of nutrients and elements (e.g., carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus) through living and nonliving components.

Decomposition

Breakdown of organic matter, returning nutrients to the environment and storing carbon in soils/rocks.

Suspended Fossil Fuel Carbon Emission

Rapid release of stored carbon from burning fossil fuels into the atmosphere.

Biodiversity

Variety of life in an area, including genetic, species, and habitat diversity.

Genetic Diversity

Genetic variation within a population, contributing to resilience.

Species Richness

Number of different species present in a given area.

Habitat Diversity

Variety of habitats within a landscape that support different species.

Population Bottleneck

Sharp reduction in population size causing loss of genetic variation.

Ecosystem Services

Benefits humans receive from ecosystems, categorized as provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting.

Provisioning Services

Material outputs provided by ecosystems (e.g., food, water, medicine).

Regulating Services

Regulation of ecosystem processes (e.g., climate, flood control, disease).

Cultural Services

Non-material benefits from ecosystems (recreation, aesthetics, inspiration).

Supporting Services

Fundamental ecological processes that support all other services (habitat, biodiversity maintenance).

Island Biogeography

Study of ecological relationships and species distribution on islands, influencing colonization and extinction dynamics.

Specialist

Species with a narrow niche, often sensitive to environmental change.

Generalist

Species with a broad niche, able to tolerate a range of conditions.

Ecological Tolerance

Range of abiotic conditions an organism can endure and still survive.

Keystone Species

Species with a disproportionately large impact on community structure relative to its abundance.

Indicator Species

Species whose presence/abundance reflects a particular environmental condition.

Pioneer Species

First colonizers of newly available habitats during primary succession.

Ecological Succession

Process of gradual community change and development over time after disturbance.

Primary Succession

Succession that begins in lifeless areas with no soil.

Secondary Succession

Succession that occurs in a damaged ecosystem where soil remains.

Carrying Capacity (K)

Maximum population size the environment can sustain indefinitely.

Overshoot

When a population exceeds its carrying capacity.

Dieback

Sharp population decline following overshoot due to resource depletion.

K-Selected Species

Species with few offspring, long maturation, and parental care in stable environments.

R-Selected Species

Species with many offspring, rapid maturation, and little parental care in unstable environments.

Survivorship Curve

Graph showing the proportion of individuals surviving at each age; Type I–III describe different life histories.

Demographic Transition

Model describing the shift from high birth/death rates to low birth/death rates with development.

Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

Average number of children a woman would have over her lifetime at current age-specific fertility rates.

Age Structure Diagram

Graphic showing the distribution of individuals by age to infer population growth.

Trophic Cascade

Indirect effects in a food web initiated by a change at one trophic level.

Plate Tectonics

Theory that Earth's lithosphere is divided into plates that move over the asthenosphere.

Convergent Boundary

Boundary where plates collide; can form mountains, island arcs, and cause earthquakes/volcanoes.

Divergent Boundary

Boundary where plates move apart; fosters seafloor spreading and rift valleys.

Transform Boundary

Boundary where plates slide past one another; frequent earthquakes.

Soil Horizon

Layer of soil with distinct composition/organic material (e.g., O, A, E, B, C).

Soil Texture Triangle

Tool to classify soil types by clay, silt, and sand proportions.

Porosity

Total pore space in soil available to hold water or air.

Permeability

Ease with which fluids move through soil pores.

Water Holding Capacity

Amount of water soil can retain for plant use.

Hydrologic Cycle

Movement of water through the environment through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.

Insolation

Incoming solar radiation reaching Earth's surface.

Hadley Cells

Atmospheric circulation cells that drive global wind patterns.

Coriolis Effect

Deflection of moving air/fluids due to Earth's rotation, shaping wind and current patterns.

Weather vs Climate

Weather is short-term atmospheric conditions; climate is long-term patterns.

Urbanization

Expansion of cities and associated environmental impacts (impervious surfaces, runoff, CO2 emissions).

Impervious Surface

Human-made surfaces that prevent water infiltration (roads, pavements).

Ecological Footprint

Measure of human demand on Earth's ecosystems and resources.

Sustainability

Meeting present needs without compromising future generations’ ability to meet theirs.

IPM (Integrated Pest Management)

Combination of biological, cultural, physical, and limited chemical methods to control pests with minimal environmental disruption.

CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations)

Intensive livestock operations that raise animals in crowded conditions; often cheaper but with environmental concerns.

Free-Range

Livestock allowed to roam; generally more expensive and land-intensive but often fewer antibiotics.

Desertification

Degradation of drylands into deserts due to climate variation and human practices.

Overgrazing

Grazing pressure exceeds vegetation’s ability to recover, causing erosion and habitat loss.

Aquaculture

Cultivation of aquatic organisms for food; efficient but can cause waste and disease spillover.

Recycling

Process of converting waste into new materials to reduce resource use.

Composting

Decomposition of organic waste into a nutrient-rich soil amendment.

Sewage Treatment

Process of cleaning wastewater through primary (physical), secondary (biological), and tertiary (disinfection) steps.

LD50 (Lethal Dose 50%)

Dose of a substance that kills 50% of a test population.

Dose–Response Curve

Graph showing organism response or mortality rate as a function of toxin dose.

Point Source Pollution

Pollution from a single, identifiable source (e.g., smokestack, pipe).

Nonpoint Source Pollution

Diffuse pollution from multiple, hard-to-trace sources (e.g., runoff).

Eutrophication

Nutrient enrichment of water leading to algal blooms and hypoxic conditions.