Ecological Interactions and Mating Systems

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to mating systems and ecological interactions.

Monogamous system

A mating system where a male and female are paired exclusively for at least one mating season.

Mate guarding hypothesis

A theory suggesting that males stay with females to prevent other males from mating.

Male-assistance hypothesis

The idea that males who help guard and rear young will have more and healthier offspring.

Female-enforcement hypothesis

A concept where the female ensures the male does not have offspring that could compete with her own.

Polygynous mating

A mating system where one male mates with multiple females.

Polyandrous mating system

A system in which a female mates with multiple males.

Foundation Species

Species that hold the greatest influence on the overall structure of a community.

Primary Producers

Organisms, such as photosynthesizers, that bring most of the energy into a community.

Keystone Species

Species that are key to maintaining biodiversity and upholding an ecological community's structure.

Invasive Species

Non-native species that threaten the ecosystem balance of a habitat.

Species Richness

The number of species living in a habitat or biome.

Relative Species Abundance

The number of individuals within a species relative to the total number of individuals.

Predation

The consumption of prey by its predator.

Herbivory

The consumption of plants by insects and animals.

Mechanical Defense

Defense mechanisms that cause physical pain to predators or prevent them from eating prey.

Chemical Defense

The production of toxic or unpalatable chemicals to deter predators.

Camouflage

An adaptation that allows an organism to avoid detection by blending in with the background.

Aposematic coloration

Warning colors indicating that an organism is not a good choice for predators, often due to toxicity or chemical defenses.

Batesian mimicry

A harmless species that imitates the warning coloration of harmful species.

Mullerian Mimicry

When multiple species that all have the same warning color are toxic.

Emsleyan/Mertensian mimicry

A deadly prey mimics a less dangerous organism.

Competitive Exclusion Principle

The principle that two species cannot occupy the same niche in a habitat.

Symbiotic Relationships

Close interactions between individuals of two species over an extended time that impact the abundance and distribution of populations.

Commensalism

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

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where both species benefit from the interaction.

Parasite

An organism that benefits at the expense of its host, which is harmed.