Stability and Change Flashcards

Ecosystem Stability

An ecosystem’s ability to maintain its structure and function over time despite disturbances.

Resistance

The ability of an ecosystem to withstand or resist changes caused by disturbances.

Resilience

The ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances.

Supply of Energy

Ecosystems need a steady supply of energy to maintain stability.

Producer Diversity

Having many species of plants in an ecosystem maximizes its ability to harness energy and maintain stability.

Recycling of Nutrients

The flow of nutrients through the food web, which are returned to the soil as organic matter decomposes.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in a specific area; higher biodiversity leads to a more stable ecosystem.

Climatic Factors

Extreme weather and climate change that create a less stable ecosystem.

Keystone Species

Species that have a disproportionately large impact on their community compared to their abundance or biomass.

Trophic Cascade

A series of changes in an ecosystem that occur when a top predator is removed, affecting the entire food web.

Primary Succession

The process of ecological change occurring in a barren area that wasn’t previously colonized.

Pioneer Species

The first species to colonize barren land, such as lichens and mosses.

Climax Community

The stage of relative stability in an ecosystem, characterized by a mature and diverse community.

Secondary Succession

The ecological change that occurs in an area that has been previously colonized, after experiencing a disturbance.

Disturbance

An event that disrupts the existing community and initiates succession.

Arrested Succession

When the succession process is disrupted and the development of a climax community is prevented.

Ecological Succession

The natural progression of changes in species composition and community structure over time.

Natural Disturbances

Events such as wildfires, hurricanes, or floods that cause ecological succession.

Human Activities

Actions like deforestation and urbanization that can drive ecological succession.

Climatic Changes

Shifts in temperature and precipitation that can affect species survival and community structure.

Top-down Control

A type of control in an ecosystem where predators regulate the population of prey species.

Chaparral Biome

A biome in California where plants require periodic wildfires for ecosystem health.

Disturbance Frequency

The rate at which disturbances occur in an ecosystem, impacting its stability.

Species Diversity

The number of different species represented in a given ecological community.

Abiotic Factors

Non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms.

Extinction of Species

The end of an organism's existence, which can affect ecosystem stability if keystone species are lost.

Food Web

A system of interdependent food chains in an ecosystem.