Ecology_Review_Guide_Fall2024

Organismal Ecology

The study of individual organisms and their interactions with the environment.

Population Ecology

The study of groups of individuals of the same species in a specific area.

Community Ecology

The study of interactions between different species in a shared environment.

Ecosystem Ecology

The study of interactions between organisms and their physical environment, including energy flow and nutrient cycling.

Global Ecology

The study of ecological patterns and processes on a global scale.

Species-Area Relationship

A global ecological pattern where species diversity increases with the size of the habitat area.

Abiotic Factors

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

Solar Energy Distribution

The concentration of solar energy varies geographically, influencing climate and biodiversity.

Water’s Heat Storage

Water's ability to absorb and release heat affects climate and the distribution of life.

Terrestrial Biomes

Regions defined by their dominant vegetation and climate, like tundra and tropical rainforests.

Aquatic Biomes

Biomes defined by physical and chemical characteristics such as salinity and depth.

Upwelling

The process where nutrient-rich water rises from the deep ocean to the surface, supporting marine life.

Keeling Curve

A graph that illustrates the increase of atmospheric CO2 concentrations due to human activities.

Greenhouse Gases

Gases such as CO2, methane, and nitrous oxide that trap heat in the atmosphere.

Population Definition

A group of individuals of the same species that live in a specific area and interact.

Metapopulation

A group of spatially separate populations of the same species linked by migration.

Survivorship

The proportion of individuals surviving to a specific age or stage in their life cycle.

r-Selection

A reproductive strategy characterized by high reproductive rates with little parental investment.

K-Selection

A reproductive strategy that prioritizes long-term survival and parental care.

Population Growth Rate (r)

The rate at which a population changes over time, calculated as b (births) - d (deaths) / N (population size).

Niche

The specific role or function of an organism within its environment.

Competitive Exclusion

The principle that two species competing for the same resources cannot coexist.

Evolutionary Arms Race

An ongoing cycle of adaptations and counter-adaptations between species.

Phenotypic Plasticity

The ability of an organism to change its phenotype in response to environmental changes.

Brood Parasitism

A reproductive strategy where one species relies on another to raise its offspring.

Succession

The process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time.

Ecosystem Definition

An ecosystem consists of all the living organisms interacting with their physical environment.

NPP (Net Primary Production)

The rate at which all the autotrophs in an ecosystem produce net useful chemical energy.

Reciprocal Altruism

A behavior where one individual provides a benefit to another with the expectation of future reciprocation.

Kin Selection

A type of natural selection that favors altruistic behaviors towards relatives.