Ecology – Key Vocabulary

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A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering major ecological concepts, interactions, cycles, biomes, resources, and environmental issues discussed in the lecture notes.

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85 Terms

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Ecology

The scientific study of how organisms interact with one another and with their physical environment.

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Organism

An individual living thing, studied for its specific adaptations to an environment.

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Population

A group of individuals of the same species living in the same locale; examined for changes in size over time.

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Community

All the populations of different species that live and interact within a particular area.

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Ecosystem

A community of organisms plus the non-living (physical) environment with which they interact.

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Biosphere

The portion of Earth where life exists, encompassing all ecosystems.

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Exponential Growth

Rapid population increase in which growth rate is proportional to the current size, producing a J-shaped curve.

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Opportunistic Species

Small, early-maturing organisms with short life spans and many offspring; often show exponential growth and density-independent regulation.

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Equilibrium Species

Large, slow-maturing organisms with few, well-cared-for offspring; population size hovers near carrying capacity and is density-dependent.

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Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size an environment can sustain long term without degradation.

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Logistic Growth

Population increase that is slowed by limiting factors, producing an S-shaped curve that levels at carrying capacity.

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Density-Independent Factor

Environmental influence on population size that operates regardless of density (e.g., weather, fire).

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Density-Dependent Factor

Regulation of population size that intensifies as density rises (e.g., competition, disease).

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Extinction

The complete disappearance of a species or higher taxonomic group.

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Geographic Range

The total area a species occupies; narrow ranges increase extinction risk.

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Habitat Tolerance

Breadth of environmental conditions a species can withstand; narrow tolerance increases extinction risk.

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Coevolution

Reciprocal evolutionary change in interacting species, such as pollinators and flowers.

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Species Richness

The simple count of different species present in a community.

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Species Diversity

A measure that combines species richness with the relative abundance of each species.

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Ecological Succession

Orderly process of community change over time following disturbance.

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Primary Succession

Succession that begins on surfaces where no soil exists, such as bare rock or lava.

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Secondary Succession

Succession that occurs where soil is already present after a disturbance such as farming or fire.

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Pioneer Species

First organisms to colonize a disturbed area; typically small, fast-growing, photosynthetic forms like lichens.

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Climax Community

Stable, late-successional community that persists until the next disturbance.

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Competition

Interaction in which two species vie for the same limited resource, lowering abundance of both.

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Predation

A biological interaction where one organism (predator) feeds on another (prey).

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Parasitism

Symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits by living on or in another, which is harmed but usually not killed.

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Commensalism

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

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Mutualism

Symbiotic interaction in which both species benefit.

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Ecological Niche

The role and position a species has in its environment, including habitat, resources, and interactions.

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Habitat

The physical place where an organism lives.

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Competitive Exclusion Principle

No two species can occupy the exact same niche in the same environment indefinitely.

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Resource Partitioning

Division of resources so that similar species can coexist by using different parts or aspects of those resources.

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Character Displacement

Evolutionary divergence in traits, such as beak size, that reduces competition between species.

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Keystone Species

A species whose influence on community structure is disproportionate to its abundance; its loss destabilizes the community.

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Native Species

Species that occur naturally in a given region or ecosystem.

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Exotic Species

Species introduced to an area where it is not native, intentionally or accidentally.

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Invasive Species

An exotic species whose population grows rapidly, often harming native communities due to lack of predators or superior competition.

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Autotroph

An organism that produces its own organic food from inorganic substances; a producer.

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Photoautotroph

Autotroph that uses sunlight to synthesize organic compounds (e.g., plants, algae).

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Chemoautotroph

Autotroph that obtains energy by oxidizing inorganic molecules (e.g., certain bacteria).

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Heterotroph

Organism that must consume organic nutrients from external sources; a consumer.

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Producer

Autotrophic organism forming the base of an ecosystem’s energy pyramid.

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Consumer

Organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms or their remains.

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Herbivore

Consumer that feeds primarily on plants or algae.

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Carnivore

Consumer that feeds on other animals.

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Omnivore

Organism that eats both plant and animal material.

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Decomposer

Organism, typically bacteria or fungi, that breaks down dead organic matter and releases inorganic nutrients.

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Detritus

Dead organic matter plus the decomposers associated with it.

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Food Web

Complex network of interconnected feeding relationships in an ecosystem.

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Grazing Food Web

Food web that starts with living plants as the primary energy source.

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Detrital Food Web

Food web that begins with decomposers feeding on detritus.

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Food Chain

Linear diagram showing a single pathway of energy flow through trophic levels.

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Trophic Level

A feeding level in a food chain such as producer, primary consumer, or secondary consumer.

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Ecological Pyramid

Graphic representation showing energy, biomass, or number of organisms at each trophic level.

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10 Percent Rule

Approximate proportion of energy (about 10%) transferred from one trophic level to the next.

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Chemical Cycling

Continuous movement of elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus between living and nonliving reservoirs.

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Phosphorus Cycle

Biogeochemical cycle in which phosphates move through rocks, soil, water, and living organisms.

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Nitrogen Cycle

Cycle that converts atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms and back via nitrogen-fixing, nitrifying, and denitrifying bacteria.

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Carbon Cycle

Movement of carbon among atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms via photosynthesis and respiration.

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Biome

Large terrestrial ecosystem characterized by particular climate, vegetation, and animal life.

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Tropical Rain Forest

Equatorial biome with high temperatures, abundant rainfall, and greatest biodiversity.

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Savanna

Tropical grassland biome with distinct wet and dry seasons.

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Temperate Grassland

Biome with moderate rainfall insufficient for trees; includes prairies.

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Taiga

Cold northern coniferous forest biome.

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Tundra

Treeless Arctic biome with permafrost, short growing season, and low biodiversity.

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Desert

Biome characterized by very low rainfall, hot days, and cold nights.

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Nonrenewable Resource

Resource of finite supply that cannot be replenished on a human time scale (e.g., fossil fuels, minerals).

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Renewable Resource

Resource replenished naturally on a short time scale (e.g., water, solar energy, biomass).

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Pollution

Undesirable alteration of the environment, often a side effect of resource consumption.

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Deforestation

Removal of forests, leading to habitat loss, biodiversity decline, and increased atmospheric CO2.

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Desertification

Conversion of fertile land into desert-like conditions due to overuse and poor management.

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Aquifer

Underground layer of water-bearing rock that yields usable groundwater.

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Overfishing

Harvesting aquatic species faster than populations can replenish, leading to stock declines.

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Bycatch

Non-target organisms captured unintentionally during commercial fishing operations.

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Aquaculture (Aquafarming)

Cultivation of aquatic organisms for food, reducing pressure on wild stocks.

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Fossil Fuel

Energy source (coal, oil, natural gas) formed from ancient organic remains; nonrenewable.

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Greenhouse Gas

Gas, such as CO2, that traps heat in Earth’s atmosphere and contributes to global warming.

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Global Warming

Long-term rise in Earth’s average surface temperature due to increased greenhouse gases.

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Renewable Energy

Energy obtained from sources that are naturally replenished, such as wind, solar, and hydropower.

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Hydropower

Electricity generated from the energy of falling or flowing water.

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Wind Power

Energy generated by converting the kinetic energy of wind into electricity using turbines.

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Geothermal Energy

Heat energy from within Earth used to generate electricity or heat buildings.

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Solar Energy

Power derived from sunlight, captured via collectors or photovoltaic cells.

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Photovoltaic Cell

Device that converts solar radiation directly into electrical energy using semiconductor materials.