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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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Ecology
The scientific study of how organisms interact with one another and with their physical environment.
Organism
An individual living thing, studied for its specific adaptations to an environment.
Population
A group of individuals of the same species living in the same locale; examined for changes in size over time.
Community
All the populations of different species that live and interact within a particular area.
Ecosystem
A community of organisms plus the non-living (physical) environment with which they interact.
Biosphere
The portion of Earth where life exists, encompassing all ecosystems.
Exponential Growth
Rapid population increase in which growth rate is proportional to the current size, producing a J-shaped curve.
Opportunistic Species
Small, early-maturing organisms with short life spans and many offspring; often show exponential growth and density-independent regulation.
Equilibrium Species
Large, slow-maturing organisms with few, well-cared-for offspring; population size hovers near carrying capacity and is density-dependent.
Carrying Capacity
The maximum population size an environment can sustain long term without degradation.
Logistic Growth
Population increase that is slowed by limiting factors, producing an S-shaped curve that levels at carrying capacity.
Density-Independent Factor
Environmental influence on population size that operates regardless of density (e.g., weather, fire).
Density-Dependent Factor
Regulation of population size that intensifies as density rises (e.g., competition, disease).
Extinction
The complete disappearance of a species or higher taxonomic group.
Geographic Range
The total area a species occupies; narrow ranges increase extinction risk.
Habitat Tolerance
Breadth of environmental conditions a species can withstand; narrow tolerance increases extinction risk.
Coevolution
Reciprocal evolutionary change in interacting species, such as pollinators and flowers.
Species Richness
The simple count of different species present in a community.
Species Diversity
A measure that combines species richness with the relative abundance of each species.
Ecological Succession
Orderly process of community change over time following disturbance.
Primary Succession
Succession that begins on surfaces where no soil exists, such as bare rock or lava.
Secondary Succession
Succession that occurs where soil is already present after a disturbance such as farming or fire.
Pioneer Species
First organisms to colonize a disturbed area; typically small, fast-growing, photosynthetic forms like lichens.
Climax Community
Stable, late-successional community that persists until the next disturbance.
Competition
Interaction in which two species vie for the same limited resource, lowering abundance of both.
Predation
A biological interaction where one organism (predator) feeds on another (prey).
Parasitism
Symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits by living on or in another, which is harmed but usually not killed.
Commensalism
Symbiotic relationship where one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.
Mutualism
Symbiotic interaction in which both species benefit.
Ecological Niche
The role and position a species has in its environment, including habitat, resources, and interactions.
Habitat
The physical place where an organism lives.
Competitive Exclusion Principle
No two species can occupy the exact same niche in the same environment indefinitely.
Resource Partitioning
Division of resources so that similar species can coexist by using different parts or aspects of those resources.
Character Displacement
Evolutionary divergence in traits, such as beak size, that reduces competition between species.
Keystone Species
A species whose influence on community structure is disproportionate to its abundance; its loss destabilizes the community.
Native Species
Species that occur naturally in a given region or ecosystem.
Exotic Species
Species introduced to an area where it is not native, intentionally or accidentally.
Invasive Species
An exotic species whose population grows rapidly, often harming native communities due to lack of predators or superior competition.
Autotroph
An organism that produces its own organic food from inorganic substances; a producer.
Photoautotroph
Autotroph that uses sunlight to synthesize organic compounds (e.g., plants, algae).
Chemoautotroph
Autotroph that obtains energy by oxidizing inorganic molecules (e.g., certain bacteria).
Heterotroph
Organism that must consume organic nutrients from external sources; a consumer.
Producer
Autotrophic organism forming the base of an ecosystem’s energy pyramid.
Consumer
Organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms or their remains.
Herbivore
Consumer that feeds primarily on plants or algae.
Carnivore
Consumer that feeds on other animals.
Omnivore
Organism that eats both plant and animal material.
Decomposer
Organism, typically bacteria or fungi, that breaks down dead organic matter and releases inorganic nutrients.
Detritus
Dead organic matter plus the decomposers associated with it.
Food Web
Complex network of interconnected feeding relationships in an ecosystem.
Grazing Food Web
Food web that starts with living plants as the primary energy source.
Detrital Food Web
Food web that begins with decomposers feeding on detritus.
Food Chain
Linear diagram showing a single pathway of energy flow through trophic levels.
Trophic Level
A feeding level in a food chain such as producer, primary consumer, or secondary consumer.
Ecological Pyramid
Graphic representation showing energy, biomass, or number of organisms at each trophic level.
10 Percent Rule
Approximate proportion of energy (about 10%) transferred from one trophic level to the next.
Chemical Cycling
Continuous movement of elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus between living and nonliving reservoirs.
Phosphorus Cycle
Biogeochemical cycle in which phosphates move through rocks, soil, water, and living organisms.
Nitrogen Cycle
Cycle that converts atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms and back via nitrogen-fixing, nitrifying, and denitrifying bacteria.
Carbon Cycle
Movement of carbon among atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms via photosynthesis and respiration.
Biome
Large terrestrial ecosystem characterized by particular climate, vegetation, and animal life.
Tropical Rain Forest
Equatorial biome with high temperatures, abundant rainfall, and greatest biodiversity.
Savanna
Tropical grassland biome with distinct wet and dry seasons.
Temperate Grassland
Biome with moderate rainfall insufficient for trees; includes prairies.
Taiga
Cold northern coniferous forest biome.
Tundra
Treeless Arctic biome with permafrost, short growing season, and low biodiversity.
Desert
Biome characterized by very low rainfall, hot days, and cold nights.
Nonrenewable Resource
Resource of finite supply that cannot be replenished on a human time scale (e.g., fossil fuels, minerals).
Renewable Resource
Resource replenished naturally on a short time scale (e.g., water, solar energy, biomass).
Pollution
Undesirable alteration of the environment, often a side effect of resource consumption.
Deforestation
Removal of forests, leading to habitat loss, biodiversity decline, and increased atmospheric CO2.
Desertification
Conversion of fertile land into desert-like conditions due to overuse and poor management.
Aquifer
Underground layer of water-bearing rock that yields usable groundwater.
Overfishing
Harvesting aquatic species faster than populations can replenish, leading to stock declines.
Bycatch
Non-target organisms captured unintentionally during commercial fishing operations.
Aquaculture (Aquafarming)
Cultivation of aquatic organisms for food, reducing pressure on wild stocks.
Fossil Fuel
Energy source (coal, oil, natural gas) formed from ancient organic remains; nonrenewable.
Greenhouse Gas
Gas, such as CO2, that traps heat in Earth’s atmosphere and contributes to global warming.
Global Warming
Long-term rise in Earth’s average surface temperature due to increased greenhouse gases.
Renewable Energy
Energy obtained from sources that are naturally replenished, such as wind, solar, and hydropower.
Hydropower
Electricity generated from the energy of falling or flowing water.
Wind Power
Energy generated by converting the kinetic energy of wind into electricity using turbines.
Geothermal Energy
Heat energy from within Earth used to generate electricity or heat buildings.
Solar Energy
Power derived from sunlight, captured via collectors or photovoltaic cells.
Photovoltaic Cell
Device that converts solar radiation directly into electrical energy using semiconductor materials.