Unit 2 APES

Biodiversity

Genetic, species, and habitat diversity.

Species Richness

Number of different species in an ecosystem.

Species Evenness

Distribution of individuals among species.

Bottleneck Effect

Reduction in population size leads to loss of genetic diversity.

Specialist Species

Thrive in narrow conditions and are first to be affected by habitat loss.

Generalist Species

Can adapt to broader conditions but are affected after specialists.

Provisioning Services

Materials from nature such as timber and medicine.

Regulating Services

Processes that moderate natural phenomena, such as air quality.

Cultural Services

Non-material benefits, including recreation and tourism.

Supporting Services

Underlying processes, such as photosynthesis and nutrient cycling.

Island Biogeography

Study of ecological relationships and species distribution on islands.

Ecological Tolerance

Range of conditions an organism can endure (e.g., temperature, salinity).

Primary Succession

Starts without soil, as seen after a volcanic eruption.

Secondary Succession

Starts with soil, as seen after a forest fire.

Pioneer Species

First to colonize new areas, such as lichens and mosses.

Keystone Species

Species crucial to maintaining the structure of ecological communities.

Indicator Species

Species that reflect the health of an ecosystem.

Eutrophication

Nutrient enrichment in water leading to algal blooms and oxygen depletion.

Hypoxia

Low oxygen levels in water.

Thermal Pollution

Release of heated water into ecosystems that causes physiological stress.

Natural Selection

Process that drives adaptation in species.

Population Density

Calculated as the number of individuals per unit area.

Species Evenness

The relative distribution of individuals among the different species in a community.