Studied by 33 PeopleAbundance
Tags & Description
Abundance
The number or amount of something
Batesian mimicry
Evolution by one species to resemble the coloration, body shape, or behavior of another species that is protected from predators by a venomous bad taste, stinger, or some other defense adaptation
Climax community
A relatively stable, long-lasting community reached in a successional series; usually determined by climate and soil type
Coevolution
The process in which species exert selective pressure on each other and gradually evolve new features or behaviors as a result of those pressures
Commensalism
A symbiotic relationship in which one member is benefited and the other is neither harmed nor benefited
Complexity
The number of species at each trophic level and the number of trophic levels in a community
Diversity
The number of species present in a community (species richness), as well as the relative abundance of each species.
Ecological development
A gradual process of environmental modification by organisms
Ecological niche
The functional role and position of a species (population) within a community (ecosystem), including what resources it uses, how and when it uses the resources, and how it interacts with other populations
Ecotone
A boundary between two types of ecological communities
Edge effects
A change in species composition, physical conditions, or other ecological factors at the boundary between two ecosystems
Environmental Indicators
Organisms or physical factors that serve as a gauge for environmental changes. Specifically, organisms with these characteristics are called bioindicators.
Equilibrium communities/Disclimax community
A community subject to period disruptions, usually by fire, that prevent it from reaching a climax stage
Evolution
A theory that explains how random changes in genetic material and competition for scarce resources cause species to gradually change
Fire climax community
An equilibrium community maintained by periodic fires; examples include grasslands, chapparal shrubland, and some pine forest.
Habitat
The place or set of environmental conditions in which a particular animal lives
Interspecific competition
In a community, competition for resources between members of DIFFERENT species
Intraspecific competition
In a community, competition for resources among members of the SAME species
Keystone species
A species whose impacts on its community or ecosystem are much larger and more influential than would be expected from mere existence
Mullerian mimicry
Evolution of two species, both of which are unpalatable and have poisonous stingers or some of defense mechanism, to resemble each other
Mutualism
A symbolic relationship between individuals of two different species in which both species benefit from the association
Natural selection
The mechanism of evolutionary change in which environmental pressures cause certain genetic combinations in a population to become more abundant. Genetic combinations best adapted for present environmental conditions tend to become predominant.
Parasites
Organisms that live on or in another organism, deriving nourishment at the expense of it's host, usually without killing it.
Patchiness
Within a larger ecosystem, the presence of smaller areas that differ in some physical conditions and thus support somewhat different communities; adversity promoting phenomenom.
Pathogens
Organism that produce disease in a host organism, disease being an alteration of one or more metabolic functions in response to the presence of the organism
Pioneer species
In primary succession on a terrestrial site, the plants, lichens, and microbes that first colonize the site.
Plankton
Primarily microscopic organisms that occupy the upper water layers in both fresh water and marine ecosystems
Predator
An organism that feeds directly on other organisms in order to survive; live-feeders, such as herbivores and carnivores
Primary productivity
Synthesis of organic materials (biomass) by green plants using the energy captured in photosynthesis
Primary succession
An ecological succession that begins in an area where no biotic community previously existed
Resource Partitioning
In a biological community, various populations sharing environmental resources through specialization, thereby reducing direct competition
Secondary succession
Succession on a site where an existing community has been disrupted
Structure
Patterns of organization, both spatial and functional , in a community
Symbiosis
The intimate living together of members of two different species, includes mutualism, commensalism, and, sometimes, parasitism.
Territoriality
The intense form of intraspecific competition in which organisms define an area surrounding their homesite or nesting site and defend it, primarily against other members of their own species
Tolerance limits
Chemical or physical factors that limit the existence, growth, abundance, or distribution of an organisms