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
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Climax community
A relatively stable, long-lasting community reached in a successional series; usually determined by climate and soil type
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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
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Commensalism
A symbiotic relationship in which one member is benefited and the other is neither harmed nor benefited
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Complexity
The number of species at each trophic level and the number of trophic levels in a community
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Diversity
The number of species present in a community (species richness), as well as the relative abundance of each species.
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Ecological development
A gradual process of environmental modification by organisms
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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
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Ecotone
A boundary between two types of ecological communities
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Edge effects
A change in species composition, physical conditions, or other ecological factors at the boundary between two ecosystems
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Environmental Indicators
Organisms or physical factors that serve as a gauge for environmental changes. Specifically, organisms with these characteristics are called bioindicators.
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Equilibrium communities/Disclimax community
A community subject to period disruptions, usually by fire, that prevent it from reaching a climax stage
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Evolution
A theory that explains how random changes in genetic material and competition for scarce resources cause species to gradually change
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Fire climax community
An equilibrium community maintained by periodic fires; examples include grasslands, chapparal shrubland, and some pine forest.
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Habitat
The place or set of environmental conditions in which a particular animal lives
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Interspecific competition
In a community, competition for resources between members of DIFFERENT species
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Intraspecific competition
In a community, competition for resources among members of the SAME species
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Keystone species
A species whose impacts on its community or ecosystem are much larger and more influential than would be expected from mere existence
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Mullerian mimicry
Evolution of two species, both of which are unpalatable and have poisonous stingers or some of defense mechanism, to resemble each other
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Mutualism
A symbolic relationship between individuals of two different species in which both species benefit from the association
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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.
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Parasites
Organisms that live on or in another organism, deriving nourishment at the expense of it's host, usually without killing it.
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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.
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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
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Pioneer species
In primary succession on a terrestrial site, the plants, lichens, and microbes that first colonize the site.
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Plankton
Primarily microscopic organisms that occupy the upper water layers in both fresh water and marine ecosystems
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Predator
An organism that feeds directly on other organisms in order to survive; live-feeders, such as herbivores and carnivores
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Primary productivity
Synthesis of organic materials (biomass) by green plants using the energy captured in photosynthesis
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Primary succession
An ecological succession that begins in an area where no biotic community previously existed
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Resource Partitioning
In a biological community, various populations sharing environmental resources through specialization, thereby reducing direct competition
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Secondary succession
Succession on a site where an existing community has been disrupted
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Structure
Patterns of organization, both spatial and functional , in a community
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Symbiosis
The intimate living together of members of two different species, includes mutualism, commensalism, and, sometimes, parasitism.
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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
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Tolerance limits
Chemical or physical factors that limit the existence, growth, abundance, or distribution of an organisms
Studied by 33 people
