Species Roles, Succession, and Population Dynamics

A set of flashcards covering key terms related to species roles, ecological succession, and population dynamics, designed for studying and exam preparation.

Native Species

A species that is originally found in a particular area or region.

Non-native Species

An organism that is introduced to a new environment and may cause harm to local ecosystems.

Keystone Species

A species that has a disproportionately large impact on its environment relative to its abundance.

Indicator Species

Species whose presence, absence, or abundance reflects specific environmental conditions.

Generalist Species

Species that can thrive in a wide variety of environmental conditions.

Specialist Species

Species that can only survive in a narrow range of environmental conditions.

Primary Succession

The process of ecological change that occurs in an environment with no soil, starting on bare rock.

Secondary Succession

The ecological succession that occurs in areas that already have soil after a disturbance.

R-selected Species

Species that reproduce rapidly and can thrive in changing environments, often with many offspring and low parental care.

K-selected Species

Species that reproduce slowly and have a high investment in parental care, typically found in stable environments.

Biotic Potential

The maximum reproductive capacity of an organism under optimal environmental conditions.

Demographic Transition

The transition from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as a country develops.

Overshoot

When a population exceeds the carrying capacity of its environment, leading to resource depletion.

Resource Availability

The amount of resources available in an environment, which directly affects population growth.

Age Structure Diagram

A graphical representation of the age distribution of a population.

Soil Horizons

Layers of soil that have distinct characteristics and properties.

Porosity vs. Permeability

Porosity refers to the amount of pore space in soil, while permeability measures how easily water can drain through it.