Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

These flashcards cover key concepts and definitions related to ecology and the biosphere, derived from the student’s lecture notes.

Ecology

The study of interactions between organisms and their environment, including the distribution and abundance of organisms.

Population

A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area.

Community

A group of populations of different species that live and interact in the same area.

Ecosystem

A community of organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system.

Biosphere

The sum of all ecosystems on Earth; the global sum of all biotic and abiotic factors.

Microclimate

The climate of a small, specific area that can differ from the surrounding area.

Biogeography

The study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time.

Macroclimate

The climate patterns observed at the large, global, regional, or landscape level.

Photic zone

The upper layer of water in a body of water where sunlight penetrates and photosynthesis can occur.

Aphotic zone

The deeper layer of water where sunlight does not penetrate, preventing photosynthesis.

Benthic zone

The bottom layer of a body of water, consisting of organic and inorganic sediments.

Pelagic zone

The open water column of a body of water, extending from the surface to the abyssal zone.

Abyssal zone

The deep part of the ocean, usually below 2,000 meters, characterized by high pressure and low temperatures.

Disturbance

An event that changes a community by removing organisms or altering resource availability.

Zonation

The distribution of different species or communities in distinct zones or layers, especially in aquatic environments.

Estuary

A transition area between river and sea, characterized by brackish water and high productivity.

Dispersal

The movement of individuals away from centers of high population density.

Invasive species

Species that have been introduced to a new area and disrupt the local ecosystem.

Thermocline

A distinct layer in a large body of water where the temperature changes more rapidly than it does in the layers above or below.

Turnover

The semiannual mixing of lake waters, bringing oxygen to the bottom and nutrients to the surface.