APES: Unit 2 - The Living World (Biodiversity)

species

a group of organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring; share common characteristics and genetic similarities

biodiversity

diversity of life forms in an ecosystem

genetic diversity

variance of genes or traits found within individuals of a population

species richness

total number of different species found in an ecosystem

species abundance

total number of individuals of each species in an ecosystem

ecosystem diversity

the number of different habitats available in a given area

invasive species/biotic pollution

non-native species that disrupt ecosystems by outcompeting native species, altering habitats, or introducing diseases

anthropogenic

changes or impacts resulting from human activity, often leading to negative effects on the environment and biodiversity

island biogeography

the study of species distribution and diversity on islands, focusing on how size and distance from the mainland affect species richness

evolution

the process by which species adapt and change over time through natural selection and genetic variation

tolerance

the ability of an organism to endure variations in environmental conditions without significant negative impact on its survival or reproduction

succession

the gradual process of change and replacement in the species composition of an ecological community over time, often following a disturbance

ecosystem services

the benefits that ecosystems provide to humans, including provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services

bottleneck

a sharp reduction in the size of a population due to environmental events, leading to decreased genetic diversity and increased vulnerability to extinction

keystone species

a species so important to an ecosystem that its removal causes high ecosystem instability or even collapse

indicator species

a species whose presence, absence, or population level reflects a specific environmental condition or quality, often used to assess the health of an ecosystem

pioneer species

are the first organisms to colonize previously uninhabited or disturbed ecosystems, facilitating the process of ecological succession

habitat fragmentation

the process in which large habitats are divided into smaller, isolated patches, often due to human activities like urban development or agriculture, impacting biodiversity and ecosystem functions

specialist

a species that thrives in a narrow ecological niche, requiring specific resources or conditions to survive

generalist

a species that can thrive in a wide variety of environmental conditions and can utilize a range of resources; has the ability to adapt to environmental changes

natural selection

the process by which individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to the gradual adaptation of a species to its environment