Ecology Vocab Ch. 1-2

Bio 216

ecology

the study of relationships among organisms and between organisms and the physical environment

evolution

a process by which populations change over time

population

a group of interbreeding individuals of a single species inhabiting a defined area

community

an association of interacting species

ecosystem

a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment

biosphere

the portions of the earth that support life, including the land, waters, and atmosphere

urban ecology

the study of urban areas as complex, dynamic ecological systems, influenced by interconnected, biological, physical, and social components

observation

the collection of data in unmanipulated settings

in situ

in the habitat where the organisms live

epiphytes

plants such as orchids, ferns, and mosses that grow on the tree trunks and branches

experiment

refers to research that involves manipulation of variables of interest while holding others page 6constant in order to test a hypothesis

ex situ

not in the natural environment

natural experiment

an observational study where researchers take advantage of naturally occurring events or conditions to investigate ecological phenomena without direct manipulation of variables

conceptual models

those which describe systems in pictures or diagrams

quantitative models

are mathematical and may involve complex equations

adaptation

the action or process of adapting or being adapted

citizen scientist

individuals who actively participate in scientific research

modeling

the creation and analysis of representations of data or ideas to provide insight or make predictions