Community Diversity and Structure in Ecology

Community

An association of interacting species in an area.

Community Ecology

Study of species interactions and abiotic factors.

Community Structure

Composition and abundance of species in a community.

Guild

Group of species sharing similar resource use.

Species Richness

Total number of species in a community.

Species Evenness

Relative abundance of different species in a community.

Lognormal Distribution

Species abundance typically follows this distribution.

Shannon-Wiener Index

Measures diversity considering species richness and evenness.

Simpson Index

Probability that two individuals are of the same species.

Rank-Abundance Curve

Graph showing species abundance against rank.

Environmental Complexity

Variety of habitats leading to increased species diversity.

Species Interactions

Relationships between species affecting community dynamics.

Disturbances

Events that disrupt community structure and dynamics.

Heterogeneity

Variation in habitat complexity influencing species diversity.

Niches

Specific roles or positions of species in an ecosystem.

Predation

Interaction where one species consumes another.

MacArthur's Warblers

Study of species relying on foliage complexity.

Galium saxatile

Plant species influencing habitat and competition.

Galium sylvestre

Another plant species affecting community composition.

Mathematical Metrics

Quantitative measures used to assess community diversity.

Community Functioning

How community characteristics influence ecosystem processes.

Abundance

Total number of individuals of a species.

Community Diversity

Number of different species in a community.

Community Structure

Interactions of all species in a community.

Species Interactions

Relationships between different species affecting diversity.

Predation

Predator suppresses dominant competitors, increasing diversity.

Competition

Resource partitioning increases community diversity.

Environmental Complexity

Variety of habitats and niches in an ecosystem.

Area of Refuge

Safe space for species to avoid competition.

Area of Overlap

Regions where species share resources.

Center of Accumulation

Location where species gather due to favorable conditions.

Center of Origin

Geographic area where a species first evolved.

Primary Producers

Chemo- or photoautotrophs that generate energy.

Primary Consumers

Herbivores that consume primary producers.

Secondary Consumers

Carnivores that eat primary consumers.

Tertiary Consumers

Carnivores that eat other carnivores.

Food Web

Diagram showing feeding relationships in an ecosystem.

Trophic Levels

Hierarchical levels in a food web based on energy flow.

Feeding Interactions

Connections between species based on consumption.

Strong Interactions

Influential feeding relationships affecting community structure.

Weak Interactions

Less significant feeding relationships in a community.

Indirect Commensalism

One species benefits another indirectly without harm.

Apparent Competition

Negative impacts due to shared predators among species.

Species Richness

Variety of species present in a community.

Disturbances

Events that disrupt community structure and diversity.

Trophic Cascade

Indirect interactions affecting food web dynamics.

Bottom-up Control

Ecosystem regulation starting from primary producers.

Top-down Control

Ecosystem regulation starting from top predators.

Keystone Species

Species with large impact on community structure.

Community Structure

Arrangement and organization of species in an ecosystem.

Altered Stable State

Shift from established community to a new one.

Ecosystem Engineer

Species that modify habitats for other organisms.

Consumer-Resource Interaction

Relationship where consumers feed on resources.

Introduced Species

Non-native species affecting local ecosystems.

Invasive Species

Introduced species that disrupt local biodiversity.

α-diversity

Number of species in a specific location.

β-diversity

Variation in species between different sites.

Energy Flow

Transfer of energy through trophic levels.

Trophic Level

Position in food chain, from producers to consumers.

Primary Producer

Organisms that produce energy via photosynthesis.

Primary Consumer

Herbivores that consume primary producers.

Secondary Consumer

Carnivores that eat primary consumers.

Tertiary Consumer

Top predators in a food web.

Assimilation Efficiency

Percentage of consumed energy used for growth.

Ecological Efficiency

Energy transfer efficiency between trophic levels.

Ecological Pyramid

Graphical representation of energy distribution.

Extinction Events

Loss of species, often at top trophic levels.

Invasion Events

Introduction of species, often at lower trophic levels.

Biomass Loss

Energy loss during transfer between trophic levels.