Introduction to Ecology & The Biosphere

A collection of key vocabulary terms and their definitions related to the study of ecology and the biosphere.

Ecology

The study of interactions between living organisms and their environment.

Population

Members of the same species living in the same area at the same time.

Community

All species living in the same area at the same time.

Ecosystem

Includes all biotic and abiotic components of an area.

Biogeography

The study of the distribution of organisms and the abiotic factors that determine those distributions.

Abiotic Factors

Non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms.

Endemic Species

Species that are found only in a specific geographic range.

Generalist Species

Species that are found in many geographic ranges.

Net Primary Productivity

Estimation of all organic matter available as food, calculated as the amount of Carbon fixed per year minus the amount that is oxidized during cell respiration.

Tropical Wet Forest

A biome located in equatorial regions characterized by stable temperature and high species diversity.

Savannah

Grasslands with scattered trees and a hot tropical temperature, with a significant dry season.

Subtropical Desert

Biomes with extreme temperature swings and negligible rainfall, characterized mainly by annuals.

Chaparral

A scrub forest biome with intense temperature swings, adapted to periodic fires.

Temperate Grasslands

Located in central North America and Eurasia, featuring dense grasses and significant annual rainfall.

Temperate Forest

Deciduous forests located in mid-latitude regions, with predictable annual rainfall.

Boreal Forest

Coniferous forests found south of the Arctic Circle, with low annual temperatures and predictable precipitation.

Arctic Tundra

Located in Arctic regions, characterized by very low temperatures, short growing seasons, and permafrost.

Aquatic Biomes

Biomes defined by the water environment, including marine and freshwater types.

Coral Reefs

Geologic structures in oceans formed by symbiotic relationships between coral polyps and algae.

Estuaries

Where ocean and freshwater meet, creating a nutrient-rich environment that serves as nurseries for many species.

Wetlands

Areas where the soil is permanently or periodically saturated with water, hosting hydrophytic vegetation.