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ecology
the study of the relationships between organisms and their physical environment
biotic factor
factors that are living components of an ecosystem
examples of biotic factors
plants, animals, bacteria
abiotic factors
factors that are non-living components of an ecosystem
examples of abiotic factors
temperature, climate, light, soil composition
organism
one individual within a population; can either be a single or multicellular entity
population
a group of organisms in an area that can breed together; not necessarily the whole species
population ecology
the study of patterns and processes that affect distribution and abundance of species
community
all the different living species in the same location; relationships between other species; different species hold different ecological roles
ecosystem
includes interactions between living and nonliving things; including minerals, precipitation, temperature, etc.
biome
large regions of Earth (surface, atmosphere, and water) occupied by living organisms
biosphere
the Earth as a whole including ALL biomes
habitat
part of the biosphere where a species can live temporarily or permanently; contains everything the organism needs to live
mobile organisms
can select a habitat
immobile organisms
can only live or die in their habitat
niche
all of the strategies and adaptations a species uses in its environment; only inhabited by one species
tropical forests
areas covered with dense growth of trees and vines
deserts
plants adapted to dry growing conditions; low productivity, with fairly diverse species
temperate grasslands
grasses and herbs, needs disturbance to keep trees out, very productive for agriculture
temperate forests
deciduous trees, good diversity of species, very little natural area left
taiga
coniferous trees, low species diversity,
tundra
grasses and sedges dominate
species
a group of organisms capable of breeding and creating viable offspring
uniform population distribution
equally spaced, usually due to territories
random population distribution
no obvious pattern
clumped population distribution
grouped by individuals with rare solo individuals, often seen in herd animals for protection
carrying capacity
the number of living individuals that an ecosystem can support without environmental degradation
limiting factors
anything that constrain a population size by slowing or stopping growth of the population
generalists
has a wide range of habitat conditions or resources needed to survive
specialists
needs a very specific habitat or resources to survive
geographic range
total geographic area occupied by a species
intraspecies interactions
interactions among organisms of the same species
more dangerous competition
intraspecies competition, there is more niche overlap so competitions are more competitive
r- selected species
no or minimal parental care, produce many offspring, reproduce rapidly, grow rapidly
r- selected examples
turtles, frogs, rabbits, fish
k- selected species
a lot of parental care , larger organisms, fewer offspring, grow slower, longer life expectancy, late maturity
k- selected examples
humans, horses, elephants, bison
interspecific competition
competition between different species in the same ecological area
predation
(+/-), one is benefited while the other is harmed/killed
herbivory
(+/ -), when an organism eats all or parts of a plant or algae
herbivory adaptation
herbivores may have special adaptations to find their prey, plants may have adaptations to avoid being eaten
cryptic coloration
camouflages in the background or its environment
aposematic coloration
the use of conspicuous colors in toxic or unpalatable organisms to warn off predators
mimicry
defense mechanism where the mimic has a resemblance to another species, the model
symbiosis
a close, permanent relationship between two different species
symbiotic relationships
close and long term biological interaction between organisms
parasitism
(+/ -), one organism benefits while the other is harmed, parasite harms the host, can be external or internal
mutualism
(+/+), both organisms benefit
commensalism
(+/0), one party benefits while the other is unaffected, occasionally reaches the point of parasitism
non-native species
organisms that are not originally found in an area
invasive species
non- natives causing environmental harm by out-competing native species