2-1 -> 2-3: Biology

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

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

r- selected species

no or minimal parental care, produce many offspring, reproduce rapidly, grow rapidly

k- selected species

a lot of parental care , larger organisms, fewer offspring, grow slower, longer life expectancy, late maturity

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

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

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