Ecology Lectures 1 & 2: Introduction to Ecology, Foundations, and Frontiers

Vocabulary flashcards covering key ecology terms from the lecture notes.

Ecology

Study of relationships between organisms and their environment.

Ecosystem

A system consisting of all the living organisms in an area and the physical environment with which they interact.

Ecophysiology

Field that examines how organisms regulate internal physiological processes to cope with environmental challenges.

Population

A group of individuals of the same species living in a defined area; population size and dynamics are affected by various factors.

Interactions

Relationships among organisms (e.g., predation, competition) that influence their distribution and abundance.

Community

All populations of different species that live and interact in a particular area.

Landscape

A mosaic of ecosystems across a region, influencing movement, flow of energy and matter.

Region

A geographic area with historical/geological factors that influence regional diversity.

Biosphere

The global sum of all ecosystems; interacts with climate systems (e.g., CO2) to regulate global temperature.

Temporal scale

Time-related dimension on which ecological studies are designed and interpreted.

Spatial scale

Space-related dimension on which ecological studies are designed and interpreted.

Aeroecology

Interdisciplinary study of ecology at the Earth–atmosphere boundary, using tools like thermal infrared imaging to study nocturnal organisms noninvasively.

Urban ecology

Study of urban areas as dynamic ecological systems influenced by biological, physical, and social factors.

Competitive exclusion principle

Two species with identical ecological requirements cannot coexist indefinitely; coexistence often arises via niche differentiation or resource partitioning.

Stable isotope analysis

Technique to track habitat use and dietary sources by measuring stable isotopes (e.g., 13C) in tissues.

Epiphyte

A plant that grows on another plant, often in the canopy, and stores nutrients in its tissues.

Epiphyte mats

Layers of epiphytes in which substantial nutrients are stored, enabling trees to access them via roots.

Forest canopy

The uppermost forest layer where canopy processes occur; nutrient stores are linked to epiphytes, and access to canopy can be gained by drones, balloons, trams, or cranes.

Aerial drones

Unmanned aerial vehicles used to monitor ecosystems and wildlife noninvasively.

Cryphonectria parasitica

Pathogenic fungus that causes chestnut blight, a disease devastating American chestnut trees.

Chestnut blight

Disease caused by Cryphonectria parasitica leading to the decline of American chestnut trees.

American chestnut

A once-dominant North American tree species severely affected by chestnut blight.

Rapid evolution

Swift genetic changes in a population in response to rapid environmental changes (e.g., earlier breeding with warming springs).

CITES

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; an international treaty to protect endangered species from wildlife trafficking.

Climatic and ecological change

Field of study examining how climate fluctuations alter ecological systems over time, using records such as pollen deposition and evolutionary responses.

Ecological research design

Plan of studies based on research questions, temporal/spatial scales, and available research tools.