Fundamentals of Ecology

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key concepts and terminology in ecology.

Ecology

The study of the structure and functioning of nature and the interactions between organisms and their environment.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms (biotic) interacting with their physical environment (abiotic).

Population

A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area at the same time.

Biocenosis

All the living organisms (plants, animals, fungi, bacteria) coexisting in a certain area.

Biome

A large ecological area with distinct climate, plants, and animals, containing multiple similar ecosystems.

Biosphere

The global sum of all ecosystems; it is where life exists on Earth.

Niche

The role or function of an organism or species within an ecosystem, including its habitat, resource use, and interactions with biotic and abiotic factors.

Fundamental Niche

The potential niche of an organism in the absence of interspecific competition.

Realized Niche

The actual niche that an organism occupies after accounting for other species interactions and competition.

Tolerance Range

The range of environmental conditions in which an organism can survive and reproduce.

Allelochemicals

Substances released by plants to inhibit the growth of surrounding plants (allelopathy).

Mutualism

A type of interaction in which both species benefit from the relationship.

Commensalism

A relationship where one organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Parasitism

A relationship in which one organism benefits at the expense of another, often harming the host.

Bioindicators

Species that provide information about the health of an ecosystem, often sensitive to environmental changes.

Ecological Succession

The process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time.

Metapopulation

A group of local populations that are connected by dispersal and migration.

Ecological Tolerance

The ability of an organism to withstand changes in environmental conditions.

Exponential Growth

A growth pattern in which a population increases by a constant proportion over time, leading to a rapid increase.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely.