Species Interactions in Communities

A set of flashcards summarizing key vocabulary and concepts related to species interactions in ecological communities.

Species Richness

The number of different species represented in a community.

Species Diversity

A measure that incorporates both the number of species and their relative abundance.

Indirect Interactions

Relationships between two species that are mediated by one or more other species.

Trophic Cascade

A phenomenon where changes at one trophic level cause cascading effects on multiple other levels.

Foundation Species

Species that have a large effect on the community structure by providing habitat or food.

Ecosystem Engineers

Species that create, modify, or maintain physical habitats for themselves and others.

Keystone Species

Species that have a disproportionate impact on their community structure relative to their abundance.

Trophic Facilitation

When a consumer benefits indirectly through a positive interaction between its prey and another species.

Competitive Networks

Interactions among multiple species where every species negatively affects every other species, allowing coexistence.

Interaction Strength

The effect of one species on the abundance of another, measured by manipulating species presence.

Relative Interaction Intensity (RII)

A quantitative metric stating the effect of the presence versus absence of one species on another.

Bottom-up Control

An ecological concept where the abundance of lower trophic levels (like producers) controls the structure and population dynamics of higher levels.

Top-down Control

An ecological concept where predator populations control the structure of ecosystems by regulating prey populations.

Predator Mediated Coexistence

A situation in which predation reduces the abundance of the dominant competitor, allowing other species to coexist.