Community and Ecosystem Interactions

Flashcards covering community/ecosystem interactions, interspecific interactions, symbiosis, keystone species, trophic levels, and productivity.

Community Ecology

Community is all the species in a given location at a given time.

Habitat

The physical environment where a species lives, like a Redwood forest.

Niche

How a species uses the resources in its habitat.

Succession

Change in community structure over time.

Competitive Exclusion Principle

Two similar species competing for the same limiting resources cannot coexist; one will win.

Ecological Niche

How a species uses the biotic and abiotic resources in its environment.

Resource Partitioning

Differentiation of niches that allows similar species to coexist in a community.

Fundamental Niche

Where a species potentially could survive.

Realized Niche

Where a species actually survives, given competition and other limitations.

Character Displacement

Related species adapt behaviors and partition a common resource by feeding in different zones, reducing competition.

Symbiosis

An intimate interaction between two species.

Parasitism

One organism benefits, the other is harmed (+/-).

Mutualism

Symbiosis that benefits both partners (+/+).

Commensalism

Association where one species benefits and the other is unaffected (+/0).

Predation

Consumption of one species (prey) by another (predator) (+/-).

Keystone Species

Species that reduces the density of the strongest competitors and helps maintain species diversity; has a drastic effect on its ecosystem.

Trophic Level

An organism’s position in a food chain.

Decomposers

Feed on dead producers and consumers, recycling nutrients.

Gross Primary Production (GPP)

Total Photosynthesis per unit area per unit time.

Net Primary Production (NPP)

Plant growth per unit area per unit time; only NPP is available as food for organisms.

Bioaccumulation

Build-up of substance within the body.

Biomagnification

Build up of a substance along the food chain.