Ecology Notes Part II

Ecology

The study of the relationships between living organisms and their surroundings.

Community

All populations of different species living in the same area.

Ecosystem

The community of organisms together with their physical environment.

Biosphere

The global environment consisting of all living things on Earth.

Species Richness

The number of different species in a community.

Species Evenness

The relative abundances of different species in a community.

Fundamental Niche

The entire set of conditions under which a species can survive and reproduce.

Realized Niche

The actual conditions and resources in which a species exists due to competition and other interactions.

Keystone Species

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.

Mutualism

A type of interaction where both species benefit.

Competition

An interaction between organisms where one individual's use of a resource reduces its availability for others.

Primary Succession

The development of biological communities in an area where no life previously existed.

Secondary Succession

The recovery of an ecosystem after disturbance where soil and some organisms still remain.

Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis

A theory that suggests species richness is highest at intermediate levels of disturbance.

Pioneer Species

Species that are among the first to colonize previously disturbed or new environments.

Parasitism

A relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another.

Symbiosis

The interaction between two different organisms living in close physical proximity.

Disturbance

An event that changes a community by removing organisms or altering resource availability.

Niche

The role or function of an organism or species within an ecosystem.

Species Diversity

A measure of the variety of species in a community, combining richness and evenness.

Community Structure

The composition and relative abundance of different types of organisms in a community.

Trophic Level

The position an organism occupies in a food chain, determining its role in energy transfer.

Food Web

A complex network of interconnected food chains within an ecosystem.

Biomagnification

The increasing concentration of toxins in organisms at higher trophic levels.

Habitat

The natural environment in which an organism lives, including all living and non-living factors.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely.

Succession

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

Invasive Species

Non-native species that spread widely and negatively impact local ecosystems.

Ecological Footprint

A measure of the environmental impact of an individual or population, expressed as the amount of land and water required to produce the resources consumed.

Ecosystem Services

The benefits that humans receive from ecosystems, including provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services.

Biological Diversity (Biodiversity)

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Habitat Fragmentation

The process where large habitats are divided into smaller, isolated patches, affecting species survival.

Ecological Succession

The process by which the structure of a biological community evolves over time.

Trophic Cascade

An ecological phenomenon triggered by the addition or removal of top predators, resulting in dramatic changes in ecosystem structure.

Edge Effects

Changes in population or community structures that occur at the boundary of two habitats.

Biotic Potential

The maximum reproductive capacity of an organism under optimal environmental conditions.

Limiting Factor

An environmental factor that restricts the growth, abundance, or distribution of an organism or a population.

Sentinel Species

Species used to detect risks to humans by providing advance warning of a danger.

Ecological Resilience

The capacity of an ecosystem to respond to a disturbance by resisting damage and recovering quickly.

Carbon Footprint

The total amount of greenhouse gases emitted directly or indirectly by an individual, organization, event, or product.

Conservation Biology

The scientific study of nature and biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems.