Community Ecology and Biodiversity

Flashcards covering key concepts in Community Ecology and Biodiversity.

Community

All the different populations that live together in an area.

Interspecific Interactions

Relationships between species in a community.

Competition

The struggle between organisms to survive in a habitat with limited resources.

Competitive Exclusion

No two species can occupy the same exact niche in the same habitat at the same time.

Ecological Niche

The sum of a species' use of the biotic and abiotic resources in its environment.

Resource Partitioning

The division of environmental resources by coexisting species to minimize competition.

Character Displacement

The tendency for characteristics to be more divergent in sympatric populations of two species.

Exploitation

Any type of interaction where individuals of one species benefit by feeding on individuals of another species.

Predation

An interaction where one organism kills another for food.

Cryptic Coloration

Camouflage that makes an organism difficult to spot.

Aposematic Coloration

Bright warning colors in animals with a chemical defense.

Batesian Mimicry

A harmless species looks like a poisonous or harmful species to predators.

Herbivory

Interaction where one animal (the herbivore) feeds on producers (such as plants).

Parasitism

A relationship where one organism benefits and the other is harmed.

Parasite

An organism that feeds on a living host.

Host

An organism on which a parasite lives.

Endoparasites

Parasites that live within the body of their host.

Ectoparasites

Parasites that feed on the external surface of the host.

Positive Interactions

Interactions where one or both species benefit and neither is harmed.

Mutualism

A relationship between two species in which both species benefit.

Commensalism

A relationship in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected.

Species Diversity

The number and relative abundance of species in a biological community.

Species Richness

The number of different species in a community.

Relative Abundance

The proportion each species represents of all individuals in the community.

Shannon Diversity Index

A formula for quantifying diversity based on species richness and evenness.

Biomass

Total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level.

Introduced Species

Nonnative species transported to a new habitat, either intentionally or unintentionally.

Trophic Structure

Different feeding relationships in an ecosystem that determine energy flow.

Food Chain

A series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten.

Food Web

A community of organisms with several interrelated food chains.

Trophic Level

Each step in a food chain or food web.

Foundation Species

Species that significantly shape a community by creating and enhancing habitat.

Keystone Species

A species that influences the survival of many other species in an ecosystem.

Ecosystem Engineers

A keystone species that creates or maintains habitat for other species.

Bottom-Up Model

Unidirectional influence from lower to higher trophic levels.

Top-Down Model

Influence moves from top trophic levels to lower levels.

Biomanipulation

Technique for restoring eutrophic lakes by manipulating higher-level consumers.

Disturbance

An event causing changes in population size or community composition.

Nonequilibrium Model

Communities change constantly after being affected by disturbances.

Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis

Ecosystems with intermediate disturbance levels are more diverse.

Ecological Succession

Gradual changes in a community following a disturbance.

Primary Succession

An ecological succession that begins in an area where no biotic community previously existed.

Secondary Succession

Type of succession that occurs in an area only partially destroyed by disturbances.

Evapotranspiration

The combined amount of evaporation and transpiration.

Species-Area Curve

The larger the geographic area, the greater the number of species.

Pathogens

Disease-causing agents.

Zoonotic Pathogens

Disease-causing agents transmitted to humans from other animals.

Vector

Insects that transmit pathogens.

Biodiversity

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

Conservation Biology

Integrates multiple fields to conserve biological diversity.

Genetic Diversity

The range of genetic material present in a population.

Ecosystem Diversity

Variety of habitats, living communities, and ecological processes.

Endangered Species

Species whose numbers are so small that they are at risk of extinction.

Threatened Species

Species that could become endangered in the near future.

Ecosystem Services

Life-supporting resources produced by ecosystems.

Habitat Loss

Destruction of habitats usually from human activities.

Invasive Species

Plants and animals that have migrated to places where they are not native.

Overharvesting

Removing more organisms from a population than can be replaced.

Extinction Vortex

A downward population spiral causing a small population to shrink.

Minimum Viable Population

The smallest population size at which a species can sustain its numbers.

Effective Population Size

Estimate of population size based on successful breeding individuals.

Sustainable Development

Development that meets present needs without compromising future generations.

Ecosystem Fragmentation

The transformation of a large habitat into smaller patches.

Movement Corridor

A strip of quality habitat connecting isolated patches.

Biodiversity Hotspot

A location with a large number of species in a small area.

Protected Areas

Geographic spaces dedicated to long-term conservation.

Zoned Reserve

Regions that include undisturbed areas surrounded by human-altered areas.

Critical Load

The amount of nutrients that can be absorbed by plants without ecosystem damage.

Biological Magnification

Increasing concentration of harmful substances in higher trophic levels.

Greenhouse Gases

Gases involved in the greenhouse effect.

Climate Change

Change in climate patterns attributed to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Greenhouse Effect

Natural situation where heat is retained in Earth's atmosphere.

Global Carrying Capacity

Maximum number of people that can be sustainably supported by an environment.

Ecological Footprint

The impact of an individual or community on the environment.