Ecological Interactions and Community Dynamics

Flashcards covering key concepts in ecological interactions and community dynamics.

Competition

Interaction where both species are harmed (-/-).

Limiting resource

A resource that can run out, such as food, water, light, or space.

Interspecific competition

Competition between different species.

Intraspecific competition

Competition within the same species.

Competitive exclusion

Two species using the same resource cannot coexist.

Resource partitioning

Species use resources differently to coexist.

Fundamental niche

Full range a species can live in.

Realized niche

Restricted niche for a species due to competition.

Exploitative competition

Indirect competition via resource use.

Interference competition

Direct competition involving fighting.

Competitive reversal

Inferior species becomes superior in different conditions.

Predation

Interaction where one species benefits and the other is harmed (+/-).

Herbivore

An organism that eats plants.

Carnivore

An organism that eats animals.

Generalist predator

A predator that eats many different prey types.

Specialist predator

A predator that prefers specific prey.

Sit-and-wait predator

A predator that waits for the prey to come to it.

Active predator

A predator that actively searches for prey.

Crypsis

Camouflage that helps organisms avoid detection.

Aposematic coloration

Warning colors that indicate toxicity.

Mimicry

Resembling harmful species to avoid predation.

Induced defense

Defensive traits produced after an attack.

Compensation (in ecology)

Regrowth of plants after being eaten.

Parasitism

Interaction where one species benefits and the host is harmed (+/-).

Ectoparasite

A parasite that lives outside of the host.

Endoparasite

A parasite that lives inside the host.

Coevolution

Species evolve in response to interactions with each other.

Host defenses

The immune system and barriers that protect a host from parasites.

Disease spread

Spread depends on host density and transmission rate.

Threshold density

Minimum population needed for disease spread.

Mutualism

Interaction where both species benefit (+/+).

Commensalism

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

Obligate mutualism

Interaction that is required for survival of at least one species.

Facultative mutualism

Interaction that is optional and not necessary for survival.

Trophic mutualism

Interaction involving nutrient exchange.

Habitat mutualism

Interaction providing shelter.

Service mutualism

Interaction providing services such as pollination or defense.

Community

A group of interacting species.

Species richness

The number of different species in a community.

Species evenness

The distribution balance of species in a community.

Trophic cascade

A process where a predator indirectly affects lower trophic levels.

Indirect interaction

An effect that occurs through a third species.

Keystone species

A species that has a large impact on its ecosystem, despite low abundance.

Dominant species

A species that is present in high abundance within a community.

Ecosystem engineer

An organism that modifies the environment.

Succession

The gradual change in species composition over time.

Primary succession

Ecological succession that starts in an area with no life.

Secondary succession

Succession that occurs after a disturbance.

Pioneer species

The first species to colonize previously disrupted or damaged ecosystems.

Climax community

A stable end stage of ecological succession.

Facilitation (in ecology)

Process by which early species help later species to establish.

Tolerance (in ecology)

When the presence of one species does not affect others.

Inhibition (in ecology)

Process where early species block the establishment of later species.