Interaction and Interdependence: Ecosystem

These flashcards cover key concepts surrounding ecosystems, ecological interactions, and population dynamics for exam preparation.

What is the definition of a habitat?

The place in which a community, species, population, or organism lives.

What are abiotic factors?

Non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms.

What is the range of tolerance?

The limits within which a species can survive and thrive regarding a particular limiting factor.

What is the significance of coral reef formation?

There are specific abiotic conditions required for the formation of coral reefs.

What do biomes represent in ecology?

Biomes are groups of ecosystems with similar communities due to similar abiotic conditions and convergent evolution.

Define ecological niche.

The role of a species in an ecosystem, including its habitat, resource use, and interactions with other species.

What are the differences between obligate anaerobes and obligate aerobes?

Obligate anaerobes only survive without oxygen, while obligate aerobes require oxygen for survival.

What is competitive exclusion?

A principle stating that two species competing for the same resources cannot coexist at constant population values.

What is the primary source of energy in most ecosystems?

Sunlight.

What role do decomposers play in ecosystems?

Decomposers break down dead organisms and return nutrients to the ecosystem.

What is the J-shaped curve in population growth?

It represents exponential population growth under ideal conditions without environmental limits.

Define carrying capacity.

The maximum number of individuals that an environment can sustainably support.

What is eutrophication?

An increase in the nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, in a water body, leading to excessive growth of algae.

Define climax community.

A stable community that has reached a stage of ecological succession.

What is the greenhouse effect?

The warming of Earth’s surface due to greenhouse gases trapping heat in the atmosphere.

What factors contribute to ecosystem stability?

Resistance and resilience, along with the presence and roles of keystone species.

What is biomass productivity?

The rate at which energy is converted by photosynthetic and chemosynthetic autotrophs to organic substances.

What is bioaccumulation?

The process by which substances, such as pesticides or heavy metals, accumulate in living organisms.