Principles of Ecology Final

Flashcards covering key vocabulary from ecology lecture notes.

Ecology

The study of relationships between organisms and their environment.

Ernst Haeckel

Coined the term 'ecology' from the Greek word 'oikos' meaning house.

Rachel Carson

Author of 'Silent Spring,' which highlighted the ecological effects of pesticides.

Wangari Maathai

Founder of the Greenbelt Movement, focused on reforestation in Kenya.

Scientific Method

A method of procedure that consists of observation, asking questions, hypothesizing, experimenting, collecting data, analyzing, and revising hypothesis.

Ecological Organization: Organism Level

Focuses on how an individual organism interacts with its environment.

Ecological Organization: Population Level

Examines the size, structure, and dynamics of a group of individuals of the same species.

Ecological Organization: Community Level

Studies the interactions between different species within a defined area.

Ecological Organization: Ecosystem Level

Involves the study of energy and nutrient flow through biotic and abiotic components.

Ecological Organization: Landscape Level

Considers the spatial patterns and interactions between ecosystems.

Ecological Organization: Biosphere Level

Focuses on global processes and interactions among all living things and their environments.

Natural Selection

The process where traits favorable to survival become more common in a population over time.

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

Predicts allele frequencies in a population under conditions of no evolution.

Genetic Drift

Random changes in allele frequencies within a population, often due to bottlenecks or founder effect.

Gene Flow

The movement of alleles between different populations.

Mutation

The creation of new genetic variation through changes in DNA sequences.

Sexual Selection

Traits that influence mating success.

Biogeography

The study of the geographic distribution of species.

Species Range: Fundamental

Where a species can potentially live with no limiting factors.

Species Range: Realized

Where a species actually lives, limited by factors like competition and barriers.

Vicariance

The geographic separation of a population, leading to speciation.

Island Biogeography

The study of the ecological factors affecting the biodiversity of islands.

Species-Area Curve

S=cAz

Ecosystem Services

Benefits that ecosystems provide to humans, such as regulating, provisioning, cultural, and supporting services.

Phenotype

Genotype + Environment + Random Noise.

Heritability (h²)

genetic variance / total phenotypic variance.

Milankovitch Cycles

Affect long-term climate (eccentricity, precession, tilt).

Coriolis Effect & Ekman Transport

Drive global wind/water patterns → gyres, upwelling.

Soil formation

rock + rain + vegetation interactions.

Biomes

Large geographic areas defined by climate, soil, vegetation, and animal life.

Background Extinction

The normal rate of species extinction (1-10 species/year).

Mass Extinction

A period of widespread and rapid species extinction.

Biodiversity Hotspots

Areas with high endemism and high threat levels.