Ecology Summary

Flashcards from lecture notes on ecology, covering ecological terms, scientific investigation, adaptations, food webs, energy, ecological pyramids, relationships, niche, growth models, and population estimation.

Biome

Large region with similar climate and life forms.

Biosphere

All life on Earth and the environments that support it.

Individual

A single, self-contained living entity.

Population

A group of organisms of the same species living in the same area.

Community

Different populations of species living and interacting in the same area.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment.

Habitat

The natural home or environment of an organism.

Biotic

Living organisms in an ecosystem.

Abiotic

Non-living components of an ecosystem, such as light, temperature, and chemicals.

Hypothesis

A testable statement predicting the outcome of a scientific investigation.

Variables

Factors that can change in an experiment (independent, dependent, controlled).

Data

Information gathered during an experiment, either quantitative or qualitative.

Structural Adaptation

Physical feature of an organism that helps it survive.

Behavioral Adaptation

Action or behavior that helps an organism survive.

Physiological Adaptation

Internal process that helps an organism survive.

Food Web

Diagram showing the flow of energy and feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem.

Autotrophs

Organisms that produce their own food, using energy from sunlight.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms.

Photosynthesis

Process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy (sugar).

Energy Pyramid

Graphical representation of energy flow through an ecosystem.

Number Pyramid

Graphical representation of the number of organisms at each trophic level.

Biomass Pyramid

Graphical representation of the biomass at each trophic level.

Mutualism

Relationship where both organisms benefit.

Commensalism

Relationship where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected.

Competition

Interaction where organisms compete for the same limited resources.

Parasitism

Relationship where one organism benefits and the other is harmed.

Predation

Relationship where one organism kills and eats another.

Niche

An organism's role or function in an ecosystem.

Exponential Growth

Population growth pattern characterized by rapid, unchecked increase.

Logistic Growth

Population growth pattern that levels off as it approaches carrying capacity.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size an environment can sustain given available resources.

Limiting Factor

Factor that limits the growth of a population.

Quadrats

Method of estimating population size by sampling small areas and scaling up.

Capture-Recapture Formula

A method used to estimate the size of a population where it is impractical to count every individual.