Unit 8. Ecology - EC

Behavioral response

The actions of an organism in reaction to internal or external environmental changes.

Physiological response

The internal processes of an organism that change in reaction to environmental changes.

Innate Behavior

an inherited behavior that does not depend on the environment or experience

Learned Behavior

a behavior that has been learned from experience or observation

Signaling behaviors

Behaviors that produce changes in the behavior of other organisms, affecting reproductive success.

Natural selection

The process that favors behaviors increasing survival and reproductive fitness.

Cooperative behavior

Actions that enhance the fitness of individuals and the survival of populations.

Energy acquisition strategies

Methods organisms use to obtain and utilize energy for maintenance, growth, and reproduction.

Endotherms

Organisms that generate thermal energy through metabolism to maintain body temperature.

Ectotherms

Organisms that lack efficient internal mechanisms for temperature regulation and may use behavioral strategies.

Metabolic rate

The rate of energy expenditure per unit body mass, generally higher in smaller organisms.

Energy storage

The accumulation of energy in an organism resulting from a net gain.

Energy loss

The depletion of energy in an organism leading to loss of mass and potential death.

Trophic levels

The hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, defined by the flow of energy and matter.

Biogeochemical cycles

Processes that cycle matter between abiotic and biotic reservoirs essential for life.

Hydrologic cycle

The movement and storage of water within the hydrosphere, involving processes like evaporation and precipitation.

Carbon cycle

The recycling of carbon atoms through photosynthesis, cellular respiration, decomposition, and combustion.

Nitrogen cycle

The series of processes including nitrogen fixation, assimilation, ammonification, nitrification, and denitrification performed by soil microorganisms.

Nitrogen fixation

The conversion of nitrogen gas (N2) into ammonia (NH3) by microorganisms.

Phosphorus cycle

The process of weathering rocks releasing phosphate into soil and groundwater, which is then utilized by producers.

Decomposition

The breakdown of organic matter, returning nutrients like phosphate to the soil.

Energy availability

The amount of energy accessible to populations and ecosystems, influencing their dynamics.

Population dynamics

The changes in population size and composition over time, affected by energy availability.

Ecosystem health

The overall condition and functioning of an ecosystem, influenced by energy flow and nutrient cycling.

Ecosystem Disruption

Changes in energy availability can result in disruptions to an ecosystem.

Producer Level

A change in this level can affect the number and size of other trophic levels.

Autotrophs

Capture energy from physical or chemical sources in the environment.

Photosynthetic Organisms

Organisms that can produce their own food by performing photosynthesis.

Chemosynthetic Organisms

Organisms that capture energy from small inorganic molecules present in their environment, and this process can occur in the absence of oxygen.

Heterotrophs

Capture energy present in carbon compounds produced by other organisms.

Population

A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area

Exponential Growth

Reproduction without constraints results in this type of growth in a population.

Logistic Growth

Growth pattern in which a population's growth rate slows or stops following a period of exponential growth

Carrying Capacity

The maximum number of individuals that an environment can support.

Population Density

The number of individuals per unit area.

Density-Dependent Factors

Conditions that affect population growth based on the population's density.

Density-Independent Factors

Conditions that affect population growth regardless of the population's density.

Species Composition

The structure of a community is measured and described in terms of this and species diversity.

Community Structure

Communities change over time depending on interactions between populations.

Limiting Factors

Conditions in the environment that put limits on where an organism can live

Community Interactions

competition, predation, and various forms of symbiosis

Community

A group of interacting populations within a specific area.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Simpson's Diversity Index

A measure of biodiversity that accounts for both richness and evenness of species.

Species abundance

The number of individuals of a particular species in a given area.

Species richness

The number of different species represented in a given community.

Trophic Cascade

An ecological phenomenon triggered by the addition or removal of top predators, which results in changes in the ecosystem structure and nutrient cycling.

Ecological niche

The role and position a species has in its environment, including all interactions with biotic and abiotic factors.

Niche partitioning

The process by which competing species use the environment differently to coexist.

Interspecific interactions

A relationship between individuals of two or more species in a community.

Competition

The struggle between organisms for the same resources in an ecosystem.

Predation

An interaction where one organism kills and eats another organism

Symbiosis

A close and long-term interaction between two different species.

Parasitism

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit.

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms and their interactions with their abiotic environment.

Biotic

Describes living factors in the environment.

Abiotic

Describes non-living factors in the environment

Keystone species

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.

Invasive species

Non-native species that spread widely in a new habitat and cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health.