Unit 8: Ecology

Habitat

The address of an organism in an ecosystem.

Niche

The job or role of an organism in utilizing resources within an ecosystem.

Biological organization

The hierarchical structure from organism to ecosystem in an ecological system.

Behavior

The actions and reactions of organisms to environmental stimuli.

Innate

Behaviors that are instinctual and not learned.

Learned

Behaviors that are acquired through experience.

Environmental Cues

Stimuli from the environment that trigger specific behaviors in organisms.

Circadian Rhythms

The daily cycle of physiological and behavioral changes in organisms.

Reflexes

Involuntary responses to stimuli.

Imprinting

A learned behavior where organisms form strong attachments during a critical period.

Conditioning / Associative learning

Types of learning where behaviors are associated with specific stimuli.

Communication

The exchange of information between organisms using various methods.

Endotherms

Organisms that regulate their body temperature internally.

Ectotherms

Organisms that rely on external sources to regulate their body temperature.

Reproductive Strategies

The methods and timing of reproduction in different species.

Pop growth

The patterns of population growth in ecosystems.

Carrying capacity

The maximum population size an environment can sustain.

Food Webs

The interconnected feeding relationships in an ecosystem.

Community

The interactions between different species in a shared environment.