Ecosystem and Ecological Concepts

These flashcards cover important vocabulary and concepts related to ecosystems and ecological relationships.

Supporting services

Natural processes that allow other ecosystem services to occur.

Regulating services

The benefits that ecosystems provide by regulating natural processes.

Provisioning services

The tangible benefits that people get from nature.

Cultural services

The non-material benefits that people get from nature.

Species

Group of similar organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile and viable offspring.

Population

A group of the same species interacting with another in the same area.

Ecological Community

Plants, species, and microorganisms interacting with one another naturally in the same habitat.

Ecological Niche

The specific function/role that a particular species has in their area, including their interactions and space requirements.

Habitat

The natural home/environment in which a species/organism lives.

Endemic

Native/restricted to that particular area.

Biotic factors

All living factors in an ecosystem.

Abiotic factors

All non-living factors in an environment.

Ecology

The study of relationships between living organisms and their environment, and how their interactions influence ecosystems.

Ecosystem

The interaction of abiotic and biotic factors in an environment.

Biodiversity

The variability found across all living organisms that make up all life on Earth.

Ecosystem services

The benefits provided to humans by the natural environment and healthy ecosystems.

speciesrichness