BSCI160: Species Interactions

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key concepts and vocabulary related to species interactions in ecology.

Ecology

The study of how organisms interact with their environment.

Abiotic environment

Non-living physical and chemical factors affecting organisms (e.g., temperature, light, water).

Biotic environment

Other organisms, living or dead, affecting an ecosystem (e.g., predators, competitors).

Fundamental niche

The set of abiotic conditions under which a species can persist without interactions with others.

Realized niche

The portion of the fundamental niche that a species actually exploits considering interactions with other species.

Competition

The use or defense of a resource by one individual that reduces the resource's availability to others.

Exploitative competition

Competition where individuals of different species compete indirectly for shared resources.

Interference competition

Direct competition involving aggressive defense of shared resources.

Allelopathy

Chemically-mediated interference competition where one plant inhibits the growth of another.

Competitive exclusion principle

When two species compete for a limited resource, the more efficient species will eventually eliminate the other.

Consumer-resource interactions

Interactions where one organism consumes or obtains nutrients from another, including predation, herbivory, and parasitism.

Predation

An interaction where one organism (the predator) kills and eats another organism (the prey).

Herbivory

Consumption of plant matter by herbivores, which may not necessarily kill the plant.

Parasitism

An interaction where a parasite derives nutrients from a living host, often harming it.

Generalist predators

Predators that consume many different kinds of prey.

Specialized predators

Predators that eat only one type of prey.

Trophic mutualism

Mutualism where the interacting species provide each other with food resources or nutrients.

Defensive mutualism

Mutualism where one species provides protection to another.

Dispersive mutualism

Mutualism where one species aids in the dispersal of another's offspring or gametes.

Commensalism

An interaction where one organism benefits while the other is unaffected.

Oxpeckers and large mammals

An example of a species interaction that is difficult to classify due to mixed beneficial and harmful effects.