Ecological Niches and Community Interaction

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to ecological niches and community interactions as discussed in the lecture.

Ecological Niche

The physical habitat and ecological role of a species determined by biotic and abiotic factors.

Fundamental Niche

The full range of conditions where a species could live without competition.

Realized Niche

The actual range of habitats occupied by a species, which may be smaller than its fundamental niche due to competition.

Competitive Exclusion

A principle that states no two species can occupy the same niche at the same time.

Resource Partitioning

The process by which similar species diverge in resource use to reduce competition.

Intraspecific Competition

Competition between individuals of the same species.

Interspecific Competition

Competition between individuals of different species.

Mutualism

An interaction in which both species benefit from the relationship.

Commensalism

An interaction where one species benefits and the other is unaffected.

Parasitism

A relationship where one species benefits at the expense of the host.

Keystone Species

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

Trophic Pyramid

A graphical representation of the energy or biomass at each trophic level in an ecosystem.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum number of individuals of a given species that a habitat can sustain.

Population Density

The number of individuals of a species per unit area or volume.

Disturbance

An event that disrupts community structure and dynamics, influencing diversity.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Species Richness

The number of different species present in a given area.

Species Evenness

The relative proportions of different species in a community.

Biogeochemical Cycle

The movement of elements and compounds through biological organisms and the physical environment.

Thermodynamics

The branch of physics that deals with heat and temperature and their relation to energy and work.