Bio Ecology Vocab

Ecology and Environmental Science Flashcards

1. Ecology – The study of interactions between organisms and their environment.

2. Ecosystem – A community of organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system.

3. Evaporation – The process by which water changes from liquid to vapor.

4. Condensation – The process where water vapor cools and becomes liquid.

5. Precipitation – Water released from clouds as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

6. Transpiration – The release of water vapor from plants through their leaves.

7. Reservoir – A place where a substance is stored as part of a cycle.

8. Photosynthesis – The process by which plants convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose and oxygen.

9. Cellular Respiration – The process by which cells break down glucose to produce energy, releasing carbon dioxide and water.

10. Combustion – The burning of fossil fuels or organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide.

11. Ammonification – The conversion of organic nitrogen into ammonia by decomposers.

12. Nitrification – The conversion of ammonia into nitrites and then nitrates by bacteria.

13. Denitrification – The conversion of nitrates into nitrogen gas.

14. Assimilation – The uptake of nitrogen by plants to form organic molecules.

15. Runoff – Water that flows over land into bodies of water.

16. Nitrogen Fixation – The conversion of nitrogen gas into ammonia by bacteria or lightning.

17. Weathering – The breaking down of rocks and minerals by weather.

18. Plant Uptake – The absorption of water and nutrients by plant roots.

19. Animal Consumption – The process of animals feeding on plants or other animals.

20. Sedimentation – The accumulation of particles at the bottom of a body of water.

21. Decomposition – The breakdown of dead organisms by bacteria and fungi.

22. Detritivores – Organisms that feed on dead organic matter.

23. Population – A group of individuals of the same species living in a particular area.

24. Population Density – The number of individuals per unit area or volume.

25. Dispersion – The pattern of spacing among individuals within a population.

26. Immigration – The movement of individuals into a population.

27. Emigration – The movement of individuals out of a population.

28. Birth Rate – The number of births in a population over a given time.

29. Death Rate – The number of deaths in a population over a given time.

30. Biotic – Living components of an ecosystem.

31. Abiotic – Non-living components of an ecosystem.

32. Competition – Interaction between organisms for limited resources.

33. Parasitism – A relationship where one organism benefits and the other is harmed.

34. Predation – A relationship where one organism kills and eats another.

35. Herbivory – An interaction where an animal feeds on plants.

36. Clumped Dispersal – Individuals are grouped in patches.

37. Uniform Dispersal – Individuals are evenly spaced.

38. Random Dispersal – Individuals are spread without a predictable pattern.

39. Demography – The study of population structure and dynamics.

40. Survivorship Curve – A graph showing the likelihood of survival at different ages.

41. Type I Curve – High survival early in life, drop in older age.

42. Type II Curve – Constant death rate throughout life.

43. Type III Curve – High death rates early in life, survivors live long.

44. Exponential Growth – Population growth under ideal conditions.

45. Logistic Growth – Population growth that slows near carrying capacity.

46. J-Shaped Curve – A graph showing exponential growth.

47. S-Shaped Curve – A graph showing logistic growth.

48. Carrying Capacity (K) – The maximum population size an environment can support.

49. Big-Bang Reproduction – Organisms reproduce once massively, then die.

50. Repeated Reproduction – Organisms reproduce multiple times during life.

51. Density-Independent Factor – A factor that affects population size regardless of density.

52. Density-Dependent Factor – A factor whose effect increases with population density.

53. Autotroph – An organism that produces its own food.

54. Heterotroph – An organism that consumes others for energy.

55. Trophic Level – A step in the flow of energy through a food chain.

56. Primary Producer – Organisms that make their own food.

57. Primary Consumer – Herbivores that eat producers.

58. Secondary Consumer – Carnivores that eat primary consumers.

59. Tertiary Consumer – Carnivores that eat secondary consumers.

60. Detritivore – Organisms that feed on dead organic matter.

61. Detritus – Dead organic material.

62. Herbivore – An animal that eats plants.

63. Carnivore – An animal that eats other animals.

64. Primary Production – The rate at which producers make organic material.

65. Biomass – The total mass of living organisms in an area.

66. Community – All the different species in an area.

67. Biodiversity – The variety of life in all forms.

68. Species Diversity – The number and abundance of species in a community.

69. Invasive Species – Non-native species that harm ecosystems.

70. Biome – A large ecological area defined by climate and vegetation.

71. Climate – The long-term weather pattern of an area.

72. Macroclimate – Regional climate patterns.

73. Microclimate – Local climate conditions.

74. Climograph – A graph of temperature and precipitation by month.

75. Permafrost – Permanently frozen soil.

76. Rainforest – A dense, wet forest with high biodiversity.

77. Chaparral – A dry biome with shrubs and seasonal rain.

78. Savanna – A grassy biome with scattered trees.

79. Temperate Grassland – A biome dominated by grasses and moderate rain.

80. Northern Coniferous Forest/Taiga – A cold forest with cone-bearing trees.

81. Temperate Broadleaf Forest – A forest with deciduous trees and seasonal changes.

82. Tundra – A cold biome with low vegetation and permafrost.

83. Photic Zone – The sunlit surface layer of water.

84. Aphotic Zone – The dark layer of water below the photic zone.

85. Benthic Zone – The bottom surface of a body of water.

86. Abyssal Zone – The deep ocean floor.

87. Thermocline – A water layer where temperature changes rapidly with depth.

88. Oligotrophic Lake – A nutrient-poor, oxygen-rich lake.

89. Eutrophic Lake – A nutrient-rich, oxygen-poor lake.

90. Headwaters – The source of a river or stream.

91. Downstream Waters – The wider, slower parts of a river.

92. Brackish – Water with a mix of salt and fresh water.

93. Food Web – A network of interconnected food chains.

94. Interspecific Interaction – Interactions between different species.

95. Fundamental Niche – The full potential range of conditions a species could use.

96. Realized Niche – The actual conditions a species uses due to competition.

97. Competitive Exclusion – Two species competing for the same resource cannot coexist.

98. Resource Partitioning – Dividing resources to reduce competition.

99. Dominant Species – The most abundant species in a community.

100. Ecosystem Engineer – A species that changes its environment significantly.

101. Keystone Species – A species with a major impact on its ecosystem.

102. Symbiosis – A close relationship between two species.

103. Host – The organism harmed in a parasitic relationship.

104. Endoparasite – A parasite that lives inside its host.

105. Ectoparasite – A parasite that lives on the outside of its host.

106. Mutualism – A relationship where both species benefit.

107. Commensalism – A relationship where one species benefits, the other is unaffected.

108. Amensalism – A relationship where one species is harmed, the other unaffected.

109. Aposematic Coloration – Bright coloring to warn predators of toxicity.

110. Cryptic Coloration – Camouflage that blends with the environment.

111. Batesian Mimicry – A harmless species mimics a harmful one.

112. Trophic Structure – The feeding relationships in a community.

113. Quaternary Consumer – A top predator that eats tertiary consumers.

114. Genetic Diversity – The variety of genes within a species.

115. Ecosystem Diversity – The variety of ecosystems in a region.

116. Introduced Species – A species brought into a new area by humans.

117. Ecosystem Services – Benefits that ecosystems provide to humans.

118. Overharvesting – Removing species faster than they can reproduce.

119. Habitat Fragmentation – Breaking habitats into isolated patches.

120. Nutrient Enrichment – Excess nutrients in an ecosystem.

121. Algal Bloom – Rapid algae growth due to excess nutrients.

122. Greenhouse Effect – Heat trapped by gases in Earth’s atmosphere.

123. Greenhouse Gases – Gases that trap heat (e.g., CO₂, CH₄).

124. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) – Man-made chemicals that destroy ozone.

125. Ozone – A gas that blocks harmful UV rays in the upper atmosphere.

126. Biomagnification – The increase of toxins up a food chain.

127. Movement Corridors – Habitat strips that connect fragmented areas.

128. Biodiversity Hotspots – Regions rich in species but threatened by humans.

129. Zoned Reserve – Protected areas with surrounding buffer zones.

130. Urban Ecology – The study of ecosystems in urban areas.

131. Tipping Points – Critical thresholds leading to major environmental change.

132. Paris Climate Agreement – A global treaty to limit climate change.