Question | Answer |
Species Richness | Number of species in a community |
Relative abundance | How many of on species vs. how many of another |
Species diversity | Considers species richness and relative abundance |
Individualistic hypothesis | Species happen to live together because of similar abiotic requirements |
Interactive hypothesis | Species live together because of positive biotic interactions |
Coevolution | A change in one species forces a change in another species |
Predation | A predator eats it's prey |
Parasitism | Predators live off their prey withour killing them outright |
Parasitoidism | Insects lay eggs in a host |
Herbivory | Animals eat plants |
Cryptic coloration | Camouflage |
Aposematic coloration | Warning colors to defend from predators |
Mimicry | Superficial resemblance to another species |
Batesian Mimicry | Harmless species mimics a harmful model |
Mullerian Mimicry | Two or more harmless species resemble each other |
Parasite | Predator who feeds off a host |
Host | Fed on by a parasite |
Endoparasite | Live inside a host |
Ectoparasite | Feeds on the external surface of a host |
Competitive Exclusion Principle | Two species with similar needs cannot exist in the same place |
Ecological Niche | Sum of an organisms use of biotic and abiotic resources in it's environment |
Fundamental niche | Set of resources an organism theoretically could use |
Realized niche | Resources a population uses collectively |
Resource Partitioning | Use resources in different ways |
Symbiosis | Species living together |
Parasitism | One benefit, one harmed |
Commensalism | One benefit, one unnaffected |
Mutualism | Both parties benefit |
Keystone Species | Species that have a very strong impact on the community structure |
Exotic species | An introduced species |
Stability | Maintaining an equilibrium |
Disturbances | Events that damage communities |
Ecological succession | Transition in species over time |
Primary sucession | First transitions |
Secondary succesion | Established communities change |
Dynamic Equilibrium Hypothesis | Species diversity depends on disturbances |
Recruitment | Change in community structure due to disturbances |
Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis | Diversity is greatest where disturbances are moderate in both frequency and severity |