Term | Definition |
Ecology | Study of how organisms interact with each other & their environment |
Habitat | Place where an organism lives |
Population | Group of organisms of the same species in a certain area |
Community | Species interacting with one another within the same environment |
Ecosystem | The biotic community and abiotic environment. Characterized by flow of energy charts. |
Biosphere | Zone of earth where all living organisms are found |
Demography | Statistical study of populations |
Population Density | The number of individuals living in a certain area |
Population Distribution | The pattern of dispersal of individuals living in a certain area |
Resource | Abiotic and biotic components that support or are needed by living organisms |
Limiting Factor | resource or environmental condition that restricts the population and distribution of an organism |
Cohort | Group of individuals that have a statistical factor in common, I.E. year of birth |
Survivorship | Probability of newborn individuals of a cohort surviving |
Survivorship Curves | Show the number of indifiduals of a cohort that are still living over time |
Exponential Growth | A large increase in population over time |
Carrying Capacity (K) | Largest number of organisms that can live in a specific area |
Density-independent Factor | Abiot factor, such as fire or flooding, affecting population size |
Density-dependent Factor | Biotic factor, such as disease or competition, affecting population size |
R-selection | High reproductive rate with little / no attention given to offspring survival |
K-selection | Production of a few offsping with much attention given to offspring's survival |
Doubling time | Number of years it takes for a population to double in size |
Zero Population growth | Number of offspring being born evening out the rate of deaths |
Species Diversity | Variety of species that make up a community |
Island biogeography model | Biodiversity on an island is dependent on its distance from mainland |
Niche | Animal's specific role it plays in the community, with its habitat and other organisms |
Symbiosis | Relationship that occurs when two different species live together in a unique way |
Parasitism | Relationship where the parasite benefits at the detriment of its host |
Commensalism | Relationship where one species benefits at no cost, or benefit, of the other |
Mutualism | Relationship where both species benefit |
Primary Succession | Formation of an ecosystem where it was previously uninhabited; Volcanic Eruptions |
Secondary Succession | Gradual replacement of communities after a disturbance; Forest regrowing after fire |
Pioneer Species | Early colonizer of a formally barren land, Primary Succession |
Autotrophs | Organism that can capture energy and sythesize inorganic nutrients |
Producers | Photosynthetic organisms; Grass, Algae. |
Heterotrophs | Organism that cannot capture energy and sythesize inorganic nutrients, must eat organic food |
Consumers | Organism that feeds on another. Primary consumers eat plants, Secondary eat animals. |
Herbivores | Plant eater |
Carnivores | Consumer that eats other animals |
Omnivores | Organism that eats both plants & animals |
Detrivores | Organism that eats dead stuff |
Decomposers | Organisms (Usually bacteria or fungi) that break down organic matter |
Trophic level | Feeding level of one or more populations in a food web |
Biomass | The number of organisms multiplied by their weight |
Biogeochemical Cycles | Circulation pathway of elements such as carbon and nitrogen in biotic communities |
Water Cycle | Circulation of water from the ocean, to the atmosphere, to land, and then back again |
Greenhouse gases | Gases in atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, that cannot breach the Ozone layer |
Global Warming | Predicted increase in the Earth's temperature due to, mostly, human activities |
Climate Change | Recent changes in Earth's climate; including Global Warming |
Eutrophication | Enrichment of water by inorganic nutrients used by phytoplankton. |
Nitrogen Fixation | Process where free atmospheric nitrogen is converted by bacteria into Nitrate |
Nitrification | Process by which nitrogen is oxidized by bacteria, called Dentrification |
Dentrification | Conversion of nitrate to nitrogen by bacteria |
Carbon Cycle | Photosynthesis, Decomposition, and Respiration is used to cycle Carbon between major reservoirs |
Phosphorous Cycle | Biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of phosphorus through the biosphere |
Endangered Species | A species in imminent danger of extinction |
Threatened species | A species that could become endangered |
What's the value of biodiversity | Direct, Medicinal, Agricultural, Consumptive, Indirect |
Habitat loss | Destruction of natural areas; main reason for extinction |
Exotic (Invasive) Species | Nonnative species |
Keystone Species | Plant / Animal that plays a unique & crucial role in an ecosystem |
Climate | Prevailing weather conditions in a particular region |
Topography | Physical features of land |
Biome | Particular mix of plants & animals that are adapted to living in specific environmental conditions |
Tundra | Characterized as being cold and dark, with long winters and short summers. Has Permafrost. |
Coniferous Forests | Long, cold, snowy winters with warm summers. Pine trees. Houses Tiaga and Temperate Rainforests |
Tropical Rainforests | Always warm or hot, plently of rainfall, poor soil. Epiphytes: Plants that grow on others, with roots. |
Shrublands | Dry summers, plants are waxy so fire is often. Houses Chaparral, which is in California. |
Grasslands | Rainfall, but not enough to support trees. Like shrublands, but better |
Savannas | House Grasslands which are, by fact, the best biome. Mostly in America and some of asia. Bison. |
Deserts | Hot days and freezing nights, mostly because of no cloud cover. Little rain. Don't live here. |
Wetlands | House Marshes, Swamps, and Bogs. Nutrient poor. Cool plants like Venus Flytraps. |
Lakes | Bodies of fresh water. Eutrophication proccesses occur here. |
What're the Life Zones? | Littoral, Benthic, Limnetic, Profundal. |
Phytoplankton | Photosynthesizing algae that act as base producers in lakes |
Zooplankton | Tiny, feed on Phytoplankton |
Estuary | Portion where fresh water and salt water meet and mix |
Intertidal zone | Region of shoreline that lies between high and low tide. |