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Ecology
46 flashcards
An ecosystem is a community of living organisms and the non-living components of their environment interacting as a system.
The major components are biotic (living) components like plants, animals, and microorganisms, and abiotic (non-living) components like air, water, and soil.
Ecology is the study of the relationships between living organisms and their physical environment.
A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms where each member feeds on the next lower member of the sequence, transferring food energy.
A food web is a model that shows the complex feeding relationships in an ecosystem, consisting of multiple intersecting food chains.
Producers are organisms, like plants, that can produce their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.
Consumers are organisms that obtain energy by feeding on other organisms, like herbivores and carnivores.
Decomposers are organisms like bacteria and fungi that break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Biodiversity refers to the variety of living species on Earth, including plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi.
Biodiversity is crucial for ecosystem health, food production, medical resources, and environmental sustainability.
An ecological niche is the role and position a species has in its ecosystem, including its behaviors, activities, and requirements.
Interspecific competition occurs when individuals of different species compete for the same limited resources in an ecosystem.
A keystone species is a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem relative to its abundance.
Bioaccumulation is the gradual accumulation of substances, such as pesticides or heavy metals, in an organism at levels higher than in the environment.
Biomagnification is the process by which toxins become more concentrated at higher trophic levels of a food chain or web.
An ecological footprint is a measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems, accounting for the resources consumed and waste generated.
Habitat fragmentation is the process by which natural habitats are divided into smaller, isolated patches due to human activities.
A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in a particular area at the same time.
A community is an assemblage of different populations of organisms living together and interacting in the same area.
Mutualism is a type of symbiotic relationship between two species where both benefit from the interaction.
Commensalism is a symbiotic relationship where one species benefits while the other is neither harmed nor benefited.
Parasitism is a symbiotic relationship where one species (the parasite) benefits at the expense of the other species (the host).
A biome is a large region characterized by a specific type of climate, plant and animal communities.
The biosphere is the global sum of all ecosystems, comprising the thin layer of the Earth where life exists.
Ecological succession is the gradual change in species composition in a given area over time, eventually leading to a stable climax community.
Primary succession occurs when new species colonize an area with no previous life, such as a new volcanic island.
Secondary succession occurs when an existing ecosystem is disturbed, such as after a fire or farming, and organisms gradually recolonize the area.
A pioneer species is one of the first species to colonize a newly exposed or disturbed area during primary or secondary succession.
Speciation is the process by which new species form through the accumulation of genetic differences over time within a population.
An invasive species is a non-native organism that causes harm to an ecosystem when introduced outside its native range.
Biological control is a pest management strategy that uses natural predators, parasites, or pathogens to control pest populations.
Eutrophication is the excessive richness of nutrients in a body of water, which can lead to algal blooms and oxygen depletion.
Acid rain is precipitation with a high concentration of acidic components, primarily sulfuric and nitric acids, which can harm ecosystems.
The greenhouse effect is the trapping of heat from the sun by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which leads to global warming.
Endangered species are species at risk of extinction due to factors like habitat loss, overhunting, pollution, or competition from invasive species.
Endemic species are species that are native and exclusively found in a specific geographic region or location.
An indicator species is a species whose presence or abundance is used to indicate the health or condition of an ecosystem.
Ecological restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed.
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the Earth's biodiversity, with the aim of protecting and restoring species, habitats, and ecosystems.
The Anthropocene epoch is an unofficial term proposed to describe the current geological age, where human activity is the dominant influence on the environment.
An ecological pyramid is a graphical representation of the biomass or energy flow at each trophic level in an ecosystem.
An ecological niche is the unique role and position a species occupies within its ecosystem, including its behaviors and requirements.
The Red List is an inventory maintained by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) that assesses the global conservation status of species.
A nature reserve is a protected area of land or water set aside for the conservation of biodiversity and natural resources.
Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Environmental ethics is the study of moral relationships between humans and their natural environment, addressing issues of conservation and sustainability.