2. Ecology Flashcards
(29 cards)
Abiotic Factors
Non-living physical or chemical components of an ecosystem (e.g., temperature, light, pH, soil, salinity).
Biotic Factors
Living components of an ecosystem, including predation, herbivory, parasitism, mutualism, competition.
Parasitism
A symbiotic relationship where one organism (the parasite) benefits and the other (the host) is harmed.
Commensalism
A symbiotic relationship where one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped.
Mutualism
A symbiotic relationship where both species benefit (e.g., bees and flowers).
Interspecific Competition
Competition between individuals of different species for the same limited resources.
Intraspecific Competition
Competition between individuals of the same species for resources like food, space, or mates.
Limiting Factors
Factors that restrict population growth.
Can be:
Density-Dependent: affected by population size (e.g., competition, disease).
Density-Independent: not affected by population size (e.g., natural disasters).
Carrying Capacity
The maximum number of organisms an ecosystem can sustainably support
Population Growth Curves
S-Curve: Shows logistic growth; population growth slows as it reaches carrying capacity.
J-Curve: Shows exponential growth; population increases rapidly with no limiting factors.
Species
A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
Population
A group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time.
Community
A group of different populations living and interacting in the same area at the same time.
Habitat
The physical environment in which a species normally lives.
Niche
The role an organism plays in its environment, including what it eats, where it lives, and how it interacts with others.
Density-Dependent Factors
Limiting factors that increase in effect as population size increases, e.g., competition, predation, parasitism, disease.
Density-Independent Factors
Limiting factors that affect populations regardless of size, e.g., natural disasters, climate, floods.
K-Strategist
Species that produce fewer offspring, with high parental care, and tend to live near carrying capacity (e.g., elephants, humans).
r-Strategist
Species that produce many offspring, with low parental care, and thrive in unstable environments (e.g., bacteria, insects).
Trophic Level
The position an organism occupies in a food chain, based on energy flow (e.g., producer, primary consumer).
Food Web
A complex network of interconnected food chains showing feeding relationships in an ecosystem.
Producers
Make their own food via photosynthesis (e.g., plants).
Consumers
Eat other organisms (e.g., herbivores, carnivores).
Decomposers
Break down dead organic matter (e.g., fungi, bacteria).
