Ch 54 + 55 Flashcards
Interspecific interactions Examples
competition, predation, herbivory, symbiosis, facilitation
Symbiotic Interactions Examples
Parasitism, mutualism, commensalism
Trophic Structure
key factor in community dynamics
Food chains
link trophic levels from producers to top carnivores
Dominant Species
most abundant species
Keystone Species
less abundant-Ecological niche basis organism
Ecological Succession
sequence of community and ecosystem changes after disturbance
Primary Succession
no soil exists when succession begins
Secondary Succession
succession begins where soil remains after disturbance
Ecosystem
all organisms in community and all abiotic factors
Law of Conservation of Mass
amt of chemical elements enter and leave ecosystem
Net ecosystem production
total biomass accumulation of an ecosystem
Primary Production
set spending limit on global energy budget
Production Efficiency
food energy is converted to biomass at each link in food chain rate
Nutrient cycling is strongly regulated where?
vegetation
