Ecology Flashcards
Pioneer Species
The beginning species of the ecosystem
Population
The number of organisms in a species
Secondary Succession
Secondary succession is the series of community changes which take place on a previously colonized, but disturbed or damaged habitat. Examples include areas which have been cleared of existing vegetation (such as after tree-felling in a woodland) and destructive events such as fires.
Stability
the state of being stable. When prey and predator populations are around the same number
Climax community
An ecological community in which populations of plants or animals remain stable and exist in balance with each other and their environment. A climax community is the final stage of succession, remaining relatively unchanged until destroyed by an event such as fire or human interference. See more at succession.
Disturbance
In biology, a disturbance is a temporary change in environmental conditions that causes a pronounced change in an ecosystem. Disturbances often act quickly and with great effect, sometimes resulting in the removal of large amounts of biomass.
Density Dependent Factor
Density-dependent factors are factors where the effects on the size or … Biotic variables are all of the living organisms within an ecosystem.
Density independent factors
Population ecologists commonly divide the factors that affect the size of populations into density-dependent and density-independent factors. Density-independent factors, such as weather and climate, exert their influences on population size regardless of the population’s density.
Primary succession
Primary succession is one of two types of biological and ecological succession of plant life, occurring in an environment in which new substrate devoid of vegetation and other organisms usually lacking soil, such as a lava flow or area left from retreated glacier, is deposited.
Inbreeding
The mating of two closely related persons. Also called consanguinity. The act of mating closely related individuals.
Dispersion
In ecology, this is referred to as dispersal. Dispersal is when individuals (plants or animals) move from where they were born to, typically, a breeding or growing site. Individuals may disperse actively or passively. Active dispersal is when organisms move from one location to another without assistance.
Immigration
the increased immigration strengthened the colony.The movement of organisms to an area.
Emigration
When organisms leave the colony or area
Birth Rate
The number of births in a certain population or species
Growth Rate
How the population is increasing over the years
