Basic Ecological Concepts Flashcards
(72 cards)
It is the scientific study of interactions of organisms with their environment
Ecology
Are the environment’s non-living concept
Abiotic factors
Factors affecting Life’s Distribution in Earth
Elevational Gradient, Latitudinal Gradient, Precipitation Gradient, Temperature Gradient, Sunlight Distribution
It is the living components of the environment
Biotic factors
Factors affecting Biotic Distribution
- Dispersal Capability
- Biotic Interactions (e.g., predation,
herbivory, competition)
It is a field of study that investigates species adaptations and how these adaptations help them to survive in their environment
Organismal Ecology
It studies on the dynamics and factors
affecting populations in a given area and time
Population Ecology
It is a group of interbreeding organisms that are member of same species living in the same area at the same time.
Population
It is the changes of population in terms of size
and density at a given time
Population dynamics
Proportion of different age groups in a population
Age structure
Produce all offspring in single reproductive event
Semelparous populations
Produce offspring in series of separate reproductive events
Iteroparous populations
A biological community consists of the different species within an area, typically a three dimensional space, and the interactions within and among these species
Community Ecology
It examines large-scale ecological issues, ones that often are framed in terms not of species but rather of measures such as biomass, energy flow, and nutrient cycling
Ecosystem Ecology
It is an assemblage of living and non-living elements within a boundary that forms
functional relationships, maintains flow of energy and complete the chemical cycle
Ecosystem
Production of organic matter from simple compounds, drawn from the surrounding and build into a complex organic material.
Autotrophic
Are organisms that are capable of producing their own food
Autotroph
Transformation of primary products to secondary products from the plants. This is through the chemical synthesis and decomposition of organic matter
Heterotrophic
Are usually predators, while some are biophages (i.e. animals consuming other animals, plants and other organisms) and saprophages (i.e. organisms feeding on dead organic matters).
Heterotroph
Are herbivores (plant-eaters) which feed directly and only on all or part of living plants
Primary consumer
Are primary carnivores (meat-eaters), which feed only on plant-eating animals
Secondary consumer
It includes large carnivores or omnivores (plant- and meat-eaters) that feed on primary and secondary consumers and/or producers
Tertiary and higher level consumers
Heterotrophs that feed on detritus, or dead organic plant and animal matter
Detritivores
Two major classes of detritivores
Detritus feeders and Decomposers
