Ecology Lectures 4 - 6 Flashcards
Define: COMPETITION
the INTERACTION between species where and INCREASED growth rate for ONE means a DECREASED growth rate for the OTHER
Define: COMPETATIVE EXCULSION PRINCIPLE
when two species have IDENTICAL species, one will drive the other to EXTINCTION
Define: EXPLOITATAIVE COMPETITION
“INDIRECT” competition between species or individuals for LIMITED RESOURCES in an environment
Define: INTERFERANCE COMPETITION
“DIRECT” competition between species or individuals that IMPEDE on a competitor’s ACCESS to essential RESOURCES.
Define: COEXISTENCE AT A REDUCED CAPACITY
both species continue to LIVE, at LOWER numbers. this is TEMPORARY.
Define: COMPETATIVE EXCLUSION
one species DISAPPEARS from the region. the species BETTER ADAPTED to the NICHE of the environment will SURVIVE.
Define: NICHE PARTITIONING
both species continue to COEXIST, but they DIVERGE slightly to occupy SLIGHTLY different environmental NICHES (new REALIZED NICHE).
Define: CHARACTER DISPLACEMENT
when NICHE PARTITIONING leads to EVOLUTIONARY change
Define: MUTUALISM
interactions where BOTH species are BENEFITTED.
Define: CONSUMPTION
one species BENEFITS and the other is HARMED (ex. predation, parasitism, herbivory)
Define: COMMENSALISM
(hint: sounds like communism)
one species is BENEFITED, the other is NOT AFFECTED
Define: AMENSALISM
one species is HARMED, the other is NOT AFFECTED
Define: ECOLOGICAL NETWORKS
a REPRESENTATION of the BIOTIC INTERACTIONS between species
Define: TOPOLOGY
(Hint: who’s on top?)
who EATS whom.
Define MODULE
SUBSET of species within a web.
Give examples of INDIRECT species interactions.
- humans are PREDATORS to the environment
- INCREASED predator ABUNDANCE caused DECREASED prey ABUNDANCE
- INCREASED prey ABUNDANCE caused INCREASED predator abundance
Define: TROPHIC TRANSFER
elements, energy, and contaminants are TRANSFERRED from one trophic LEVEL to ANOTHER.
Define: BIOACCUMULATION
the gradual BUILD UP of substances, such as toxins or contaminants, in the TISSUE or ORGANS in species over time.
Define: BIOMAGNIFICATION
occurs when the CONCENTRATION of substances, such as contaminants and toxins, INCREASES as you move UP the FOOD CHAIN
Define: FOOD CHAIN
LINEAR sequence of ENERGY FLOW between organisms
Define: TROPHIC LEVEL
a POSITION on the food chain that represents a group of organisms sharing the SAME ENERGY SOURCE
Define: BIOMASS
the TOTAL quantity or weight of organism in an AREA
Define: TROPHIC PYRAMID
relative amounts of BIOMASS within each TROPHIC LEVEL of the FOOD CHAIN
What is the principle of ecological efficiency?
only a FRACTION of the ENERGY and BIOMASS from each trophic level is PASSED UP the pyramid (~10%)
