Population Ecology - Definitions Flashcards
What is ecology?
Ecology is the study of the interactions of organisms with their physical and biological environments and how this determines the distribution and make up of populations within an ecosystem
What is population ecology concerned with?
Population ecology is concerned with fluctuations in the size of a population and the physical and social factors that regulate these fluctuations
What is a population?
A population is a group of organisms of the same species that occupy the same area and can breed freely with each other
What is the biosphere?
The biosphere is the part of the earth where living organisms are found. It is made up of all the ecosystems on earth
What is an ecosystem?
An ecosystem is made up of groups of different species of organisms that interact with each other and with the environment
What is an organism?
An organism is an individual form of life, such as a bacterium, protist, fungus, plant or animal, composed of a single cell or a complex of cells that are capable of growing and reproducing
What is a community?
A community is a group of different species that inhabit and interact in a particular area
What is a species?
A species is a group of closely related organisms that are very similar to each other and are usually capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring
What is an individual?
An individual is a single organism capable of independent existence
What is the environment?
The environment is the external factor, biotic and abiotic, surrounding an organism and influencing its development and survival
What is a habitat?
A habitat is the specific environment in which a plant or animal species normally occurs
What is an ecological niche?
An ecological niche is all the conditions necessary for an organism to survive and reproduce
