Ecology Terms

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Ecology

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The study of the interactions of organisms with their environment.

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Biosphere

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The global ecosystem/the sum of all the planet’s ecosystems. (First level of organization).

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Ecosystem

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Living/non-living components in an area. (Second level of organization).

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Biotic

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Living components like plants/animals.

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Abiotic

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Non-living components like temperature, energy, gases, water, nutrients, chemicals, rocks, and soil.

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Community

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All of the organisms (of different species) living in an area. (Third level of organization).

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Habitat

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An environmental area in which organisms live. Includes communities of organisms and abiotic factors.

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Population

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An interbreeding group of individuals belonging to the same species and living in a particular geographic area. (Fourth level of organization).

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Organism

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An individual living thing like a plant, animal, bacteria, fungus, etc.

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Biomes

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A specific ecosystem, largely determined by climate, vegetation, and organisms living there.

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Lakes

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Aq biomes.

Standing bodies of water of varying size.

Vary in nutrient/oxygen concentration and salinity.

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Wetlands

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Aq biome.

Areas covered with at least enough water to support Aq plants.

Low in oxygen, rich in organic matter (that helps filter pollutants).

Very productive, High photosynthesis rates, diverse plant/animal life.

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Streams/Rivers

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Aq biome.

(Typically) cold, clear, and turbulent running water.

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Estuaries

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Aq biome.

A transition area between a river and sea (brackish water).

Home to algae, grasses, invertebrates, and birds.

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Intertidal zones

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Aq biome.

Periodically submerged and exposed by the tides (usually twice a day).

Clams, worms, anemones, fish, crabs, sponges, etc.

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(Oceanic) pelagic zone

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Aq biome.

A vast realm of open blue water.

High O2 levels, low nutrient levels.

Covers 70% of earth’s surface.

Plankton and bacteria provide nutrients to smaller invertebrates (worms, shrimp, krill, jellies) which are eaten by fish, turtles, marine mammals, etc.

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Coral reefs

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Aq biome.

Corals are alive and are made of polyps+exoskeleton (biotic factor).

Algae, fish, and invertebrates live here.

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(Marine) benthic zone

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Aq biome.

The seafloor; substrate/sediments (from shallow to abyssal).

The deeper it is the less warmth, sunlight, O2 are available and pressure increases.

Deep sea hydrothermal vents (made by volcanoes are found here).

Some weird-ass animals.

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Photic zones

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Areas in bodies of water where there is enough sunlight for photosynthesis.

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Aphotic zones

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Aquatic areas; usually very deep; where there is (very) little light.

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Tropical Forests

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Ter biome.

In equatorial areas where the temperature is warm and days are 11-12 hours long year-round.

One of the most complex biomes with huge species diversity.

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Savannas

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Ter biome.

Dominated by grasses and scattered trees.

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Genetic diversity

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Component of biodiversity.

Variation within species including distinct populations of the same species and genetic variation within a population.

Origin - sexual reproduction and mutations.

Ex. Different breeds of dogs.

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Species diversity

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Component of biodiversity.

Differences between species.

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Ecosystem biodiversity

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Component of biodiversity.

Variety within/differences between ecosystems.

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Population ecology

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Studies the change in population size and factors that regulate populations over time.

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Immigration

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Animals move INTO an area.

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Emmigration

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Animals move OUT OF an area.

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Dispersion pattern

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Density = # of individuals per square unit.

Refers to the way individuals are spaces out within their area/their population.

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Clumped dispersion

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Dispersion pattern.

Individuals live in small groups/patches throughout the area.

Most common dispersion pattern.

Ex. Lions’ prides

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Uniform dispersion

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Dispersion pattern.

Evenly patterned dispersion resulting from interactions between organisms.

Ex. Jaguar’s territory.

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Deserts

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Ter biome.

Driest biome with low/unpredictable rainfall, high temps, and dry air.

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Random dispersion

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Dispersion pattern.

Patternless; unpredictable dispersion of organisms.

Ex. Dandelion plants.

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Exponential growth

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Idealized picture of unregulated growth of a population.

Unrealistic, J-shaped curve.

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Logistic growth

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Population growth when you take into account limiting factors.

(More-realistically) S-shaped.

Levels off at carrying capacity.

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Carrying capacity

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Not a set number (changes from year-year, season-season, etc.)

Depends on population number/resources.

The maximum population size that an area can support.

At carrying capacity, growth rate=0 (because birth/death and immigration/emigration rates cancel out).

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Chaparral

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Ter biome.

Ex. San Diego, CA

Regions with dense, spiny shrubs that have tough, evergreen leaves.

Mild rainy winters and hot dry summers.

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Temperate grasslands

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Ter biome.

Ex. Chicago, IL

Grassy areas with few trees and long, cold winters.

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Temperate deciduous forests

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Ter biome.

Forests with deciduous trees, cold winters and hot summers.

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Coniferous forests (taiga)

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Ter biome.

Characterized by cone-bearing evergreen trees.

Largest biome on earth

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Tundra

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Ter biome.

Between taiga and permanently frozen regions.

Treeless, but has permafrost; permanently frozen subsoil.

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Canopy

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Upper layer of trees/leaves in a forest.

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Litter layer

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The forest floor.

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Biodiveristy

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The sun total of different kinds of organisms.

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Survivorship curves

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1. Low death rates in early and middle life, increases with age (people, large mammals).

2. Death rate is constant regardless of age (rodents, lizards, plants).

3. High death rates for young, but then declining if they survive their youth (oysters, fish, insects).

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r-selection

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Species in which high reproductive rate is the chief determinant of their lives.

Many offspring, only some survive.

Ex. weeds and insects.

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k-selection

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Species that live (typically) longer lives in order to produce relatively few offspring that have a good chance of survival.

Only a few offspring, most survive.

Ex. mammals, humans, birds.

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Limiting Factor

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Factor that causes population growth to decrease.

Can also affect long-term survival of a species.

Ex. Competition, Disease, Predation, Parasitism, Human disturbances, Climate extremes, etc.

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Density-dependent limiting factor

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Type of limiting factor.

Depends on population size (only limiting if population reaches a certain level).

Large/dense populations affected more than small/scattered populations.

Ex. parasitism, disease, Competition, Predation, ect.

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Density-independent limiting factor

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Type of limiting factor.

Affect populations in similar ways regardless of population density.

Usually cause crashes in population size.

Ex. Weather, Natural disasters, Human activity, Seasonal cycles, etc.

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Population stability

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When birth rates=death rates of population.

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Age structure

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Shows how quickly/slowly a population grows (how many people of each age are living in a country).

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Demographic growth

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Pattern of population growth.

Transition from high to low birth/death rates as a country develops.

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Cryptic coloration

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Camouflage; where animals blend into their surroundings.

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Aposematic coloration

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When animals that are toxic/poisonous are brightly colored (to scare off potential predators).

Ex. dendrobates frogs.

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Batesian Mimicry

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When a harmless species mimics a dangerous one.

Ex. Moth wings look like snake eyes.

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Mullerian Mimicry

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Two (or more) unpalatable species looking like each other.

Ex. Yellowjackets and bees.

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A disturbance

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An event that changes a community.

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Succession

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The order in which things return to their previous state after a disturbance.

From prokaryotes/bacteria, to lichens/moss, to grass, to shrubs, to trees.

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Primary succession

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When the disturbance left no soil behind.

Ex. glacier, volcano, etc.

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Secondary succession

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When the disturbance did leave soil behind.

Ex. fire, farming, etc.

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Niche

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The position/function of an organism in a community.

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Competitive exclusion principle

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No two species can occupy the same niche at the same place at the same time.

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Predation

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One species eats another.

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Predator

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Consumers; the species that eats another.

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Prey

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The food; the one being eaten.

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Symbiosis

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Two species live in close association with one another.

At least one must benefit from the relationship.

There are three types of symbiosis.

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Mutualism

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Type of symbiosis.

Both organisms benefit.

Ex. Clownfish (shelter) and anemones (food scraps).

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Commensalism

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Type of symbiosis.

One organism benefits, other is either neither helped nor harmed.

Ex. Barnacles (ride/home) and Whales (N/A).

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Parasitism

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Type of symbiosis.

One organism benefits, other is disadvantaged.

Ex. Whale lice (food) and Whales (skin is eaten).

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Producer

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Lowest trophic level.

Produces their own food with photosynthesis (autotrophs).

Ex. Aquatic plants, algae, etc.

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Primary consumer

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Second trophic level.

Consumes producers (herbivores).

Ex. Small fish, snails, insects, etc.

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Secondary consumer

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Third trophic level.

Consumes primary consumers (usually carnivores).

Ex. Rats, Frogs, Fish, etc.

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Tertiary consumer

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Fourth trophic level.

Consumes secondary consumers (Top predator).

Ex. Snakes, Cranes, etc.

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Quaternary consumer

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Fifth trophic level.

Consumes tertiary consumers (Apex predator).

Ex. Eagles, hawks, etc.

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Consumers

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They consume other organisms (heterotrophs).

Includes herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.

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Decomposers; Detritivores

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Are in all food chains/webs.

They eat detritus (dead material produced at every level of a food chain).

Ex. Bacteria, worms, rodents, insects, catfish, fungi, and vultures.

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Food web

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A network of food chains; a more realistic view of energy flow.

Must include the sun and decomposers.

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Nutrient cycling

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Energy moves up the food web.

Nutrients and materials must be recycled between organisms and abiotic reserves.

The 4 main abiotic reserves are water, nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon.

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Water cycle

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Driven by heat from the sun.

Cycles through Precipitation (rain), Evaporation (liquid to gas), and Transpiration (liquid from plant leaves turns to gas).

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Carbon cycle

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Carbon in the atmosphere (CO2) is used by photosynthesis to make glucose and is produced by cellular respiration (as CO2).

Decomposition adds carbon to the soil.

Fossil fuels (that are created by mineralization in the ground) are burnt which adds CO2 into the atmosphere through combustion.

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Nitrogen cycle

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Nitrogen exists in the atmosphere as N2.

It must be converted to ammonia/NH4 (assimilated by plants through roots in soil) and nitrates/NO3 (also assimilated by plants through roots in soil) by bacteria before it can be used by organisms.

Most useable nitrogen is stored in the soil

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Nitrogen fixation

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Nitrogen cycle process.

Nitrogen to ammonium by bacteria.

Usually occurs in soil/aquatic environments.

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Nitrification

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Nitrogen cycle process.

Ammonium oxidized to nitrites and then nitrates by bacteria.

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Assimilation

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Nitrogen cycle process.

Nitrogen is taken up by plants.

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Ammonification

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Nitrogen cycle process.

Dentritivores decompose organic matter back into ammonium from detritus.

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Denitrification

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Nitrogen cycle process.

Returning nitrogen back to the atmosphere.

Nitrite/nitrates are reduced back into gaseous form by denitrifying bacteria.

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Phosphorus cycle

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The phosphorus cycle depends on the weathering of rock which adds minerals to the soil.

Plants need phosphorus to grow.

Consumers get phosphorus by eating the plants.

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Ethology

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The study of animal behavior.

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Proximate causes

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Mechanistic; concerned with the environmental stimuli that trigger a behavior, as well as the genetic and physiological mechanisms underlying a behavioral act.

Ex. Many animals breed during spring/summer because it is warm.

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Ultimate causes

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Address the evolutionary significance of a behavior/why natural selection favors this behavior.

Ex. Abundant food supply during warm moths increases the offspring's chance of survival.

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Innate behavior

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Behavior due to genetic programming.

Ex. Kinesis/Taxis.

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Learned behavior

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Modification of behavior resulting from specific experiences.

Ex. Alarm calls of vervet monkeys.

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Kinesis

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Change in activity due to a stimulus.

Ex. Stopping, starting, turning

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Taxis

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Automatic movement towards/away from stimulus.

Ex. Phototaxis, Chemotaxis, etc.

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Associative learning

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The ability of many animals to learn to associate one stimulus with another.

Ex. Hand on hot stove=pain; hot stove=pain.

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Classical conditioning

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A type of associative learning.

Classical conditioning associates a learned/taught behavior (operant conditioning associates a voluntary behavior) with stimulus.

Ex. Pavlov’s dog (clicker training).

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Operant conditioning

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Trial and Error learning.

An animal learns to associate one of its own behaviors with a reward or a punishment.

Operant conditioning associates a voluntary behavior (classical conditioning associates a learned/taught behavior) with stimulus.

Ex. Positive reinforcement for children when they do something 'good'.

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Habituation

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A loss of responsiveness to unimportant stimuli or stimuli that do not provide appropriate feedback.

Ex. Animals getting used to humans.

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Imprinting

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Animals learn a behavior through watching others during a particular phase or life stage.

Ex. Babay ducks follow mom duck.

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Pheromones

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Chemical substances that animals use to communicate (usually related to reproduction).

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Altruism

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When an animal behaves in a way that reduces its individual fitness but benefits other individuals in a population.

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Promiscuous

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No strong bond pairs between males/females.

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Monogamous

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One male mates with one female.

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Polygamous

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An individual of one sex mating with several of the other sex.

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Polygyny

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A specific example of polygamy, when a single male mates with many females.

More common than polyandry.

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Polyandry

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A specific example of polygamy, when a single female mates with many males.

More rare than polygyny.