Environmental Sci Ch 6

Front 1

balance of nature

Back 1

A myth that states that without the interference of humans the natural environment would be able to create a steady state or constant status that would not change over time, also called an eliquilibrium state

Front 2

chronic patchiness

Back 2

When ecological succession does not occur, one species may replace the original, but not overall temporal pattern is established. This is a characteristic of harsh environments such as deserts

Front 3

early-successional species

Back 3

Species that occur primarily during early-successional stages. These species must adapt to harsher conditions but they have more abundant resources

Front 4

ecological restoration

Back 4

Restoration of the land and water utilities ecological principles. There are 5 main steps of restoration

Front 5

ecological succession

Back 5

The proccess of the development of an ecological community of ecosystem, usually looked at as a series or a stage. Primary succession is when an ecosystem is created for the first time. Secondary succession is when an ecosystem is rebuilt and recreated

Front 6

facilitation

Back 6

When one species paves the way for the next species in succession

Front 7

interference

Back 7

When a species blocks another species in succession

Front 8

late-successional species

Back 8

Species that occur later in succession and they have easier adaptations but some resources are scarce

Front 9

life history difference

Back 9

The life species differences are effected by succession

Front 10

nitrogen fixation

Back 10

A process in which nitrogen is changed into amonia, nitrate ions, or amino acids. Usually microorganisms perform this change, but the change can also occur through lightening

Front 11

primary succession

Back 11

The original construction of an ecosystem

Front 12

restoration ecology

Back 12

A field in science where there is a goal of restoring damaged ecosystems so that they can become functional, sustainable, and as natural as they can become once again

Front 13

secondary succession

Back 13

When ecosystems are restored and rebuilt where there are still remnants of the original ecosystem

Front 14

successional stages

Back 14

There are early, mid, and late successional stages. They are the process of establishing and developing an ecosystem