University:
University of Cincinnati
Course:
BIOL 2084C | Evolution and Ecology
Academic year:

2023
Views:

199

Pages:

2
Author:

Florisav5zl1

Ecology Vocabulary Cheat Sheet Ecology - Study of interactions of living organisms with one another and with their physical environment. Habitat - place where a particular population of a species lives Community - the many different species that live together in a habitat Ecosystem - a community and all of the physical aspects of its habitat (soil, air, water, weather). Abiotic - the physical, or non-living aspects of a habitat. Biotic - the living organisms of a habitat. Biodiversity - number of species living within an ecosystem Pioneer Species - the first organisms to live in a new habitat; usually small, fast growing plants. Succession - regular progression of species replacement. Primary Succession - succession that occurs where plants have not grown before (ex: volcanoes, receding glaciers). Secondary Succession - succession that occurs in areas where there has been previous growth (ex: forest fires, forest clearings) Primary Productivity - the rate at which organic material is produced by photosynthetic organisms in an ecosystem Autotroph - Organisms that make their own food, producers Heterotroph - Organisms that consume producers for food, consumers Producer - organisms that first capture energy and that make their own food (plants). Consumer - organisms that consume producers for food (animals). Trophic Level - a specific level in an ecosystem based on the organism’s source of energy Food Chain - the path of energy through the trophic levels of an ecosystem Herbivores - second trophic level, animals that eat plants or other primary producer Carnivores - third trophic level, animals that eat herbivores Omnivores - both herbivores and carnivores Detritivores - obtain energy from organic waste and dead bodies, release nutrients back into environment (decomposers: worms, bacteria, fungi) Food Web - a complicated, interconnected group of food chains Biomass - the dry weight of tissue and other organic matter found in a specific ecosystem Predation - the act of one organism feeding on another Symbiosis - two or more species live together in a close, long-term association Parasitism - one organism feeds on and usually lives on or in another, does not usually kill the host (ticks) Mutualism - a symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit (ants and aphids) Commensalism - one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped Fundamental Niche - the entire range of conditions an organism is potentially able to occupy Realized Niche - the part of its fundamental niche that a species occupies Biome - major biological community that occurs over a large area of land