Behavior/Ecology

Summary and Artifact #6

Ecology-the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to
their physical surroundings.
Organism-In biology, an organism is any contiguous living system, such as an animal, plant or
bacterium.
Population-A population is a summation of all the organisms of the same group or species,
which live in a particular geographical area, and have the capability of interbreeding.
Community-Community, also called biological community, in biology, an interacting group of
various species in a common location.
Ecosystem-An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving
components of their environment (things like air, water and mineral soil), interacting as a
system.
Biosphere-The biosphere is the crossroads of all the other earth science spheres you will study
in class. Think about the possible interactions for a second. - The land of the lithosphere
interacts with the oceans of the hydrosphere at the coastlines.
Abiotic-non living factors of an ecosystem temperature
Biotic-living factors of an ecosystem plants
Eutrophication-excessive nutrients in a lake
K-selection-density dependent
R-selection-densities independent
Age structure diagram-prediction of a populations growth trends
Fecundity-reproductive rate of an organism
Competition-interaction between organisms/species where fitness of an organisms is lowered
by another
Niche-place or function of an organism in its ecosystem
Resource partitioning-differentiation of niches
Predation-predator and prey relationship
Cryptic coloration-camouflage
Aposematic coloration-warning coloration
Batesian mimicry-harmless mimicking harmful
Mullerian mimicry-2 unpalatable species mimicking
Herbivory-consuming plants and vegetation thorns
Mutualism-both species benefit
Commensalism-one benefits other does not and nor is it harmed
Parasitism-one benefits other is harmed
Lichen-fungus and photosynthetic algae
Mycorrhizae-plant roots and fungus
Keystone species-species that if removed the whole ecosystem will die
Invasive species-species outside native range and can alter environment in favor for itself but
not others
Potato blight-triggered the great Irish potato famine
Ecological succession-disturbed area colonized by multitude of species
Primary succesion-succession that occurs in an area where no organisms originally existed
Secondary succesion-succession that occurs where there was an existing community
Producers-autotrophs (living things making their own food through photosynthesis)
Primary consumer-food is produced by other organisms
Secondary consumer-food is plant eating animals
Tertiary consumer spending-carnivores and omnivore

Decompsers-consume dead animals

Food web-many food chains
Food chain-linear path
All other levels will lose energy
Limiting nutrient-element that must be added inorder for production to increase
Carbon cycle-

Nitrogen cycle-

Water cycle-

Deadzones-low oxygen areas

Biological magnification-substance becoming more concentrated at higher tropic levels