| A | B |
|---|
| Ecosystem Structure | organisms - Population - communities - ecosystems - biosphere |
| Niche Structure | number of ecological niches, how they resemble or differ from each other, includes species interactions |
| Physical Appearance | relative size, stratification: distribution of populations and species |
| Species Diversity | number of different species |
| Species Abundance | number of individuals of each species |
| Abiotic Factors | non-living chemical and physical factors in the environment, which affect ecosystems. |
| Ecological Niche | the way of life of a population, each pop has a unique niche, describes how a pop responds to distribution of resources and competition, defined by species interactions |
| Specialist Species | live in a narrow niche, are sensitive to environmental changes. More prone to extinction than generalists (giant panda) |
| Generalist Species | live in broad niches, able to withstand a wide range of environmental conditions, more adaptable (mice, cockroaches) |
| Law of Tolerance | for each factor that affects a population, the pop displays a range of tolerance. For an organism to be successful in any given enviro, each factor that affects it must remain within its tolerance range. If any factor exceeds the organism's min or max tolerance, the org will fail to thrive |
| Law of Limiting Factors | Populations are limited by one or more abiotic and/or biotic factors. A limiting factor is any abiotic factor that limits or prevents the growth of a pop. In terrestrial ecosystems this may include the level of soil nutrients, amount of available water, light and temperature |
| Resource Partitioning | When 2 or more species coexist in spite of competition for the same resource. By pursuing slightly different resources or obtaining resources in slightly different ways, minimizing competition and maximizing success. (Warblers in the trees living and eating from different areas of a tree) |
| Symbiosis | close and often long-term interaction between two or more different biological species. |
| Obligate Symbiosis | relationship is necessary for the survival of at least one of the organisms. |
| Facultative Symbiosis | relationship is beneficial but not necessary for survival of organisms. |
| Amensalism | Symbiotic relationship where one species is harmed, and the other is unaffected |
| Commensalism | Symbiotic relationship where one species is benefited and the other is unaffected. |
| Competition | Simultaneous demand for limited environmental resources, such as nutrients, living space or light. Driving force of evolution. |
| Intraspecific Competition | competing within the same species |
| Interspecific Competition | competing among different species |
| Mutualism | symbiotic relationship where both species benefit |
| Parasitism | symbiotic relationship where one species benefits and the other is harmed |
| Predation | Biological interaction where one organism eats another. |
| Saprotrophism | obtain nutrients from dead or decaying organisms |
| Competitive Exclusion Principle | principle where two competing species can not coexist if other ecological factors are constant. |
| Keystone Species | species whose presence contribute to a diversity of life and whose extinction would lead to extinction of other forms of life. |
| Edge Effect | The area where two habitat type meet. Offer a unique habitats with easy access to adjacent communities which can support more plants and animals and which increase the area's biodiversity. |
