Ecological Principles

22 cards·by nolantalk

Coined By

Ernst Haeckel in 1866

Ecology

is the science by which we study how organisms (animals, plants, and microbes) interact in and with the natural world

Population

The group of organisms of a particular species inhabiting a particular area

Community

All living organisms occupying a given area

Ecosystem

Ecological system - the complex of all organisms and the abiotic (nonliving) factors which affect them

Ecosphere (Biosphere)

All of planet earth’s ecosystems; thin layer surrounding the earth that supports life

Lithosphere

- rock and soil layer; land

Atmosphere

the gaseous layer; air

Hydrosphere

the water layer; oceans, lakes, rivers,

First Law

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted to a different form

Second Law

Transfer of energy is not 100% efficient; some energy is lost from the system in the form of heat

absorbed by atmosphere, land, water, and vegetation

66%

reflected (albedo) back into space

34%

actually used by plants in photosynthesis

0.1-2.0%

make their own food through photosynthesis (plants, algae)

Autotrophs

obtain food from outside source (grazers, predators)

Heterotrophs

Niche

unique role of an organism, within its position in the food web,

Ecological Succession

the sequential process of the change in composition of natural communities through time

Pioneer Community

the first step in succession

Climax Community

the last step in the full sequence

Dynamic Equilibrium

the self-perpetuating state of a community at climax

population

The group of organisms of a particular species inhabiting a particular area during a specific time