Energy and Metabolism
These organisms, also known as producers, capture energy from light or inorganic molecules.
What are autotrophs?
This term refers to the maximum number of individuals an environment can support.
What is carrying capacity (K)?
In this type of symbiotic relationship, both participating species benefit from the interaction.
What is mutualism?
This branch of ecology seeks to answer "how" (proximate) and "why" (ultimate) specific behaviors occur
What is behavioral ecology?
This type of species has an exceptionally large effect on its community structure despite its abundance.
What is a keystone species?
This is the approximate percentage of energy transferred from one trophic level to the next.
What is 10%?
Population size (N) is increased by births and this term, which describes individuals entering the population.
What is immigration?
This measure of diversity refers specifically to the number of different species in a particular area.
What is species richness?
Because many behaviors are heritable and affect fitness, they are subject to this evolutionary process.
What is natural selection?
Populations with large sizes and high levels of this are more resilient to ecosystem disruptions.
What is genetic diversity?
These organisms use thermal energy generated by their own metabolism to maintain homeostatic body temperatures.
What are endotherms?
This type of population growth is experienced when a population is at its maximum per capita growth rate under perfect conditions.
What is exponential growth?
This ecological study focuses on how interactions between species, such as predation and competition, affect organization.
What is community ecology?
This term describes how individuals are spaced within a population, such as clumped, uniform, or random.
What is population distribution?
This is the series of predictable changes an ecosystem undergoes while recovering from a natural disturbance like a fire.
What is succession?
Smaller organisms generally have a higher metabolic rate because they have a large ratio of these two measurements.
What is surface area to volume (SA:Vol)?
This calculation is determined by dividing the population size by the area of their range.
What is population density?
This term describes a symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.
What is commensalism?
Communication occurring between members of the same species is known by this specific term.
What is intraspecific communication?
These specific factors can limit population growth regardless of how many individuals live in the area.
What are density-independent factors?
According to energy balance principles, this is the ultimate result of a consistent net loss in energy.
What is death?
This specific growth model occurs when populations are limited by a carrying capacity.
What is logistic growth?
Triggered by changes in top predator populations, this event influences community structure and nutrient cycling.
What is a trophic cascade?
This demographic tool shows how many individuals of various age groups are present in a population.
What is age structure?
Ecosystem disruptions can be caused by human impact, geological activity, or the introduction of these non-native organisms.
What are invasive species?