keystone species
species that play roles in affecting many other species
biodiversit
variety of earth's species
species
set of individuals who can mate and produce offspring
homo sapiens
another word for species- latin
genetic diversity
enables life on earth to adapt and survive dramatic environmental changes
ecosystem diversity
storehouse of genetic and species diversity
biomes
regions with distinct climates and species
functional diversity
variety of processes such as energy flow and matter cycling that occur within ecosystems as species interact with one another in food chains and webs
fossil
physical evidence of ancient organisms
biological evolution
how earth's life changes over time through changes in the genetic characteristics of populations
theory of evolution
all species descended from earlier species
natural selection
individuals with certain traits survive better in certain conditions
mutations
random changes in DNA molecules
differential reproduction
enables individuals with the trait to produce more offspring than other members of the population
tectonic plates
affect evolution and earthquakes/volcanos
speciation
one species splits into two or more species
geographic isolation
when different groups of the same population become physically isolated for a long time
sexually reproducing organisms
a new species forms when one population of species has evolved to the point where its members can no longer breed
reproductive isolation
reproductive isolation
endemic species
found only in one area and particularly vulnerable
background extinction
typical low rate of extinction
mass extinction
widespread, global, catastrophic
artificial selection
use selective breeding/ crossbreeding
species diversity
number and variety of organisms an ecosystem
species richness
number of different species in a given area
species evenness
comparative number of species present
ecological niche
role of a species in an ecosystem
generalist species
live in many different places
specialist species
cannot tolerate change
native species
species that normally live in an area
nonnative species
species that is introduced to an ecosystem
indicator species
provide warning of damage to a community
pollinators
key role in keystone species- pollinate plants
foundation species
create or enhance their habitats
interspecific competition
2 or more species interact to gain access to the same limited resource
resource partitioning
species competing for resources evolve to share resources
predation
predator prey relationship
parasitism
parasite feeds on host
mutualism
benefits both species
commensalism
benefits one species has little affect on the other
chemical warfare
way for a predator or prey, stink, ink etc
mimicry
prey disguises to look like a harmful animal
deceptive looks
prey uses this to scare predators by looks
deceptive behavior
prey uses this to scare predators by action
coevolution
species that interact with each other and evolve together
population
group of interbreeding organisms of the same species
clumping
species cluster to help them survive
range of tolerance
range of where one species can survive
limiting factors
control population size
environmental resistance
all factors that act to limit growth of a population
carrying capacity
maximum population habitat can sustain
exponential growth
starts slow, increases quickly, goes beyond carrying capacity, crashes
logistic growth
increases, equilibrium
population crash
sharp decline that occurs from an overshoot
population density
number of individuals in a population found in an area
stable species
species whose population fluctuates slightly by carrying capacity
irruptive species
population surge then crash
cyclic fluctuations
2 species population fluctuate together
primary succession
starts from bare rock builds up over thousands of years
secondary succession
starts with some soil builds up over less time than primary
facilitation
one set of species make the area suitable for other species but less suitable for itself
inhibition
early species hinder growth of later species
plant tolerance
plants in earlier stages are unaffected by plants of later stages
stability
capacity to withstand external stress and disturbance
inertia/persistance
ability to survive moderate disturbances
resiliance
ability of a living system to be resorted through secondary succession