Ecology Chapter 2

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Ecology Chapter 2
2013-09-25 11:31:57

Ecology chapter 2 terms
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  1. Population
    All the inhabitants of a particular town, area, or country.
  2. Exponential Growth

  3. Limiting Factors
    A limiting factor is a factor that controls a process. For it to be a limiting factor, there has to be a low supply of this factor.

    Example, in photosynthesis, sunlight could be a limiting factor; limiting the plants growth.
  4. Carrying capacity
    The number of people, other living organisms, or crops that a region can support without environmental degradation.

  5. Ecological Niche

  6. Predator
    An animal that naturally preys on others

    e.g. Lions, tigers, wolves, foxes, etc.
  7. Prey
    An animal hunted and killed by another for food.

    e.g. Rabbits, deer, moose, etc.
  8. Mutualism
    Symbiosis that is beneficial to both organisms involved.

    e.g. Sea anemones and hermit crab; the sea anemones give protection to the crab using its stinging cells, and it remoulds its shell to fit the crab while the hermit crab allows the sea anemones to consume the remains of its food, thus it also provides the sea anemones with food supply, which makes it a relationship beneficial to both.
  9. Parasite

    e.g. tapeworms, fleas, barnacles, etc.
  10. Competition
    The simultaneous demand by two or more organisms for limited environmental resources, such as nutrients, living space, or light.

    e.g. In the rut deer will spar to prove their dominance.
  11. Sustainable use
    Sustainable use of resources is the method/process of using limited resources in a prudent/conservative manner until alternative/supplemental resources can be found or created.
  12. Doubling time

  13. Ecological footprint
  14. Unsustainable
    A pattern of activity that leads to a decline in the function of an ecosystem
  15. Sustainability
    Use of Earth's resources, including land and water at levels that can continue forever.
  16. Ecosystem services
    The benefits experienced by organisms, including humans, that are provided by sustainable ecosystems.
  17. Desertification
    The change of non desert land into desert, which may result from climate change or unsustainable farming or water use
  18. Ecotourism
    A form of tourism that is sensitive to the health of an ecosystem and involves recreational activities provided by sustainable ecosystems

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