Ecology Definitions

A group of living organisms that, along with their abiotic environment,forms a self-regulating system through which energy and materials are transferred.

An ecosystem capable of enduring pressure and supporting a variety of organisms.

Living part of the environment (e.g. plant and animal organisms)

This is a factor in an ecosystem created by non-living agents, for example,amount of sunlight, temperature, and strength and direction of the wind. (Non-living parts of an environment)

Hard part of the Earth's surface (rock)

All the water found on Earth including lakes, rivers, and oceans

A layer of gases above Earth's surface.

Regions of Earth where living organisms exist

A chemical essential to living things and that's cycled through living things

A process in which nutrient levels in aquatic ecosystems increase, leading to the increase in populations of primary producers

A process that changes solar energy into chemical energy

any class of organisms that occupy the same position in a food chain, as primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers.

the amount of living matter in a given habitat, expressed either as the weight of organisms per unit area or as the volume of organisms per unit volume of habitat.

A measure of the amount of the energy or biomass transferred from one trophic level to the next higher trophic level.

A process in which an organism ingests materials, especially toxins, faster than it eliminates them

a process in which the concentration of ingested toxins increases as it moves from one trophic level to the next

A process that releases energy from organic molecules, especially carbohydrates, in the presence of oxygen

A process that releases energy from organic molecules, especially carbohydrates, in the absence of oxygen

An atmospheric gas that prevent heats from leaving the atmosphere, thus, increasing the temperature of the atmosphere

The warming of the earth as a result of greenhouse gas emissions, which trap some of the energy that would otherwise leave the earth

Rain, snow, or fog that's unnaturally acidic (pH less than 5.6) due to gases in the atmosphere that react with water to form acids

All the individuals of a species that occupy a particular geographic area at a certain time.

Accelerating growth that produces a J-shaped curve when the population is graphed against time.

A factor that limits the growth, distribution, or amount of a population in an ecosystem.

The size of a population that can be supported indefinitely by the available resources and services of an ecosystem.  

state of balance in a system in which there is no net change over time

The growth of relatively low-density development on the edges of urban areas. 

The role that members of a population play in a community, including the resources that members need and the way in which members interact with other members of the population and the community.

A type of wetland in which the water is acidic and low in nutrients

organism that kills and consumes other organisms.

a type of symbiotic relationship in which both partners benefi t from the relationship, or depend on it in order to survive

An organism who's niche is dependent on a close association with a larger host organism.

Use that doesn't lead to long-term depletion of a resource or affect the diversity of the ecosystem from which the resource is obtained. 

The period of time that's required for a population to double in size

A measure of the impact of an individual or population on the environment in terms or energy consumption, land use, and waste production

A pattern of activity that leads to a decline in the function of an ecosystem

The benefits experienced by organisms, including humans, that are provided by sustainable ecosystems.

The change of non-desert land into a desert, which may result from climate change or from unsustainable farming or water use.

An area of land over which run-off drains into a body of water.

A collection of links and relationships between ecosystems that are separated geographically

Form of tourism which incorporates the practice of sustainability to recreational activities.

The number and variety of organisms found in a specific region.

To legally gaurd from harm a species that js listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern.

A place where there is an exceptionally large number of species in a relatively snall area.

All the populations of the different species that interact in a specific area or ecosystem

A species that is so abundant that it has the biggest biomass of any community member

A species that can greatly affect population numbers and the health of an ecosystem.

The breeding of rare or endangered wildlife in controlled settings to increase the population size.

A species that causes such dramatic changes to landscapes that it creates a new ecosystem.

The series of changes in ecosystems thy occurs over time following a disturbance

The destruction of habitats, which usually results from human activies.

The practive of clearing forests for logging or other human uses, and never replanting them.

A species that's accidentally or deliberately introduced to a new location, usually as a result of human activity.

The use or extraction of a resource until it is depleted.

The death of all the indivoduals of a species.

The current accelerated rate of extinctions on earth.

The active assumption of responsibility for the welfare of the environment.

The renewal of degraded or destroyed ecosystems through active human intervention.

The regrowth of a forest, either through the planting of seeds or trees in an area where a forest was cut down.

The use of a species to control the population growth or spread of an undesirable species.

The use of living organisms to clean up contaminated areas naturally.

The use of organisms to add essential nutrients to depleated soils.