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Definition
| Species that migrate into an ecosystem or are deliberately or accidentally introduced into an ecosystem by humans. |
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| Plant that grows, sets seed, and dies in one growing season. |
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| Fairly stable, self-sustaining community in an advanced stage of ecological succession; usually has a diverse array of species and ecological niches; captures and uses energy and cycles critical chemicals more efficiently than simpler, immature communities. |
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Definition
| An interaction between organisms of different species in which one type of organism benefits and the other type is neither helped nor harmed to any great degree. |
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| Two or more individual organisms of a single species (intraspecific competition) or two or more individuals of different species (interspecific competition) attempting to use the same scarce resources in the same ecosystem. |
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| A discrete event that disrupts an ecosystem or community. Examples of natural disturbances include fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, and floods. Examples of human-caused disturbances include deforestation, overgrazing, and plowing. |
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Definition
| Process in which communities of plant and animal species in a particular area are replaced over time by a series of different and often more complex communities. |
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Definition
| Process in which communities of plant and animal species in a particular area are replaced over time by a series of different and often more complex communities. |
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Definition
| Species that migrate into an ecosystem or are deliberately or accidentally introduced into an ecosystem by humans. |
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Definition
| Species that plays a major role in shaping communities by creating and enhancing a habitat that benefits other species. |
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| Breakup of a habitat into smaller pieces, usually as a result of human activities. |
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Definition
| Plant or animal on which a parasite feeds. |
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Definition
| Community at an early stage of ecological succession. It usually has a low number of species and ecological niches and cannot capture and use energy and cycle critical nutrients as efficiently as more complex, mature communities. |
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Definition
| Species that migrate into an ecosystem or are deliberately or accidentally introduced into an ecosystem by humans. |
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| Species that serve as early warnings that a community or ecosystem is being degraded. |
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Definition
| Ability of a living system to resist being disturbed or altered. |
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Term
| interspecific competition |
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Definition
| attempts by members of two or more species to use the same limited resources in an ecosystem. |
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Term
| intraspecific competition |
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Definition
| competition Attempts by two or more organisms of a single species to use the same limited resources in an ecosystem. |
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Term
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Definition
| Species that migrate into an ecosystem or are deliberately or accidentally introduced into an ecosystem by humans. |
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Term
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Definition
| Species that play roles affecting many other organisms in an ecosystem. |
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Term
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Definition
| Fairly stable, self-sustaining community in an advanced stage of ecological succession; usually has a diverse array of species and ecological niches; captures and uses energy and cycles critical chemicals more efficiently than simpler, immature communities. |
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Term
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Definition
| Type of species interaction in which both participating species generally benefit. |
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Definition
| Species that normally live and thrive in a particular ecosystem. |
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Definition
| Species that migrate into an ecosystem or are deliberately or accidentally introduced into an ecosystem by humans. |
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Term
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Definition
| Consumer organism that lives on or in and feeds on a living plant or animal, known as the host, over an extended period of time. The parasite draws nourishment from and gradually weakens its host; it may or may not kill the host. |
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Definition
| Interaction between species in which one organism, called the parasite, preys on another organism, called the host, by living on or in the host. |
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Definition
| Organism that produces disease. |
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Definition
| Plant that can live for more than 2 years. |
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Definition
| First integrated set of plants, animals, and decomposers found in an area undergoing primary ecological succession. |
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Term
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Definition
| First hardy species, often microbes, mosses, and lichens, that begin colonizing a site as the first stage of ecological succession. |
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Term
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Definition
| Situation in which an organism of one species (the predator) captures and feeds on parts or all of an organism of another species (the prey). |
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Term
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Definition
| Organism that captures and feeds on parts or all of an organism of another species (the prey). |
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Term
| predator-prey relationship |
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Definition
| Interaction between two organisms of different species in which one organism, called the predator, captures and feeds on parts or all of another organism, called the prey. |
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Term
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Definition
| Organism that is captured and serves as a source of food for an organism of another species (the predator). |
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Definition
| Ecological succession in a bare area that has never been occupied by a community of organisms. |
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Definition
| Ability of a living system to restore itself to original condition after being exposed to an outside disturbance that is not too drastic. |
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Definition
| Ecological succession in an area in which natural vegetation has been removed or destroyed but the soil is not destroyed. |
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Definition
| Abundance of individuals within each species contained in a community. |
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Definition
| Number of different species contained in a community. |
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Definition
| See ecological succession, primary succession, secondary succession. |
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Term
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Definition
| The harmful or fatal effect of a small change in environmental conditions that exceeds the limit of tolerance of an organism or population of a species. |
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Term
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Definition
| Minimum and maximum limits for physical conditions (such as temperature) and concentrations of chemical substances beyond which no members of a particular species can survive. |
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