Ecological Terminology

Ecological Terminology

Biosphere

  • The biosphere encompasses all parts of the Earth inhabited by living organisms.
  • Consists of multiple ecosystems like forests, oceans, grasslands, and others.

Ecosystem

  • An ecosystem includes all the plants, animals, and microorganisms in an area functioning together with all of the non-living physical factors of the environment.
  • Ecosystem services are the benefits people obtain from ecosystems.

Populations and Communities

  • A population is all the organisms of the same group or species, which live in a particular geographical area, and have the capability of interbreeding.
  • A community is a group of interacting populations of different species.

Habitat and Niche

  • The habitat is a certain place where a particular species lives.
  • A niche refers to how an organism fits into its environment. It includes its interactions with the surrounding physical environment and with other species it interacts with.

Pioneer and Climax Communities

  • Pioneer communities are the first species to colonise a barren or disturbed habitat, often composed of hardy species capable of surviving in harsh conditions.
  • Climax communities are the final stage of succession, where a stable and self-sustaining community is formed.

Succession

  • Succession is a slow, orderly progression of changes in community structures over time.
  • Primary succession starts with a previously unoccupied habitat whilst secondary succession occurs in a habitat following a disturbance or change.

Biodiversity

  • Biodiversity refers to the variety of life at all levels of organisation ranging from genes to ecosystems.
  • Greater biodiversity often means greater habitat stability and resilience to change or disaster.

Homeostasis

  • Homeostasis is how a biological system maintains balance and stability whilst undergoing changes.
  • It is important in maintaining organism and ecosystem health.

Trophic levels and energy flow

  • Trophic levels refer to the hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, comprising of producers, primary consumers, and higher level consumers.
  • Energy flow in the ecosystem occurs when one organism eats another. The food energy that primary producers make is distributed to other organisms through the food chain.