Community Structure exam Flashcards

The total number of different species in a community.

It measures species diversity in a community, integrating species richness and relative abundance.

The proportion of each species in relation to all individuals in the community.

A linear sequence of organisms where each is eaten by the next.

The feeding relationships between organisms in a community.

A species with a low biomass but a disproportionately large impact on its community.

Organisms that significantly alter their physical environment, affecting the community.

Ecological succession that occurs on newly exposed substrates.

Ecological succession that follows disturbances in previously inhabited areas.

A complex network of multiple interconnected food chains in a community.

Species that are most abundant or have the highest biomass in a community.

Population cycling influenced by resource or food availability at lower trophic levels.

Population cycling influenced by organisms at higher trophic levels, such as predators.

A graphical representation showing that larger areas support more species.

The study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time.

A species that has strong community-wide effects due to its large biomass.

A weighted measurement of biodiversity that integrates species richness and relative abundance.

Inefficient energy transfers between trophic levels, with only about 10% of energy transferred to the next level.

The makeup and organization of a community, including species richness, relative abundance, and species interactions.

The process by which the structure of a biological community evolves over time.

An organism's position in a food chain or food web.

It leads to higher primary productivity, more biomass, and greater stability and resilience to disturbances.

Events that can reshape communities, leading to ecological succession.

A higher value indicates greater species diversity and a more biodiverse community.

Includes competition, exploitation, mutualism, and commensalism among species.

Primary succession occurs on newly exposed substrates, while secondary succession follows disturbances in previously inhabited areas.

Includes biotic (such as species distribution) and abiotic (such as climate and topography) factors.

Bees serve as pollinators for many plants, playing a crucial ecological role despite their low biomass.

They alter their environment by creating dams, which can create new habitats for other species.