Glossary of

Ecology
Sources:
en.wikipedia.org,
dictionary.com
 ABIOTIC of or characterized by the absence of life or living organisms.
adaptive behavior - In behavioral ecology, this is any behavior which contributes to an
individual's reproductive success and is thus subject to the forces ofnatural selection.
aerobic metabolism - the process of cellular respiration that occur in the presence of oxygen
age structure - the distribution of various age groups in a population (typically that of a country or
region of the world), which normally forms the shape of a pyramid.
agroecology - the science of applying ecological concepts and principles to the design,
development, and management of agricultural environments
agroecosystem - an assembly of mutually interacting organisms and their environment in which
materials related to crop production are interchanged in a largely cyclical manner
allee effect - a biology-related concept that is characterized by the relationship between the size
of the population and the growth rate of the species.
altruistic behavior - behavior in which the subject shows less of a concern for their own well
being and more for the welfare of others or offspring.
ANAEROBIC metabolism - the fermentation of organic compounds in which air is not breathed
in. Contrary to aerobic respiration which needs oxygen to be carried out.
Animal behavior - studied in ethology & zoology. the desire to understand animals and their use
of communication, emotions, sex, and other behaviors.
area effect (island biodiversity) - the hypothesis that larger islands can support more species than
smaller islands
ATMOSPHERE - earth's atmosphere is composed of gases and water that are retained by
earth's gravity and help the earth retain heat and reflect UV radiation.
AUTECOLOGY - Also known as population ecology. It is a major sub-field of ecology that deals
with the dynamics of species populations and how these populations interact with the
environment.
autopoesis - An organized self contained system whose parts and systems integrate seamlessly
in a relationship of form and function.
AUTOTROPH - an organism who makes its own food from inorganic materials.
 Bacteria - ubiquitous one-celled organisms, spherical, spiral, or rod-
shapedand appearing singly or in chains, comprising the Schizomycota, aphylum of the kingdom Monera
(in some classification systems theplant class Schizomycetes), various species of which are involvedin f
ermentation, putrefaction, infectious diseases, or nitrogenfixation.
Behavioral ecology - studies the ecological and evolutionary basis for animal behavior, focusing largely
at the level of the individual
biodegradable - capable of decaying through the action of living organisms
BIODIVERSITY - diversity among and within plant and animal species in an environment
Biogeochemistry - effect of biota on global chemistry, and the cycles of matter and energy that transport
the Earth's chemical components in time and space
biogeochemical cycle - the pathway through which a chemical, element, or molecule moves through
the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, andbiosphere.
Biogeography - the study of the geographic distributions of species
biogeographic realm - is the largest scale of the Earth's surface based on the distribution patterns of
plants and animals.
bioinvader - non-native species
biological magnification - the increase in concentration of a substance
BIOMAGNIFICATION - the process whereby certain substances such as pesticides or heavy metals
move up the food chain
BIOMASS - the sum of all living living organisms in an area.
biomass pyramid - also called a ecological pyramid, it is a graph that illustrates the productivity in
a trophic level
BIOME - The total complex of biotic communities occupying and characterizing a particular area or zone
BIOSPHERE - the sphere of life; all living matter of the planet occupied by life
biota - the total collection of organisms of a geographic region or a time period.
BIOTIC components of an ecosystem that are living organisms
biotic potential - under ideal conditions, the maximum rate of increase of a population in a given area
BOG this ecosystems receive water only from rainfall, not from streams, rivers or groundwater.
boreal forest (example of a biome) - forest areas of the northern North Temperate Zone, mostly made of
coniferous trees, also known as taiga.
 COMMUNITY STRUCTURE - a series of close knit groups that share common characteristics, they form a spider web
pattern because of the natural divisions in the structure of the community
carbon cycle - is the biogeochemical cycle by which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere,
hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth.
CARNIVORE animals that feed on other animals.
CARRYING CAPACITY - the maximum number of individuals an environment's resources can support, including the food
and water available for the environment
Charismatic megafauna - a species of large animal species with widespread popular appeal that environmental
activists use to achieve conservation goals well beyond just those species. Examples include the Giant Panda, the Bengal
Tiger, and the Blue Whale. See also: Flagship species
CHEMOTROPHS - often misspelled as chemautotrophs, organisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic compounds
such as ammonia, nitrates and sulfides, and they use this energy to synthesize carbohydrates.
Chemical ecology - which deals with the ecological role of biological chemicals used in a wide range of areas including
defense against predators and attraction of mates
climate - The long term average weather pattern in a particular place.
climate change - change in weather conditions such as cloud cover wind speed, temperature , rainfall or humidity in a
specific region.
cohert - an individual in a population that is of the same species
climax community - a biological community of plants and animals that has reached a constant state occurring when the
species is best adapted to average conditions in that area
climax-pattern model - a community is adapted to many environmental factors that vary in their influence over a region
conservation ecology - which studies how to reduce the risk of species extinction
commensalism - A symbiotic relationship between two organisms of different species in which one attains some benefits
while the other is unaffected
communication display - a pattern of behavior that is a social signal, sending others a message through different displays
of movement, and voice
COMMUNITY - a group of various organisms living in the same environment
community assembly theory - explains how environmentally similar sites have different species or similar species because
of the resources they need or "niche requirements"
Community ecology (or synecology) - studies the interactions between species within an ecological community
CONSUMER - an organism, usually an animal, that feeds on plants or other animals.
competition - when organisms from the same or different species compete against each other for food, better living
conditions, better reproductive success, or any limited resource where the most fit or most adapted individual comes out on
top and thus survives and reproduces
competitive exclusion principle - states that two species can not both exist if they are competing for exactly the same
resource. Therefore there is always one with a small advantage that will cause the other species in most cases to become
extinct.
coniferous forest - is a land biome, or large section of land characterized by coniferous plants
CONSERVATION - refers to meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs.
 deciduous broadleaf forest - a forest in a more mild climate with dry seasons, where the tree's
foliage changes with the varying seasons.
DECOMPOSITION - process by which tissues of dead organisms break down to more simplistic
forms of mater and organic matterial, freeing up the limited space in the biome
density-dependent control - any factors that affect individuals of a population and that vary with
population density.
Desert ecology - The sum of the interactions between both biotic and abiotic factors of the
desert biomes. including the interactions of plant, animal, and bacterial populations in a
desert community.
DESERT biome - a landscape that receives less than 10 inches of rain per year
desertification - a process by which areas become desertlike wastelands with low biodiversity
Demographics - the characteristics of human populations for purposes of social studies.
demographic transition model - a model, which represents a shift from high to low birth rates
and death rates as part of the economic development of a country
denitrification - The breakdown of nitrates by anaerobic bacteria into other forms. Generally soil.
density independent factor - A factor that affects the size of a population regardless of the
population density.
detrital food web - a food web depicting energy flow from photoautotrophs through detrivores
and decomposers
DECOMPOSER - organisms that breakdown substances into simpler substances
DETRITIVORE - heterotrophs which consume decomposing bits of organic matter, such as leaf
litter.
distance effect (island biogeography) - the uniques assemblage of life form and species on an
island
dry woodland - a type of biome that forms when rainfall is averaging around 40 to 100
centimeters, and also has many tall trees
dominance hierarchy - organization of individuals into groups with a social structure.
Dominant species - a species which characterizes and predominates an ecological
community as measured by primary productivity or biomass.
doubling time - the amount of time it a population takes to double its size.
 ECOLOGY - The study of interactions between organisms and their environment
ecological literacy - is the ability to understand the natural systems that make life on earth possible
Ecological succession - a focus on the understanding that directs vegetation change
ecophagy - the consuming of an ecosystem
Ecophysiology - which studies the interaction of physiological traits with the abiotic environment
ecopoiesis - fabrication of a sustainable ecosystem on a currently lifeless, sterile planet
ecoregion - a region defined by its geography and ecology
ecosynthesis - is a term used to describe the use of introduced species to fill niches in a disrupted environment, with the
aim of increasing the speed of ecological restoration.
ECOSYSTEM - the total of interacting organisms (biocoenosis) and non-living things (biotope) in a specific environment;
This is composed of different populations living interacting as competitors, predator and prey, or symbiotically.
Ecosystem ecology - which studies how flows of energy and matter interact with biotic elements of ecosystems
ecosystem modeling - The use of math, computer programs and models to foreshadow unanticipated problems of the
ecosystem
Ecosystem services - resources and processes that are supplied in a natural ecosystem that benefits organisms.
ecotone - a transition area between two adjacent but different landscape patches
ecotoxicology - looks at the ecological role of toxic chemicals (often pollutants, but also naturally occurring compounds)
el Nino - short period of change in the Pacific Ocean's climate around Equator.
ecozone - an area that has characteristics of natural origin such as climate, terrain, vegetation, etc. It is also the largest
division of the Earth's surface filled with living organisms.
endangered species - a species that contains numbers so low that it risks becoming extinct
energy pyramid - Shows the flow of energy through a pyramid
environmental restoration - repairing damages to an area caused by humans, natural disasters or industry.
ethology - the study of animal behavior as behavioral ecology, a branch of zoology.
EUTROPHICATION - an increase in chemical nutrients in the ecosystem. It may occur on land or in water. This increase of
chemicals usually causes an increase or decrease of plant growth.
evaporation - is the slow vaporization of water from either the soil or surface water.
evolutionary ecology - (or ecoevolution) the evolutionary changes in the context of the populations and communities in
which the organisms exist
exotic species - introduced species not native or endemic to a habitat
extinction - when organisms completely die off and there are no more of that organism left.
exponential growth - is the growth of a population that is consistent
emigration - leaving ones native region to go to another
estuary - a body of water on the coast attached to the ocean and rivers or streams that often give it a black color as a result
of silt and sediment.
 fall overturn - the mixing (or "turning over") of water that takes place in autumn that reoxygenates
the water.
fire ecology - which looks at the role of fire in the environment of plants and animals and its effect
on ecological communities
fixed action pattern - is a behavior that is independent when changes in the environment occur
flagship species - is a species chosen to represent an environmental cause, such as an
ecosystem in need of conservation.
FLOODLAND - ecosystems obtain their water from rivers and are often extremely seasonal.
FOOD CHAIN - a group of organisms interrelated by the fact that each member of the group feeds
upon the one below it.
FOOD WEB - a set of interconnected food chains by which energy and materials circulate within
an ecosystem; the complicated feeding relationships that exist among organisms in natural
ecosystem.
forest ecology
foundation species - is a species of dominant primary PRODUCER in an ecosystem both in
terms of abundance and influence.
founder effect - the accumulation of random genetic changes in an isolated population
functional ecology - the study of the roles, or functions, that certain species (or groups thereof)
play in an ecosystem
 Genetic bottleneck - is an evolutionary event in which a significant percentage of a population or
species is killed or otherwise prevented from reproducing.
geographic dispersal - when an organism moves into another region to join another community.
Global ecology - examines ecological phenomena at the largest possible scale,
addressing macroecological questions
global ecophagy - is a term coined by Robert Freitas that means, literally, the consuming of an
ecosystem.
global warming - the warming of the Earth's average temperature of near-surface air and oceans
grassland - and where grass or grasslike vegetation grows as the dominant form of plant life
GREENHOUSE EFFECT - warming that results when solar radiation is trapped by the
atmosphere, which is caused by gases that allow sunshine to pass through but absorb heat that is
radiated back from the warmed surface of the earth
GREENHOUSE GASES Carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, ozone (note, not oxygen in
general)
 HABITAT - Specific ecological or environmental areas that are inhabited by specific plants and
animal species.
habitat connectivity - Allowing for the conservation or maintenance of continuous or connected
habitats, so as to preserve movements and exchanges associated with the habitat.
habitat corridors - a strip of land that helps with the movement of a species between
disconnected areas of their natural habitat.
habitat fragmentation - a process of environmental change that describes the discontinuations,
or fragmenting, of a species' natural habitat.
HERBIVORE - animals that graze directly on plants or algae
HETEROTROPH - unable to produce food, are constantly looking for source of organic nutrients
from elsewhere e.g. animals, humans
homeostasis - the property of a system that regulates the internal environment and maintains a
constant and stable condition. ex: endothermic animals maintain a constant body temperature.
host - an organism that has another organism on on in itself
human ecology - a field of study that deals with relationships between humans and their
societies; their natural, social, and created environments.
hydrologic cycle - the cycle or process of evaporation and condensation of water, and it's
distribution across the earth driven by solar energy
HYDROSPHERE - the water on or surrounding the surface of the globe, including the water of the
oceans and the water in the atmosphere.
hydrothermal vent - an underwater steaming fissure that has unique ecosystems.
 ion exchange - A reversible chemical reaction when ions with the same charge can be switched.
This can be used in purification of a substance.
illegitimate receiver - when one species detects another species scent and kills it in defense.
illegitimate signaler - a predatory species will mimic signals to lure in their prey
immigration - The one-way inward movement of individuals or into another population or
population area.
imprinting - a time-dependent form of learning triggered by exposure to sign stimuli
indicator species - is any biological species that defines a trait or characteristic of
the environment. The presence and/or abundance of organisms of these species are typically
used to indicate the health and an ecosystem
instinctive behavior - occurs when an animal has a particular internal state while it is in the
presence of an external stimulation called a releaser
Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis - a theory that tries to predict how a species diversity will
change with changing levels of disturbance
interspecific competition - this occurs when different species try to use the same resources in
an environment
Intertidal zone - Area exposed to the air during low tide.
invasive species - a non-native species whose introduction to an area is likely to cause economic
or environmental harm or harm to human health
 jungle - A large, undeveloped, humid forest that is home to many wild plants and animals.

K-selected species - the species that is a group of strong competitors in a crowded environment
and have fewer but stronger offspring.
keystone species - keystone species is a species that has a disproportionate effect on its
environment relative to its abundance. Such species affect many other organisms in an
ecosystem and help to determine the types and numbers of various others species in a
community.

LANDSCAPE - a "heterogenous area composed of a cluster of interacting ecosystems that are

repeated in a similar manner throughout" (Fundamentals of Ecology 5th Ed. Odum & Barrett from
Forman and Godron 1986).
La Nina - when the ocean surface cools
lake - a body of liquid on the surface of the Earth; it is considered a lake when it is not part of an
ocean, is inland, and is fed by a river
Landscape ecology - studies the interactions between discrete elements of a landscape
learned behavior - a type of action or reflex that you learn
Lek - type of animal territory in which males of a certain species gather to demonstrate their
prowess before or during mating season
lichen
limiting factor - any essential resource that is in short supply in an environment
lithosphere
logistic curve - an S shaped curve that usually represents population growth.
LotkaVolterra equation - Describes an ecological predator- prey model
 macroecology - the study of large scale ecological phenomena
MANGROVE WETLAND - mangroves are most often defined as trees or shubs found in sub
tropic climates. where plants "assemblage or mangal" and provide habitat for many marine
organisms
marine ecology - and aquatic ecology, where the dominant environmental milieu is water
marine snow - tiny particles, including dead organic matter from the upper layers of the ocean,
sinking deep into the ocean
MARINE WETLAND - coastlines in the tropical and subtropical regions fringed with a strip of
swampland which is inundated every high tide with marine and brackish waters.
mark and recapture - used to estimate populations and find survival rates, movement and
growth.
mesopredator release hypothesis - hypothesis that states as top predators dwindle in an
ecosystem an increase in the populations of mesopredators occur
metabolic theory of ecology - theory that explains the relationship between an organism's body
mass and metabolic rate
microbial ecology - the ecology of micro-organisms
micro-climate - an area influenced by either natural or manmade features that change the
climatic conditions from the normal regional climate
microecology - the study of small scale ecological phenomena
migration - the movement of organisms from one place to another
mimicry - imitative behavior. animal species resembling one another.
molecular ecology - a field of evolutionary biology concerned with applying molecular population
genetics, molecular phylogenetics, and genomics to traditional ecological questions. Essentially
the same as ecological genetics
molecular engineering - any means of creating molecules through the use of technology
monsoon - air circulation patterns that influence the continents north or south of warm oceans
MUTUALISM - A biological interaction between individuals of two different species, where each
individual derives a fitness benefit. It includes relationships which
are mutualistic, parasitic or commensal.
 natural selection - happens over a long period of time and is defined as a certain trait and how
species with this trait can or can not survive, and how it effects the reproduction of this good or
bad trait. Therefore if a species carries a bad trait that lowers its survival rate its reproductive rate
will lower as well.
natural resource - naturally forming substances that are considered valuable in their natural or
unrefined form
negative feedback loop - feedback that reduces the output of a system. ex. when the
temperature rises in a room, it turns off the thermostat so that the temperature remains stable
NET PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY - the total amount of energy fixed per unit of time minus the
amount of energy expended by the metabolic activities of the photosynthetic organisms in the
community.
neutralism - belief that changes in evolution are caused by random mutation rather than by
natural selection.
NICHE - a position or function of an organism in a community of related organisms.
nitrification - the oxidation of ammonia with oxygen into nitrite
nitrogen cycle - this is a continuous cycle by which nitrogen from the atmosphere and
compounded nitrogen keeps getting exhanged through the soil into substances that can be taken
up and used by green plants, what is left returns to the air as a result of denitrification.
nitrogen fixation - conversion of nitrogen into nitrogen compounds (ex. nitrate and nitrite) that is
carried out naturally by certain bacteria and algae.
NUTRIENT - provides nourishment and promotes growth.

ocean - the large body of salt water which covers almost 75% of the earths surface.
OLIGOTROPHIC describes lakes that are nutrient-poor
OMNIVORE - animals that feed both on plants and animals
 paleoecology - a science which seeks to understand the relationships between species in fossil assemblages
parasite - an organism which survives with another through a symbiotic relationship with another organismits hostwhich
it does not usually kill directly but does negatively effect.
parasitoid - An organism that is a parasite for most of its life and will usually kill its host
permafrost - permanently frozen layer of terrain found beneath the arctic tundra
per capita - a measurement indicating "per unit of population"
pheromone - a chemical which is typically given off into the environment as a signal which causes a natural behavioral
response in members of the samespecies
PHOSPHORUS CYCLE - the biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of phosphorus through the environment
PHOTOAUTOTROPHS - photosynthesizers such as algae and green plants that produce most of the organic nutrients for
the biosphere
pioneer species - species that first inhabit an environment which was previously unoccupied
pollination - a type of fertilization and reproduction where the transpoatation of pollen grains from plants to ovure- bearing
organs. This takes place by either wind, water, or animal assistance
POLLUTION - occurs when substances are released into the environment in harmful amounts as a direct result of
human activity.
POPULATION The group interacting and Interbreeding organism of the same species
population density - the number of individuals of a species living per unit of an area.
A population pyramid is named for the pyramidal shape of the age distribution found in many populations.
political ecology - still under development, this term describes how political and economic power effects ecology, and how
ecology can also shape the political economy, by understanding and analyzing environmental influences on social activity.
population ecology (or autecology) - deals with the dynamics of populations within species, and the interactions of these
populations with environmental factors
population pyramid - a graphic illustration which shows the age structure in a population (typically that of a country or
region of the world), which normally forms the shape of a pyramid.
population size - a statistic (n) which describes the number of individuals of a species in a particular geographic range.
predation - the interaction among populations when one organism consumes another one.
predator - an organism that lives by killing and consuming another living organism.
prey - living organisms that predators feed on
primary producer - an autotroph that obtains energy directly from the nonliving environment through photosynthesis or less
commonly throughchemosynthesis
PRIMARY PRODUCTION - production of organic compounds from carbon through photosynthesis. This effects all life on
Earth either directly or indirectly
protocooperation - two species interact with each other beneficially
population distribution - means the pattern of where people and animals live. Throughout the world distribution is uneven
for example places which contain small amounts of people are considered sparsely populated whereas places which are
densely populated contain many people.
PRODUCER - they are those able to synthesize food for themselves
 rain shadow - A dry area of land that is leeward of a mountain range that results in arid or
semiarid conditions
reproductive base - includes all members of a population that are of reproductive and pre-
reproductive ages.
resource partitioning - when two or more species share, and compete for a resource in different
ways in order for both species to coexist
Restoration ecology - attempts to understand the ecological basis needed to restore impaired or
damaged ecosystems
RIVER WATER - source of water that is sediment rich
R-selected species - A species selected for its superiority in variable or unpredictable
environments
RUN-OFF - the flow of water over land from rain, melting snow, or other sources
 savanna (example of a biome) - A flat grassland with scattered trees in tropical or subtropical regions
SECONDARY PRODUCTIVITY - the rate of biomass accumulation by heterotrophs.
secondary succession - succession that occurs after the original population has been destroyed or disturbed, as
with a forest fire
selfish behavior - occurs when an individual, despite the impact it may have on the rest of the population,
increases its own chances of reproducing
sexual selection - a trait that makes an individual more likely to find a mate than others. A microevolutionary
process.
sign stimulus - Fixed action patterns such as mating dances.
signal receiver - The individual who is responding to the communication signals sent by the signaler.
signaler - a way to capture attention from a species
social parasite - A group or individual that latches on to another group or individual to benefit itself. This type of
process affects the original pattern of the group its feeding off.
social behavior - behavior of an individual towards society and members of the same species as a whole.
soil - the naturally occurring, unconsolidated or loose covering on the Earth's surface
soil ecology - the ecology of the pedosphere
song system - a series of discrete brain nuclei used to produce and learn certain songs of songbirds.
source-sink dynamics - a theoretical model used by ecologists to describe how variation in habitat quality may
affect the population growth or decline oforganisms
southern pine forests - a forest consisting of a pine species that thrives in the sandy, dry, and nutrient-poor soil
on the coastal plains of the south Atlantic and Gulf states.
speciation - the evolutionary process where new biological species come about
spring overturn - the mixing of lake waters through the melting of ice cover, the warming of surface waters,
convection currents, and wind action occurring inspring
sulfur cycle - - the biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of sulfur through the environment
stream - a flowing-water ecosystem that starts out as freshwater springs or seeps
SUN - the ultimate source of energy for every ecosystem.
survivorship curve - a graph showing the number or proportion of individuals surviving at each age for a given
species
SWAMP - ecosystem are found in areas of impeded drainage, where water runs off the surrounding land and collects, or where
groundwater lies close to the surface.
SYMBIOSIS - is a relationship between two or more individuals in a species mainly concerning food. (For
example: if the species is competing for the same food, trying to avoid getting eaten or is attempted to eat the
other.) There are five different types of symbolic relations which describes who benefits from the relation.
SYNECOLOGY - the study of the ecology of whole communities of organisms
 tactile display - when a signlar touches the receiver in ritualized ways
territory - an area that one or more individuals defend against competition.
threat display - a signal used by any certain species in order to show that the user intends to
attack
Theoretical ecology - the development of ecological theory, usually with mathematical, statistical
and/or computer modeling tools
total fertility rate - the average number of children that a mother bears in a population during
their years of reproduction.
TROPHIC LEVEL - describes the way an organism is on the food chainwhat it eats, and what
eats it
TROPICAL RAIN FOREST - a biome characterized by regular, heavy rainfall, with a humidity of
80 plus percent, and biodiversity
tundra (example of a biome) - a permanently frozen, treeless expanse between the icecap and
treeline of Arctic regions

umbrella species - species which are selected for making conservation related decisions,
typically because protecting these species indirectly protects the many other species that make up
the ecological community of its habitat.
ultra Plankton - a large breed of sea plankton found in marine environments.
upwelling - when the flow of water is in an upward direction created by atmospheric winds that
blow over the ocean's surface away from the coastline and cause deeper, colder, water to rise to
the top.
Urban ecology - the study of ecosystems in urban areas
 virus - an infectious agent (that cannot be seen even under the most powerful optical microscope)
that is capable of growing and reproducing outside of a host cell. Viruses can infect all forms of
cellular life.

warning coloration - a warning signal that prey uses to warn off predators
water cycle - (a.k.a. hydrologic cycle) the nonstop movement of water on, above, and below
Earth's surface. The water changes between liquid, vapor, and ice at different times during the
cycle.
water vapour - the gaseous state of water.
watershed - the land where water from rain and show melts drains downhil into a body of water
(i.e. a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean).
web of life - also known as the food chain, food network, or trophic social network. It descriped
the eating relationships between different specied in a certain ecosystem.

xeric - extremely dry.

xylophagous - feeding on wood

Yellow rain - A powdery, poisonous, yellow substance reported as dropping from the air in
southeast Asia and found to be the excrement of wild honeybees contaminated by a fungal toxin

zero population growth - The population of a given area neither increases or decreases over a
period of time.