Biological Communities Overview

The living organisms in an ecosystem.

The non-living parts of an ecosystem, such as light, water, and nutrients.

An organism's role or way of life in an ecosystem.

The place where an organism lives; its address.

The interaction between living and non-living things in an area, including both biotic and abiotic factors.

All the populations of different species living and interacting in a given area.

The ways different species influence each other in a community.

The process where organisms better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

A relationship where one species (predator) eats another (prey).

Competition between members of the same species for resources.

Competition between members of different species for resources.

A series of organisms where each eats the one below it.

Interconnected food chains showing complex feeding relationships.

All living organisms in an ecosystem.

When one organism hunts and kills another for food.

A close, long-term interaction between two different organisms.

A symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit.

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other is harmed.

A species that has a large effect on its environment, even though it might not be common.

All individuals of a single species in a given area and time.

Organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

A sequence of organisms where each feeds on the one below it, transferring energy.

A network of interconnected food chains.

A species that has a large impact on the community in which it resides.

The changes in community structure and species interactions over time.

The populations of different species and their interactions within a community.

A state where the number of species and their relationships remain relatively constant in a community.

The gradual change in species composition over time in a community, following a disturbance.

The establishment of communities on newly exposed or formed rock.

How different living things in an area interact with each other.

When organisms struggle for resources like food, water, or space.

How human actions affect the natural environment.

Things that restrict how well an ecosystem functions.

Conditions for a healthy balance among species in an area.

Non-living elements affecting living things in an area (e.g. climate, sunlight).

Living aspects impacting species in an area (e.g predators, competition).

Direct and indirect ways human activity changes natural environments.

Human introduction or removal of species significantly alters community structure and ecosystem functions, potentially impacting ecological services and sustainability.

Species interactions are crucial for natural selection, determining which organisms thrive and pass on their genes, shaping future communities.

Physical, chemical, and biological components of a community determine its overall stability and resilience.

The arrangement and organization of species within a community.

The processes and activities that occur within an ecosystem, such as nutrient cycling and energy flow.

Thorough investigations over an extended period are essential to understand complex ecological responses to human actions.

Organisms that can adapt and survive changes in environmental conditions, continuing to thrive.

The interconnected nature of physical, chemical, and biological factors in maintaining biological diversity and healthy ecosystems, while considering human impact and long-term consequences.