ECOLOGY

• Community


  Populations of different species living and interacting in a common area
• Community Ecology


  Study of these communities
• Hierarchy of Life on Earth


  • Organism (Individual living organism)
  • Population (Group of individuals of the same species)
  • Community (Different species interacting with one another)
  • Ecosystem (Abiotic and biotic)
  • Biome (Ecosystems that occupy a large geographic area)
• Niche


  The position or function a species plays within its community
• Keystone Species


  • Impacts its community more than its mere abundance would predict, often altering ecosystem structure
  • May provide a unique service
  • Other species and the ecosystem depend on keystone species to survive and reproduce
  • If lost would create a "ripple effect" within community leading to a less healthy community as a whole
• Types of Keystone Species


  • Keystone Predator (Maintains prey population)
  • Keystone Modifier (Significantly alter the physical environment of their habitat)
  • Keystone Prey (Hunted but play a crucial role in the ecosystem despite being eaten)
  • Keystone Mutualist (Depend on mutually beneficial relationships with other species for their survival)
  • Keystone Hosts (Provides essential resources like food and shelter for other keystone species)
• Foundation Species


  • Strong role in structuring a community by creating and maintaining habitat
  • Abundant in number and account for significant biomass in a system
  • Bountiful connections to numerous other species
• Invasive Species


  • Fast growing
  • Reproduce quickly
  • Tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions
  • Survive on wide range of food sources
  • Can thrive in areas occupied by humans
• Indicator Species


  • Can signal both healthy and unhealthy environment
  • Informs about pollution, nutrient levels, salinity, temperature or food availability and more
• Species Richness


  Total number of different species in a community
• Species Evenness


  Relative abundance of each species in a community
• Community Dynamics


  Changes to a community's structure and composition over time
• Ecological Succession


  The process of gradual change in the type and number of species of a community over time
• Primary Succession


  Occurs in new habitats that have not yet been colonized by living organisms
• Secondary Succession


  Occurs more quickly, started because of a disturbance event that occurs in an existing ecosystem
• Community Structure


  Final stage of succession, organisms remain stable and exist in balance with the ecosystem
• Causes of Habitat Fragmentation


  • Climate change
  • Agriculture
  • Urbanization
• Edge Effects


  The changes in community structure that occur at the boundary between two habitats (ecotone)
• Ecotone


  A zone of transition between two communities or habitats, can be very sharp or very gradual
• Restoration Ecology


  Study of repairing damaged ecosystems by human intervention
• Mine Reclamation


  1. Leveling or evening of land

  2. Adding new topsoil or appropriate substrate

  3. Re-seeding native vegetation

  4. Monitoring the area