Biology 2483A Lecture : Ecology Definitions.docx

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19 Nov 2012
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Ecology: the scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environment, the scientific study of interactions that determine the distribution (geographic location) and abundance of organisms. Ecological maxims (guiding principles): organisms interact and are interconnected, everything goes somewhere, no population can increase in size forever, finite energy and resources result in trade-offs, organisms evolve, communities and ecosystems change over time, spatial scale matters. Ecological hierarchy: organism < population < community < ecosystem < biosphere. Population: group of individuals of a species that are living and interacting in a particular area. Community: association of populations of different species in the same area. Ecosystem: community of organisms plus the physical environment. Landscapes: areas with substantial differences, typically including multiple ecosystems. Biosphere all living organisms on earth plus the environments in which they live. Adaptation: a characteristic that improves survival or reproduction. Natural selection: individuals with certain adaptations tend to survive and reproduce at a higher rate than other individuals.

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