Ecology 1

Biogeography

(Science: study) The study of the distribution of different species of organisms around the planet and the factors that influenced that distribution.

Regulators

(general) A substance or process that regulates or controls another, as in a growth regulator that regulates the growth of an organism.

Levels of Organization (Biosphere, Ecosystem, Community, Population, Individual) in order.

A beach scene on Earth, simultaneously showing the lithosphere (ground), hydrosphere (ocean) and atmosphere (air) Geochemists define the biosphere as being the total sum of living organisms (the "biomass" or "biota" as referred to by biologists and ecologists). An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment (things like air, water and mineral soil), interacting as a system. Community, also called biological community, in biology, an interacting group of various species in a common location. For example, a forest of trees and undergrowth plants, inhabited by animals and rooted in soil containing bacteria and fungi, constitutes a biological community.Jan 15, 2014 Community, also called biological community, in biology, an interacting group of various species in a common location. For example, a forest of trees and undergrowth plants, inhabited by animals and rooted in soil containing bacteria and fungi, constitutes a biological community. A group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live in the same place at the same time. Individuality (or selfhood) is the state or quality of being an individual; particularly of being a person separate from other persons and possessing his or her own needs or goals. The exact definition of an individual is important in the fields of biology, law, and philosophy.

Biotic

Associated with or derived from living organisms.

Community Ecology

Community ecology or synecology is the study of the interactions between species in communities on many spatial and temporal scales, including the distribution, structure, abundance, demography, and interactions between coexisting populations.

Conformers

Conformer Any organism whose internal environment is highly influenced by external factors. Many marine invertebrates are conformers: they have no need to control their internal environment since the external environment is fairly constant in terms of temperature, oxygen tension, and nutrients.

Ecosystem Ecology

Ecosystem ecology is the integrated study of living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of ecosystems and their interactions within an ecosystem framework.

Organismal Ecology

Here are a few definitions that are important for general biology: Organismal Ecology - evolutionary adaptations that enable individual organisms to survive in their environment. Population Ecology - studies processes of population growth, density, and how members of a population coexists.

Homeostasis

Homeostasis is a term that is used to both describe the survival of organisms in an ecosystem and to describe the successful survival of cells inside of an organism. Organisms and populations can maintain homeostasis in an environment when they have a steady level of births and deaths.

Abiotic

In biology and ecology, abiotic components or abiotic factors are non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms and the functioning of ecosystems. Abiotic factors and phenomena associated with them underpin all biology.

Microclimate

Local variations of the climate within a given area.

Population Ecology

Population ecology or autoecology is a sub-field of ecology that deals with the dynamics of species populations and how these populations interact with the environment. It is the study of how the population sizes of species groups change over time and space.

Ecology

the branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, including other organisms. 2. Also called human ecology. the branch of sociology concerned with the spacing and interdependence of people and institutions.

Macroclimate

the general climate of a large area, as of a continent or country.