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14674298999Populationa group of organisms of the same species populating a given area0
14674303130CommunityAll the different populations that live together in an area1
14674304647EcosystemA biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.2
14674305478Biospherepart of Earth in which life exists including land, water, and air or atmosphere3
14674313098BiogeographyStudy of past and present distribution of organisms4
14674323218fixed action patternIn animal behavior, a sequence of unlearned acts that is essentially unchangeable and, once initiated, usually carried to completion.5
14674370717sign stimulusExternal sensory stimulus that triggers a fixed action pattern.6
14674380589Imprintingthe process by which certain animals form attachments during a critical period very early in life7
14674391470KinesisA simple change in activity or turning rate in response to a stimuli.8
14674395581taxisMovement toward or away from a stimulus.9
14674412032PheromonesChemical signals released by an animal that communicate information and affect the behavior of other animals of the same species.10
14674430928LearningThe modification of behavior based on specific experiences.11
14674447819Habituationdecreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation. As infants gain familiarity with repeated exposure to a visual stimulus, their interest wanes and they look away sooner.12
14674449028Cognitive MapA neural representation of the abstract spatial relationships between objects in an animal's surroundings.13
14674450786Associatve Learningthe acquired ability to associate one environment feature with another14
14674451355Classic Conditioninga type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events15
14674455721Operant Conditioninga type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher16
14674455722Cognitionthe process of knowing that may include awareness, reasoning, recollection and judgement17
14674455723monogamy, polygamy, polygyny, polyandryhaving only one spouse at a time Having more than one spouse at a time Having more than one wife at a time Having more than one husband at a time18
14674455724Agonistic BehaviorA type of behavior involving a contest of some kind that determines which competitor gains access to some resource, such as food or mates.19
14674455725Altruismselflessness; generosity; devotion to the interests of others20
14674455726Kin SelectionNatural selection that favors altruistic behaviors by enhancing reproductive success of relatives.21
14674455727Reciprocal altruismbehavior that benefits another with the expectation that those benefits will be returned in the future22
14674455728Demograhystudy of changes over time in vital stats of populations, especially birth rates and death rates23
14674457283SemelparityReproduction in which an organism produces all of its offspring in a single event; also known as big-bang reproduction.24
14674457284IteroparirtHaving many reproductive cycles25
14674457285Carrying CapacityLargest number of individuals of a population that a environment can support26
14674458529Exponential growth curvej-shaped curve showing the rapid increase in an exponentially growing population27
14674458530Logistic growth curvea plot that shows how the initial exponential growth of a population is slowed and finally brought to a standstill by limiting factors28
14674460381k-selectionSelection for life history traits that are sensitive to population density; also called density-dependent selection.29
14674460382r-selectionSelection for life history traits that maximize reproductive success in uncrowded environments; also called density-independent selection.30
14674460383ecological footprintThe aggregate land and water area required by a person, city, or nation to produce all of the resources it consumes and to absorb all of the wastes it generates.31
14674460384Fundamental nicheThe full potential range of the physical, chemical, and biological factors a species can use if there is no competition from other species.32
14674460385Realized nichethe range of abiotic and biotic conditions under which a species actually lives33
14674461271symbiosisan ecological relationship in which two species live in close contact with each other34
14674461272Parasitismecological relationship in which one organism benefits by harming another organism35
14674463652Mutualismecological relationship between two species in which each species gets a benefit from the interaction36
14674463653Commensalismecological relationship in which one species receives a benefit but the other species is not affected one way or another37
14674463654Keystone speciesA species that is not necessarily abundant in a community yet exerts strong control on community structure by the nature of its ecological role or niche.38
14674463655Invasive speciesA species, often introduced by humans, that takes hold outside its native range.39
14674463656Ecological successiontransition in the species composition of a community following a disturbance; establishment of a community in an area virtually barren of life40
14674463657Primary successiona type of ecological succession that occurs in an area where there were originally no organisms present and where soil has not yet formed41
14674463658Secondary successionSuccession following a disturbance that destroys a community without destroying the soil42
14674463659Autotrophan organism that is able to form nutritional organic substances from simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide.43
14674463660HeterotrophAn organism that obtains organic food molecules by eating other organisms or substances derived from them.44
14674463661DetritivoreA consumer that derives its energy and nutrients from nonliving organic material such as corpses, fallen plant material, and the wastes of living organisms; a decomposer.45
14674464756Gross Primary ProductionThe total primary production of an ecosystem.46
14674464757Net primary productionthe gross primary production of an ecosystem minus the energy used by the producers for respiration.47
14674465530EutrophicationA process by which nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, become highly concentrated in a body of water, leading to increased growth of organisms such as algae or cyanobacteria.48
14674465531Biogeochemical cycleany of the various chemical cycles that involve both biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems49
14674465532Nitrogen Fixationthe conversion of nitrogen gas into ammonia50
14674466706Biological magnificationa process in which retained substances become more concentrated at each higher trophic level in a food chain51
14674466707Greenhouse affectThe trapping of heat by a planet's atmosphere52
14674466708Global WarmingAn increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere (especially a sustained increase that causes climatic changes)53
14674469319Acid PrecipitationConversion of sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides to acids that return to Earth as rain, snow, or fog54
14674469320Sustainable environmenta world system that takes into account the limits of the environment, produces enough material goods for everyone's needs, and leaves a heritage of a sound environment for the next generation55
14786834250conservation biologyconserving diversity at all levels56
14786845707threats to biodiversityhabitat loss, introduced species, overharvesting, global change57
14786849666Acid rainRain containing acids that form in the atmosphere when industrial gas emissions (especially sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides) combine with water. Rain 5.6 ph or less58
14786862877biological magnificationincreasing concentration of a harmful substance in organisms at higher trophic levels in a food chain or food web59
14786881537OzoneA form of oxygen that has three oxygen atoms in each molecule instead of the usual two.60
14786884481greenhouse effectNatural situation in which heat is retained in Earth's atmosphere by carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and other gases61
14786889386greenhous effect causeBurning fuels62
14786893577global warmingAn increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere (especially a sustained increase that causes climatic changes)63
14786900093global carrying capacityMaximum number of people that can be sustainably supported by a given environment. About 10-15 million64
14786920714sustainable developmentDevelopment that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.65

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