AP Biology Flashcards: Community Ecology

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Community Ecology, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Biology.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Identify a factor that contributes to species extinction.

Answer: Habitat destruction. Primary threat to global biodiversity preservation.

Flashcard 2: Define ecological isolation.

Answer: When two species occupy different habitats within the same area. Reduces competition through spatial resource partitioning.

Flashcard 3: Define ecological isolation.

Answer: When two species occupy different habitats within the same area. Reduces competition through spatial resource partitioning.

Flashcard 4: What is a habitat?

Answer: The natural environment in which a species lives. Physical location where organisms live and obtain resources.

Flashcard 5: What is intraspecific competition?

Answer: Competition among members of the same species. Usually more intense due to identical resource needs.

Flashcard 6: What does the term 'symbiosis' refer to?

Answer: Any type of close and long-term biological interaction between species. Can be mutualistic, parasitic, or commensalistic relationships.

Flashcard 7: What is gamma diversity?

Answer: Total species diversity across different ecosystems in a region. Overall diversity across landscape or regional scale.

Flashcard 8: What is gamma diversity?

Answer: Total species diversity across different ecosystems in a region. Overall diversity across landscape or regional scale.

Flashcard 9: What is a food web?

Answer: A more complex network of who eats whom in a community. Shows interconnected feeding relationships in ecosystems.

Flashcard 10: What does the term 'symbiosis' refer to?

Answer: Any type of close and long-term biological interaction between species. Can be mutualistic, parasitic, or commensalistic relationships.

Flashcard 11: Identify a predator-prey relationship example.

Answer: Lions hunting zebras. Predator population often cycles with prey abundance.

Flashcard 12: What is commensalism?

Answer: Relationship where one species benefits, the other is neither helped nor harmed. One-sided benefit with neutral effect on the other species.

Flashcard 13: What is the role of a primary producer?

Answer: Organism that produces energy available for the rest of the ecosystem. Converts sunlight or chemicals into usable energy forms.

Flashcard 14: Define ecological niche.

Answer: Role and position a species has in its environment. Includes all biotic and abiotic factors affecting an organism.

Flashcard 15: What is an ecosystem engineer?

Answer: Organism that creates, modifies, or maintains habitats. Modifies environment for other species' benefit or detriment.

Flashcard 16: What is the Shannon diversity index?

Answer: A measure of species diversity in a community. Combines species richness with relative abundance patterns.

Flashcard 17: What is a habitat?

Answer: The natural environment in which a species lives. Physical location where organisms live and obtain resources.

Flashcard 18: What is the role of a foundation species?

Answer: Species that create and define a community. Provide physical structure that other species depend on.

Flashcard 19: What is a pioneer species?

Answer: First species to colonize barren environments. Hardy species that can survive harsh conditions.

Flashcard 20: What is the competitive exclusion principle?

Answer: Two species competing for the same resources cannot coexist. Also known as Gause's principle, based on resource competition.

Flashcard 21: Identify an example of mutualism.

Answer: Bees pollinating flowers while obtaining nectar. Both species benefit from this symbiotic relationship.

Flashcard 22: Identify a predator-prey relationship example.

Answer: Lions hunting zebras. Predator population often cycles with prey abundance.

Flashcard 23: Define trophic level.

Answer: The position an organism occupies in a food chain. Determines energy flow direction through the ecosystem.

Flashcard 24: What is intraspecific competition?

Answer: Competition among members of the same species. Usually more intense due to identical resource needs.

Flashcard 25: What is the role of a foundation species?

Answer: Species that create and define a community. Provide physical structure that other species depend on.

Flashcard 26: Identify an example of a natural barrier.

Answer: Mountain range. Geographic feature that prevents species movement or gene flow.

Flashcard 27: What is an ecological hotspot?

Answer: A biogeographic region with significant levels of biodiversity. Areas with exceptional endemic species and habitat threats.

Flashcard 28: Identify an example of an ecological disturbance.

Answer: Forest fire. Temporary disruption that can reset succession patterns.

Flashcard 29: Define parasitism.

Answer: Relationship where one species benefits at the expense of another. Parasite gains resources while harming the host organism.

Flashcard 30: Define invasive species.

Answer: Non-native species that spread widely and cause harm. Often outcompete native species for resources.

Flashcard 31: Define parasitism.

Answer: Relationship where one species benefits at the expense of another. Parasite gains resources while harming the host organism.

Flashcard 32: Define biotic factor.

Answer: Living component that affects the ecosystem. Includes all living organisms that influence ecosystem function.

Flashcard 33: What is an ecological hotspot?

Answer: A biogeographic region with significant levels of biodiversity. Areas with exceptional endemic species and habitat threats.

Flashcard 34: Define trophic level.

Answer: The position an organism occupies in a food chain. Determines energy flow direction through the ecosystem.

Flashcard 35: What is interspecific competition?

Answer: Competition between members of different species. Often involves resource competition between different species.

Flashcard 36: Identify an example of mutualism.

Answer: Bees pollinating flowers while obtaining nectar. Both species benefit from this symbiotic relationship.

Flashcard 37: What is an ecosystem engineer?

Answer: Organism that creates, modifies, or maintains habitats. Modifies environment for other species' benefit or detriment.

Flashcard 38: What is the role of decomposers in a community?

Answer: Break down dead organisms, recycling nutrients. Essential for nutrient cycling and energy flow continuation.

Flashcard 39: What is the role of decomposers in a community?

Answer: Break down dead organisms, recycling nutrients. Essential for nutrient cycling and energy flow continuation.

Flashcard 40: What is the significance of alpha diversity?

Answer: It measures species diversity within a particular area or ecosystem. Local diversity within specific habitat boundaries.

Flashcard 41: Define primary succession.

Answer: Succession that begins in lifeless areas with no soil. Occurs on bare rock or after volcanic eruptions.

Flashcard 42: What is an ecological footprint?

Answer: Measurement of human impact on Earth's ecosystems. Quantifies resource consumption and waste production rates.

Flashcard 43: Identify a factor that limits primary productivity.

Answer: Availability of sunlight. Light availability determines photosynthesis rates in ecosystems.

Flashcard 44: Identify a factor that limits primary productivity.

Answer: Availability of sunlight. Light availability determines photosynthesis rates in ecosystems.

Flashcard 45: Define secondary succession.

Answer: Succession that occurs in areas where a community has been disturbed. Happens after fires, floods, or human disturbances.

Flashcard 46: What is commensalism?

Answer: Relationship where one species benefits, the other is neither helped nor harmed. One-sided benefit with neutral effect on the other species.

Flashcard 47: Identify an example of an ecological disturbance.

Answer: Forest fire. Temporary disruption that can reset succession patterns.

Flashcard 48: Define primary succession.

Answer: Succession that begins in lifeless areas with no soil. Occurs on bare rock or after volcanic eruptions.

Flashcard 49: Define ecological resilience.

Answer: The capacity of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances. Indicates ecosystem stability and adaptation ability.

Flashcard 50: What is an ecological community?

Answer: A group of interacting species that live in the same area. Communities interact through predation, competition, and symbiosis.

Flashcard 51: Identify an example of a natural barrier.

Answer: Mountain range. Geographic feature that prevents species movement or gene flow.

Flashcard 52: What is ecological succession?

Answer: The process of change in species structure in a community over time. Proceeds from pioneer species to climax community.

Flashcard 53: Define biotic factor.

Answer: Living component that affects the ecosystem. Includes all living organisms that influence ecosystem function.

Flashcard 54: What is an ecological community?

Answer: A group of interacting species that live in the same area. Communities interact through predation, competition, and symbiosis.

Flashcard 55: What is interspecific competition?

Answer: Competition between members of different species. Often involves resource competition between different species.

Flashcard 56: What is an ecological footprint?

Answer: Measurement of human impact on Earth's ecosystems. Quantifies resource consumption and waste production rates.

Flashcard 57: Identify an example of a climax community.

Answer: Old-growth forest. Represents stable, mature ecosystem with low species turnover.

Flashcard 58: What is a keystone species in community ecology?

Answer: A species with a disproportionately large impact on its environment. Their removal dramatically affects ecosystem structure and function.

Flashcard 59: What is the significance of alpha diversity?

Answer: It measures species diversity within a particular area or ecosystem. Local diversity within specific habitat boundaries.

Flashcard 60: What is a food web?

Answer: A more complex network of who eats whom in a community. Shows interconnected feeding relationships in ecosystems.

Flashcard 61: What is ecological succession?

Answer: The process of change in species structure in a community over time. Proceeds from pioneer species to climax community.

Flashcard 62: What is resource partitioning?

Answer: Differentiation of niches to allow similar species to coexist. Reduces competition by dividing available resources or space.

Flashcard 63: Define invasive species.

Answer: Non-native species that spread widely and cause harm. Often outcompete native species for resources.

Flashcard 64: What is the competitive exclusion principle?

Answer: Two species competing for the same resources cannot coexist. Also known as Gause's principle, based on resource competition.

Flashcard 65: Identify an example of a climax community.

Answer: Old-growth forest. Represents stable, mature ecosystem with low species turnover.

Flashcard 66: What is a keystone species in community ecology?

Answer: A species with a disproportionately large impact on its environment. Their removal dramatically affects ecosystem structure and function.

Flashcard 67: Identify a factor that contributes to species extinction.

Answer: Habitat destruction. Primary threat to global biodiversity preservation.

Flashcard 68: Define ecological niche.

Answer: Role and position a species has in its environment. Includes all biotic and abiotic factors affecting an organism.

Flashcard 69: Define secondary succession.

Answer: Succession that occurs in areas where a community has been disturbed. Happens after fires, floods, or human disturbances.

Flashcard 70: Define ecological resilience.

Answer: The capacity of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances. Indicates ecosystem stability and adaptation ability.

Flashcard 71: What is resource partitioning?

Answer: Differentiation of niches to allow similar species to coexist. Reduces competition by dividing available resources or space.

Flashcard 72: What is the Shannon diversity index?

Answer: A measure of species diversity in a community. Combines species richness with relative abundance patterns.