APES - Unit 2 Biodiversity

An r-strategist species is one that reproduces quickly and in large numbers, often at the expense of parental care. Example: dandelion.

Ecological tolerance refers to the total range of abiotic conditions that an organism can withstand.

The Theory of Island Biogeography states that there are more species on islands that are larger and closer to the mainland.

Species diversity refers to the number of different species and their abundance in a community.

Supporting services are ecosystem services that support human life and life on Earth, such as producing oxygen and water cycling.

A keystone species is a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.

Biodiversity is the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, including the diversity of species, genetic variation, and ecosystem diversity.

Limiting factors are environmental conditions that restrict the growth, abundance, or distribution of an organism or a population.

Primary succession occurs in lifeless areas where soil has not yet formed, while secondary succession occurs in areas where a disturbance has destroyed an existing community but soil remains.

Ecosystem services are the benefits that humans derive from ecosystems, including provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services.