Ch 3 & 4 Vocab

Groups of plants and animals that are first to colonize an area after a disturbance. Weedy plants and small animals such as insects.

• pioneer species
• secondary succession
• primary succession
• climax community
• biodiversity

A stable community that develops through the process of succession following a disturbance. For example, given enough time, a stable forest community would naturally replace all of the cornfields in Indiana if we stopped disturbing the soil and cutting down the plants every year.

• climax community
• primary succession
• secondary succession
• biome
• pioneer species

The number of species found in a given habitat or ecosystem. The number of species tends to be highest in tropical biomes and lower and colder and drier biomes.

• biodiversity
• biome
• carrying capacity
• climax community
• pioneer species

Characteristics of organisms that help to determine how their populations grow. These include adult size, Lifespan, number of offspring, parental care, and how fast the young mature.

• life history traits
• rapid life history
• slow life history
• density dependent factors
• density independent factors

A process that builds soil in a lifeless environment such as a new volcanic island. Lichen and moss are the first to colonize, and their eventual decomposition produces soil, setting the stage for larger plants.

• primary succession
• life history traits
• secondary succession
• range of tolerance
• exponential growth

A change in the plants and animals of a community following and disturbance such as a forst fire, flood, or windstorm. The soil remains intact so the climax community reemerges much faster.

• secondary succession
• primary succession
• density independent factors
• exponential growth
• logistic growth

A population growth pattern in which the population is limited by resources,predators, and disease, S-shaped. The population stops growing as it reaches a carrying capacity.

• logistic growth
• exponential growth
• climax community
• density dependent factors
• density independent factors

A population growth pattern in which the population is not limited by resources. J-shaped growth pattern. This growth pattern is most often seen in small animals such as insects.

• exponential growth
• logistic growth
• carrying capacity
• density dependent factors
• density independent factors

Large regions on earth shaped by similar climates(Temperature and precipitation). They also have similar plant and animal communities. Examples include: deserts, grasslands, and tropical forests

• biome
• biodiversity
• density dependent factors
• density independent factors
• life history traits

The maximum population size that can be supported in a given area. The births and deaths in the population are equal at this point

• carrying capacity
• climax community
• exponential growth
• logistic growth
• biodiversity