Ecology Review

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What are invasive species?

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Plants and animals that have migrated to areas where they did not originate and often displace native species by out-competing them for resources.

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What is biomagnification?

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The process by which substances, such as pesticides, become more concentrated in the bodies of organisms at each successive level of the food chain.

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What are the effects of deforestation?

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Loss of habitat, increased greenhouse gases, soil erosion, and flooding.

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What is a keystone species?

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A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance, such as the sea otter.

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What is deforestation?

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Clearing Earth's forests on a massive scale.

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What is habitat fragmentation?

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The process by which large habitats are broken into smaller, isolated patches, often due to human activities.

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What are endangered species?

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Species that are at risk of extinction due to habitat loss, poaching, or other factors.

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What is an ecosystem?

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A community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment.

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What is biodiversity?

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The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, including the number of different species.

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What is an ecological niche?

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The role and position a species has in its environment, including all interactions with biotic and abiotic factors.