Sample Notes Environment
Sample Notes Environment
Sample Notes Environment
Key Definitions
Different Species/Organisms
Edge species Species which occur primarily or most abundantly in the ecotone or
boundary junction of two ecosystem. Eg. Birds in grassland
Keystone species A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its
environment relative to its abundance. Eg. Elephants, Wolf, Prairie dog,
Bees, Jaguars, Sea otters etc.
Foundational A species that has a strong role in structuring a community.
species A foundation species can occupy any trophic level in a food web.
Flagship species A species chosen to raise support for biodiversity conservation in a
given place or social context. Eg. Tiger for campaign in India.
Umbrella species These species are very similar to keystone species, but they are usually
migratory and need a large habitat.
Pioneer species Hardy species which are the first to colonize barren environments or
previously biodiverse steady-state ecosystems that have been
disrupted. Eg. Lichens, lyme grass
Alien species Is a species introduced outside its normal distribution.
Invasive species A species which is able to spread beyond its introduction site and
become established in new locations.
Invasive alien Alien species whose establishment and spread modify ecosystems,
species habitats, or species. Eg. Lantana Camera, Prosopis juliflora etc
Exotic Species It means alien, non-indigenous, non-native species.
Ecological Organisms that occupy the same or similar ecological niches in different
Equivalents geographic regions.
Plant species with same genetic stock and physically different. These
Ecad
are reversible.
Endemic species Species that exist only in one geographic region.
Indicator species Any biological species that defines a trait or characteristic of the
environment and its problems. Eg. Mosses often indicate acid soil,
Lichens indicate air pollution (SO2).
Generalist Species which able to thrive in a wide variety of environmental
species conditions and can make use of a variety of different resources.
Specialist species Species which thrive only in a narrow range of environmental
conditions or has a limited diet. (narrow niche)
Euryphagic The species that have a wide range of tolerance for food.
Eurythermal The species that have a wide range of tolerance for temperature.
Euryhydric The species that have a wide range of tolerance for water.
Euryhaline The species that have a wide range of tolerance for salinity.
Stenothermal The species that have a narrow range of tolerance for temperature.
Endotherms Animals that primarily produces its own heat.
Homeotherms Animals that have a constant body temperature.
Hydrocoles Aquatic animals that need water like fish.
Mesocoles Terrestrial animals that need moderate amounts of water.
Xerocoles Terrestrial animals that can tolerate extremely dry conditions.
Ectotherms Animals that primarily gains heat through the environment.
Poikilotherms Animals whose body temperature adjusts depending on the
environment.
Autotrophs Organisms that can produce their own food from the substances
available in their surroundings using light (photosynthesis) or chemical
energy (chemosynthesis).
Heterotrophs Organisms that cannot synthesize their own food and rely on other
organisms — both plants and animals — for nutrition.
Key Concepts
Food Chain
Grazing food chain - starts with green plants which are producers. Eg.
A sequence of
Eg. Grass – Grasshopper – Mouse –Snake - Hawk
organisms that
feed on one
Detritus food chain - starts with dead organic matter. Eg. Litter –
another, form a
Earthworm – Chicken – Hawk
food chain.
Natural interconnection of food chains and a graphical representation
Food Web
(usually an image) of what-eats-what in an ecological community.
Producers – Primary Consumers – Secondary Consumers – Tertiary
Trophic Levels
Consumers.
Ecological Efficiency with which energy is transferred from one trophic level to the
Efficiency next.
Ecological Shows the rate of energy flow and/or
Pyramid Pyramid of Energy productivity at successive trophic levels. It is
Graphical always upright.
representation of Shows the number of individual organisms at
Pyramid of
the relationship successive trophic
Numbers
between different levels. It can be upright or inverted.
organisms in Pyramid of Shows the biomass at successive trophic levels. It
an ecosystem. Biomass can be upright or inverted.
• Decomposition - After
death, it releases carbon
into the air, soil and
water.
• Major reservoirs –
Atmosphere,Oceans,Terre
strial,biosphere,
Sediments.
Primary Gross All the organic matters
Ecological Productivity Productivity Primary produced by autotrophs
(generation Productivity using solar energy.
The rate of generation of of biomass
biomass in an ecosystem is from Net Primary NPP = GPP – Energy lost
called Productivity, which is autotrophic Productivity by respiration.
expressed in units of energy (eg: organisms)
joules per meter² per day) or in
units of dry organic matter (eg: Secondary The accumulation of energy at the
kg per meter² per year). Productivity consumer’s level.