Organisms and populations terms

Ecology: The branch of biology that deals with the study of relationships of living organisms with the abiotic and biotic components of their environment.

Ecosystem ecology: The branch of ecology which deals with the study of ecosystems.

Global ecology: The study of climatic change,biodiversity conservation and ecological sustainability.

Species ecology: The study of an individual organism in relation to its environment.

Community ecology: The study of a group of organisms in relation to their environment.

Population: A group of individuals of a plant or animal species,inhabiting a given area.

Community: An assemblage of the populations of organisms that live under a given area and interact with one another.

Biome: A large regional unit characterized by a major vegetative type and associated fauna found in a specific climatic zone.

Biosphere: All terrestrial biomes and aquatic systems of the earth on the global level.

Habitat: The specific place where an organism lives.

Niche: The habitat together with the functions.

Euryhaline: Organisms which can tolerate wide ranges in salinity.

Stenohaline: Organisms which can live within a narrow ranges of salinity.

Auroral: Animals which are active at dawn only.

Vesporal: Animals which are active at dusk only.

Edaphic factors: The factors which relate to the structure and composition of the soil.

Conformers: The organisms which cannot maintain a constant internal environment.

Ephemerals: Plants which complete their life cycle within a short period.

Succulents: Xerophytes which have the capacity to absorb and store water.

Acclimatization: The gradual physiological adjustment to slowly changing new environment conditions.