ECO-01 Quick Review (10 Sentences)

Abiotic factors (temperature, water, light, soil) govern species distribution, and organisms respond through regulation, conformity, migration, or dormancy (hibernation, aestivation, diapause).
Population density is measured by quadrats or mark-recapture, and key attributes include natality, mortality, sex ratio, and age distribution.
Exponential growth (dN/dt = rN) produces a J-shaped curve when resources are unlimited, while logistic growth $\frac{dN/dt = rN(K−N}{K}$ ) produces an S-shaped curve with carrying capacity K.
Maximum growth rate in the logistic model occurs at N = K/2 — the inflection point of the sigmoid curve.
Six population interactions are mutualism (+/+), competition (−/−), predation (+/−), parasitism (+/−), commensalism (+/0), and amensalism (−/0).
Gause's competitive exclusion principle states that two species competing for the same niche cannot coexist indefinitely.
Gross Primary Productivity minus respiration equals Net Primary Productivity, the energy available to herbivores.
Decomposition follows five steps: Fragmentation, Leaching, Catabolism, Humification, Mineralization (FLCHM).
Lindeman's 10% law means only ~10% of energy transfers between trophic levels, making the pyramid of energy always upright with no exceptions.
Primary succession begins on bare substrate with crustose lichens as pioneers; secondary succession is faster because soil and seed banks persist; the phosphorus cycle is unique in having no gaseous phase.