4.1 Species, communities and ecosystems Flashcards
Species
A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile, viable offspring
Population
A group of organisms of the same species, living in the same area at the same time
Community
A group of different populations living together and interacting in a given area
Ecosystem
A community and its abiotic environment
Biome
A distinct and extensive ecosystem that has formed on multiple continents due to shared physical climate
Biosphere
The worldwide sum of all ecosystems
Habitat
The environment in which a species normally lives, or the location of a living organism
Ecology
The study of interactions between organisms and their environments, both abiotic and biotic
Autotroph
Organism that synthesizes organic molecules from inorganic nutrients
Photoautotroph
Organism that synthesizes organic molecules from inorganic nutrients using energy from light
Chemoautotroph
Organism that synthesizes organic molecules from inorganic nutrients using energy from chemical reactions
Heterotroph
Organism that obtains organic molecules by feeding on other organisms
Consumer
Heterotroph that ingests living (or recently killed) organism
Detritivore
heterotrophs that obtain organic nutrients from detritus by internal digestion
Saprotroph
Heterotroph that externally digests dead organisms
Detritus
Dead, particulate organic matter, such as decaying organic material and fecal matter
Mixotroph
Organism that obtains organic molecules, either as an autotroph or as a heterotroph, depending on resource availability
Scavenger
Consumer that feeds principally on dead and decaying carcasses rather than hunting live prey
Decomposer
Another word for saprotroph
Herbivore
Consumer that feeds principally on plant matter
Omnivore
Consumer that have a principle diet composed of both plant and animal matter
Carnivore
Consumer that feeds principally on animal matter
Food Chain
Sequence of relationships between trophic levels in a community where each member feeds on the previous one
