Bio Flashcards
Ecology
Study of relationships of organisms and their environments/each other
Ecosystem
An interacting system of organisms and their non-living environment
Abiotic
Non-living elements of an ecosystem
Biotic
Living elements of an ecosystem
Niche
The role of an organism within their ecosystems
Habitat
The natural home of an organism
Population
A group of individuals of the same species within a given area
Community
2 or more populations in the same area
Biome
A distinct geographical region with very specific elements (climate, precipitation, etc)
Biosphere
Thin layer of the earths surface that supports life
Food chain
Sequence of organisms where energy/nutrients is passed through consumption
Food web
Complex web of interconnecting food chains
Autotroph
An organism that produces its food (producer)
Heterotroph
An organism that consumes other organisms for food (consumer)
Producer
An organism that produces its food (autotroph)
Consumer
An organism that consumes other organisms for food (heterotroph)
Trophic level
The position of an organism in a food chain
Herbivore
Only eats producers (plants)
Carnivore
Only eats consumers (meat)
Omnivore
Eats both consumers and producers (meat and plants)
Primary carnivore
First trophic level of carnivore
Secondary carnivore
Second trophic level of carnivore (eats primary carnivores)
Tertiary carnivore
Third trophic level of carnivore (eats primary AND secondary carnivores)
Top carnivore
The top level of carnivores, eats other organisms but is not eaten by other organisms within a food chain
Scavenger
An organism that consumes decaying organisms
Decomposer
Breaks down/feeds on decaying organisms
Saprophyte
An organism that feeds on dead organisms
Predator
An animal that kills/eats other animals
Prey
An animal that is killed/eaten by other animals
Pyramid of Numbers
Shows the amount of organisms at each trophic level
Pyramid of Biomass
Shows the amount of biomass at each trophic level
Pyramid of Energy
Shows the amount of energy transferred from one trophic level to another
Symbiosis
A prolonged association between 2 or more species
Mutualism
A mutually beneficial relationship between two or more species
Commensalism
A relationship between two individuals where one benefits without harming the other
Parasitism
A relationship where one species lives on/inside another while causing harm
Amensalism
Where one species causes harm to another without any benefits or costs
Predation
The predator kills/eats it’s prey
Sustainable ecosystem
An ecosystem capable of withstanding pressure and giving support to a variety of organisms
Competition
2 or more organisms competing for the same resources
Lithosphere
The hard part of the earths surface
Atmosphere
The layer of gases above the earths surface
Terrestrial ecosystem
Land based ecosystem
Hydrosphere
All the water found on earth
Aquatic ecosystem
Water based ecosystem
The Water Cycle
How water is cycles through the hydrosphere and atmosphere
The Phosphorus Cycle
Phosphorus starts in the lithosphere but is then used/cycled through the hydro/biospheres
The Carbon Cycle
Carbon cycled through a variety of ecosystems (atmosphere and biosphere)
The Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen is cycled through ecosystems and converted into usable forms
Photosynthesis
Solar energy —> Chemical energy
Trophic efficiency
Measure of amount of energy/biomass transferred from trophic levels
Bioaccumulation
Materials that are ingested by organisms faster than they are eliminated
Cellular respiration
Releases energy from organic molecules in the presence of oxygen
Fermentation
Releases energy from organic molecules in the absence of oxygen
Greenhouse gases
Prevents heat from leaving the atmosphere/ increases the temperature
Greenhouse effects
Warming of earth due to greenhouse gases
Acid precipitation
Precipitation that is unnaturally acidic due to gas in the atmosphere
Biodiversity
The number and variety of organisms in an ecosystem and beyond
Protect
Legally guard endangered species
Biodiversity hotspot
A large amount of species in a small area
Canopy fogging
Small doses of insecticides used to collect insects for study
Quadrat sampling
A small square used to get an accurate representation of an entire ecosystem
Transect sampling
Rope used to calculate type and number of species
Netting
Nets used to capture a variety of species for study
