Bio Ecology Section 4-1 Flashcards
species
a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
ecology
study of the relationships between living organisms and between organisms and their environment.
community
group of population living and interacting with each other in an area.
population
a group of organisms of the same species who live in the same area at the same time.
ecosystem
A community and its abiotic environment.
biosphere
the thin layer of ecosystems that cover earth.
abiotic environment
non living environment; like water, rocks, temperature, light
autotroph
organisms that use an external energy source to produce organic matter from inorganic raw materials. Ex. trees, plants, algae, blue-green bacteria
heterotroph
organisms that use the energy in organic matter, obtained
Describe the limitations of the biological species concept.
- ) reproductive isolation
- ) some species reproduce asexually but are considered a species because of morphology
- ) the reproductive isolation of fossils can’t be determined.
speciation
process by which populations evolve to become distinct species
how can reproductive isolation lead to speciation
1) Geography, changes in behavior or polyploidy can cause reproductive isolation between populations, isolating the gene pools
2) Natural selection acts on the isolated populations independently
3) The populations diverge to the point of no longer being able to interbreed with each other to produce fertile offspring, forming two species
what is an example of a consumer
anything that is not an autotroph (producer)
detritivores
heterotrophs that obtain nutrients by consuming detritus. (Detritus is particulate organic material such as the bodies or fragments of dead organisms and/or fecal material)
saprotrophs
Saprotrophs live on dead organic matter and feed by a process in which dead or decaying organic material is extracellularly digested (outside of the cell) by a variety of enzymes that are excreted by the organism. After digestion, the nutrients are then absorbed into the organism.
saprotroph examples
fungi, soil bacteria
nutrient
Nutrients are molecules required by an organism for growth, repair, and normal metabolism.
common nutrients
Macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats, proteins and water) are needed in large amounts and are used primarily to generate energy or to incorporate into tissues for growth and repair. Micronutrients (minerals and vitamins) are needed in smaller amounts and often have subtle biochemical and physiological roles in cellular processes.
sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity of ecosystems to maintain their essential functions and processes, over time.
describe the discrepancy in the nutritional pattern of parasitic plants and algae
This is because some plants and algae are parasitic and feed on other plants instead of performing photosynthesis.
Parasitic plants have modified roots that penetrate the host plants, providing them with the ability to extract water and nutrients from the host.
trend in parasitic plants and algae
The majority of plants and algae are autotrophs capable of making their own carbon compounds by photosynthesis.
mesocosm
A mesocosm is an experimental model ecosystem used to investigate ecosystems under controlled conditions.
examples of mesocosms
1) small sealed containers with organisms inside it
2) fenced enclosures in fields or aquatic areas
3) large tanks with inputs and outputs that mimic environmental conditions.
dichotomous key
A dichotomous key is a tool that allows the user to determine the identity of an organism by following a series of steps.
