Biology B: Unit 4 Biodiversity Flashcards
abiotic
elements in an ecosystem that have never been alive
biodiversity
or biological diversity, the variation among organisms in an ecosystem
biodiversity
the collection of different kinds of organisms living in a given area at a given time
biodiversity
the variation among organisms in an ecosystem
biodiversity
the variety of life within a species, a community, or an ecosystem
biome
distinct terrestrial region characterized by its climate and soil conditions and the species of organisms living there
biotic
any living or once-living things in an ecosystem
botanist
plant scientist
carrying capacity
the maximum number of individuals of a particular species that an ecosystem can support at a given time
common ancestor
an ancestor that two or more descendants hold in common
community
members of all species in a given area
dichotomous key
a tool that allows its user to classify unknown items. When using a dichotomous key, the user observes the item, and then describes its characteristics using a series of choices with two possible answers. Each choice leads the user to another step in the key, until the item is identified.
direct competition
two or more species that require the same resources and need to compete for them
ecosystem
all the organisms in a given area, along with the nonliving things with which they interact
emigration
the movement of individuals out of an area
eukaryotic
a cell that has a defined cellular nucleus surrounded by a nuclear membrane
homeostasis
living things maintain a stable internal state even when their environment changes
homeostasis
the process of an organism maintaining stable internal conditions despite changes to the ecosystem
immigration
the movement of individuals into an area
intermediate disturbance hypothesis
the hypothesis that moderate levels of disturbance will promote a larger diversity of species over a low or high level of disturbance
introduced species
a species not native to an ecosystem, but rather accidentally (or intentionally) transported to the ecosystem by human activity or other means
invasive species
an introduced species that now shows an ability to outcompete native species in an ecosystem
keystone species
a species on which the other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if the keystone species were removed the ecosystem would change drastically
metabolism
processes that occur in an organism that help it to maintain its internal state even when the external environment changes
