Biosphere to ecosystems Flashcards
Ecology
The study of living organisms in relationship to one another and their non-living environment
Ecologist
Scientists who study ecology
What is the biosphere
The part of the earth where humans and other organisms are able to live
Characteristics of the biosphere
Consists of the lithosphere, the hydrosphere and the atmosphere
The atmosphere
Made up of gases that keep the environment stable
Has the gases oxygen, hydrogen, CO2, water vapour and nitrogen
Helps in respiration, photosynthesis and filtering the sunlight to protect organisms from harmful or strong sun rays
The hydrosphere
- aquatic or water part of the biosphere
- waters of the ocean, rivers and lakes
- habitat of many aquatic organisms such as fish
The lithosphere
- outside crust of the earth
- formed of soil and rocks
- source of the ions which living organisms need
Organism
A single form of life e.g. one impala
Habitat
Where an organism lives
Niche
Role it plays where it lives
Species
A group of organisms of the same kind which can breed with one another e.g. all impala are one species
Population
Group of organisms of the same species living in a specific area at the same time e.g. all lions living in one pride
Ecosystem
Communities of pants and animals interacting with one another and their non- living environment
Biological community
All the populations of different species in a place
Biome
Large area with a certain climate and species of plant and animals; made up of smaller ecosystems
