Ch. 5 vocab Flashcards
Niche
the fundamental role an organism has in its surroundings (everything that affects the organism and everything the organism affects)
Environment
everything that affects an organism during its lifetime (abiotic and biotic)
Range of Tolerance
extreme levels of a limiting factor within which an organism can still survive ex.) temperature, dissolved oxygen in water, etc. **larger the range of tolerance, the more successful the organism is
Habitat
space where an organisms inhabits, the place where it lives ex.) climate, soil condition, water availability, other species in the area
Natural Selection
process that determines which individuals within a species will reproduce and pass their genes to the next generation **survival of the fittest
Limiting factor
key factor (either biotic or abiotic) that restricts the success of the species ex.) water, shelter, food, climate, etc.
Species
a population of organisms capable of reproducing among themselves and having offspring that can also reproduce
Evolution
the genetic and characteristic changes seen in species over long periods of time and many generations **driven by natural selection
Speciation
production of new species from previously existing species (usually occurs when population is divided into 2 subpopulations and are isolated from each other)
Predator
an organism that captures and eats another organism
Prey
an organism that is hunted and eaten by another organism for food
Competition
interaction in which two organisms strive to obtain the same limited resource
Mutation
random change in the genetic information in an individual
Extinction
the loss of an entire species (very common, 99.9% of all organisms have experienced extinction)
Ecosystem
community of organisms and the abiotic environment within which they exist
Food chain
passing of energy from one organism to the next through trophic levels
Food web
several food chains overlapping and intersecting
Carnivore
an organism that consumes other organisms
Symbiosis
a close, long-lasting relationship between two different species (at least one species derives benefit from the interaction)
Herbivore
an organism that consumes plants
Mutualism
symbiotic relationship between two organisms in which both organisms benefit ex.) bee and flower
Commensalism
relationship in which one organism benefits while the other is not affected ex.) remoras and sharks
Omnivore
an organism that eats both plants and animals
Nitrogen cycle
cycle of the critical element nitrogen through the biotic and abiotic environment
Nitrogen fixing bacteria
bacteria that participate in the nitrogen cycle by fixing (collecting) nitrogen from the atmosphere into a form that can be used by plants
Producers
organisms also known as autotrophs that can convert the sun’s energy into chemical bonds (the represent the bottom trophic level)
Primary consumer
organisms that consume plants (AKA herbivores) **represents second trophic level
Secondary consumer
organisms that consume (herbivores) but may be consumed by other carnivores
Trophic levels
levels of energy flow through the living community
Biomass
the weight of living material in a trophic level
Detritus
small bits of non-living organic matter found on the ground or at the bottom of bodies of water
Biogeochemical cycles
the cycling of nutrients from living organisms through the environment
Carbon cycle
the cycle that captures inorganic carbon and moves it a living organism and then back into inorganic carbon
Decomposers
organisms that use dead organisms and animal waste products as a source of food
Fossil fuels
coal, oil, and natural gas that were formed from ancient living organisms
Nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria
convert nitrogen containing compounds into usable forms for living organisms
Phosphorus cycle
movement of phosphorus through organic and inorganic forms as it moves through the environment
Agricultural runoff
excess nitrogen and phosphorus containing compounds that wash away from agricultural areas
