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Biology > Chapter 13 - Ecosystems and their living communities > Flashcards

Chapter 13 - Ecosystems and their living communities Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
0
Q

Allelopathy

A

The chemical inhibition of one living organism by another due to the release of the substance into the environment

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1
Q

Allelochemicals

A

A chemical produced by a living organism that exerts a detrimental physiological effect on individuals of another species when released into the environment

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2
Q

Autotrophs

A

An organism that is able to form organic material from simple inorganic substances (eg. CO2 into glucose in plants)

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3
Q

Camouflage

A

The disguising of an organism to blend into its surrounding environment, to increase chances of survival

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4
Q

Carnivores

A

A type of organism that feeds on other animals (eat meat).

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5
Q

Cladodes

A

A flattened leaf-like stem

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6
Q

Climax community

A

A type of stable community with no further change in the dominant species

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7
Q

Collaboration

A

Where two different organisms collaborate to help each other

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8
Q

Commensalism

A

An association between two organisms in which one benefits and it does not affects the other (eg. Birds and elephants, elephants stir up insects and birds eat the insects)

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9
Q

Community

A

A specific habitat with a variety of different populations

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10
Q

Competition

A

Relationship between several species compete with each other for resources within an ecosystem (eg. Competition between birds for the same resources)

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11
Q

Consumers

A

Members of a community that obtain their energy by consuming other organisms or parts of them

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12
Q

Decomposers

A

Organisms (typically fungi and bacteria) which obtain their energy from dead organic matter

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13
Q

Desiccation

A

The drying out of a habitat, resulting in the various species living in the particular habitat either dying or migrating

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14
Q

Detritivores

A

An organism which feeds on dead organic material

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15
Q

Detritus

A

Organic matter produced by decomposing organisms

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16
Q

Diversity

A

The differences between various communitites. When ecologists measure the diversity of a community, they consider two factors:
1. The richness or the number of different species present in the sample of the community
2. The evenness or the relative abundance of the different species in the sample.
As richness and evenness increase, the diversity of a community increases.

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17
Q

Ecology

A

The study of organisms and their relationships with one another and their physical surroundings

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18
Q

Ecosystems

A

The various communities living together as part of a the same habitat

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19
Q

Endoparasites

A

A parasite that lives inside its host (eg. Tapeworm)

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20
Q

Exoparasite

A

Parasites that live on their hosts (eg. Various fungi)

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21
Q

Haustoria

A

A slender projection from the root of a parasitic plant, enabling the parasite to penetrate the tissues of the host and absorb nutrients from it

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22
Q

Hemiparasitism

A

Parasites (generally plants) that form connections known as haustoria to sap nutrients from its host, but is not entirely dependent on its host and can make some energy via photosynthesis

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23
Q

Herbivore-plant relationship

A

The relationship between herbivores and plants, where herbivores obtain their nutrients from plants (eg. Panda and bamboo)

24
Q

Herbivores

A

Organisms that feed off plants

25
Q

Heterotrophs

A

An organism which gains its nutrients from complex organic substances

26
Q

Holoparasitism

A

A parasite which is depends entirely on its host to obtain its nutrients

27
Q

Host

A

Organism in which a parasite lives on or inside and absorbs the nutrients of said organism

28
Q

Hydrothermal vents

A

A hot vent at the bottom of the ocean where mineral-rich water is heated greatly and turned into a black smoke.

29
Q

Interspecific competition

A

Members of a population compete with members of a different population for resources within a habitat

30
Q

Intraspecific competition

A

Competition between members of the same population (same species) for resources within the habitat

31
Q

Lichens

A

A simple, slow-growing plant which forms a crust on objects like rocks, trees and walls

32
Q

Littoral (intertidal) zone

A

The habitat situated on the seashore between high and low water marks

33
Q

Mid-ocean ridges

A

Valleys or ridges at the bottom of the ocean where new ocean crust is formed in these valleys

34
Q

Mimicry

A

The close external resemblance of an animal pr plant of another organism or inanimate object

35
Q

Mutualism

A

The relationship between various organisms where they all benefit in their own way (eg. Bees and flowers)

36
Q

Mycorrhiza

A

A fungus which grows on the roots of plants. Also, an example of mutualism.

37
Q

Niche overlap

A

Where two or more different species use resources in a similar way (eg. Feed at the same type of day or eat the same types of foods)

38
Q

Niche separation

A

The differing use of resources of various species within the same community. The greater the niche separation of two species, the smaller the level of competition between them.

39
Q

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria

A

A type of bacteria that lives on and around the roots of plants that can convert nitrogen in the air into nitrogen compounds the plant can use

40
Q

Omnivores

A

A types of organism that eats both plants and animals as part of its diet (eg. Humans)

41
Q

Parasite

A

An organism which lives on a host organism, absorbing the host’s nutrients

42
Q

Parasite-host relationship

A

Describing the relationship between a parasite and its host (eg. Fleas (parasite) and dog (host))

43
Q

Parasitoids

A

An insect whose larvae live as parasites within a host, which then kill their host once they no longer require it

44
Q

Pheromones

A

A chemical substance produced and released into the environment by an organism, affecting the behaviour or physiology of other organisms

45
Q

Photosynthesis

A

The process in plants in which the plant uses energy from the sun to convert carbon dioxide and water to create glucose to use as energy and they release oxygen gas as a waste product

46
Q

Pioneer species

A

The first species established in a ‘new’ habitat

47
Q

Population

A

The number of organisms of the same species within a habitat

48
Q

Predator

A

An animal that preys on other, smaller animals for food

49
Q

Predator-prey relationship

A

The interaction between a larger, stronger animal (predator) with a smaller animal (prey) for food (eg. Foxes (predator) and rabbits (prey))

50
Q

Prey

A

A small, weaker animal that is hunted by a predator, for food. Prey typically have several structural and behavioural adaptations to increase their survival against the predators

51
Q

Primary succession

A

In which different communities in turn become established on land that has not previously been colonised (eg. Sand dune)

52
Q

Producers

A

Organisms that can produce complex organic substances (glucose from simple inorganic substances (carbon dioxide). The producers in every ecosystem make chemical energy available in the form of organic compounds for their own use and also, directly or indirectly, for use by all other members of the living community of that ecosystem.

53
Q

Secondary succession

A

In which different communities in turn become established in an area that was previously colonised but that has been disturbed (eg. Drained dam)

54
Q

Succession

A

The natural replacement over time of one community by another community with different dominant species

55
Q

Sulfur bacteria

A

Bacteria that transfer sulfur in the atmosphere into other useful sulfur compounds

56
Q

Symbiosis

A

The interaction between two different organisms in close, physical association, typically for mutual benefit

57
Q

Volatile

A

A substance liable to change rapidly and unpredictably (eg. Pheromones)

58
Q

Warning colouration

A

The changing of colour of an organism to scare or warn other attacking animals

Biology (7 decks)

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