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

Chapter 13 - Ecosystems and their living communities 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)

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Herbivores
Organisms that feed off plants
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Heterotrophs
An organism which gains its nutrients from complex organic substances
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Holoparasitism
A parasite which is depends entirely on its host to obtain its nutrients
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Host
Organism in which a parasite lives on or inside and absorbs the nutrients of said organism
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Hydrothermal vents
A hot vent at the bottom of the ocean where mineral-rich water is heated greatly and turned into a black smoke.
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Interspecific competition
Members of a population compete with members of a different population for resources within a habitat
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Intraspecific competition
Competition between members of the same population (same species) for resources within the habitat
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Lichens
A simple, slow-growing plant which forms a crust on objects like rocks, trees and walls
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Littoral (intertidal) zone
The habitat situated on the seashore between high and low water marks
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Mid-ocean ridges
Valleys or ridges at the bottom of the ocean where new ocean crust is formed in these valleys
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Mimicry
The close external resemblance of an animal pr plant of another organism or inanimate object
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Mutualism
The relationship between various organisms where they all benefit in their own way (eg. Bees and flowers)
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Mycorrhiza
A fungus which grows on the roots of plants. Also, an example of mutualism.
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Niche overlap
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)
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Niche separation
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.
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Nitrogen-fixing bacteria
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
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Omnivores
A types of organism that eats both plants and animals as part of its diet (eg. Humans)
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Parasite
An organism which lives on a host organism, absorbing the host's nutrients
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Parasite-host relationship
Describing the relationship between a parasite and its host (eg. Fleas (parasite) and dog (host))
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Parasitoids
An insect whose larvae live as parasites within a host, which then kill their host once they no longer require it
44
Pheromones
A chemical substance produced and released into the environment by an organism, affecting the behaviour or physiology of other organisms
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Photosynthesis
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
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Pioneer species
The first species established in a 'new' habitat
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Population
The number of organisms of the same species within a habitat
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Predator
An animal that preys on other, smaller animals for food
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Predator-prey relationship
The interaction between a larger, stronger animal (predator) with a smaller animal (prey) for food (eg. Foxes (predator) and rabbits (prey))
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Prey
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
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Primary succession
In which different communities in turn become established on land that has not previously been colonised (eg. Sand dune)
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Producers
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.
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Secondary succession
In which different communities in turn become established in an area that was previously colonised but that has been disturbed (eg. Drained dam)
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Succession
The natural replacement over time of one community by another community with different dominant species
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Sulfur bacteria
Bacteria that transfer sulfur in the atmosphere into other useful sulfur compounds
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Symbiosis
The interaction between two different organisms in close, physical association, typically for mutual benefit
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Volatile
A substance liable to change rapidly and unpredictably (eg. Pheromones)
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Warning colouration
The changing of colour of an organism to scare or warn other attacking animals

Biology (7 decks)

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