Chapter 20: Ecology Flashcards
What is a species?
A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring
What is a habitat?
The environment in which a species normally lives
OR
the location of a living organism
What is a population?
A group of organisms of the same species living in a particular habitat
What is a community?
All the populations of organisms living and interacting with one another in a particular habitat
What is an ecosystem?
A community and its abiotic environment
What is ecology?
The study of the interactions / relationships between different organisms with one another and the environment
What are some physical features that make up the abiotic environment?
Temperature, Light Intensity, Water, Oxygen, pH of soil / water, salinity of soil / water
What is mutualism?
The way two organisms of different species exist in a relationship in which each other individual benefits from the activity of the other
What is commensalism
Class of relationships between two organisms where one organism benefits from the other without harming it
What is parasitism?
A non-mutual symbiotic relationship between species, where one species benefits at the expense of the other
How does energy flow in an ecosystem?
Producers > Consumers > Decomposers
How do producers get their energy?
By converting light energy from the sun into chemical energy in food
How do consumers get their energy?
By feeding on other organisms
What are the three types of consumers?
Primary - Herbivores
Secondary - Carnivores that feed on Herbivores
Tertiary - Carnivores that feed on Carnivores
How do decomposers get their energy?
Breaking down dead organisms, faeces and excretory products
How do decomposers help with nutrient cycling?
The decomposition process releases inorganic nutirents, such as carbon and nitrogen
What is a food chain?
The order which energy is transferred through organisms through food
What is the trophic level of an organism?
The level of an organism in a food chain
Why is energy flow in an ecosystem non-cyclic?
Energy is lost to environment as heat through respiration, faeces and other excretory products, and uneaten body parts
What are three types of ecological pyramids?
Pyramid of numbers (population)
Pyramid of biomass
Pyramid of energy
How can the pyramid of numbers be inverted?
If the organisms on a higher trophic level are parasites and / or many small organisms feed on one big organism
What is the estimated energy loss when trasferred between different trophic levels?
90%
What happens to nutrients in a balanced ecosystem?
Nutrients are constantly recycled
Why is the carbon cycle important?
Ensures there is enough carbon dioxide for photosynthesis
Enables energy flow within the system
What is a carbon sink?
An area that stores carbon for an indefinite amount of time (stores more carbon than it releases)
