Chapter 5 Flashcards
biosphere
The part’s of Earth’s atmosphere, ocean, land surface, and soil that contain all living organisms.
community
A natural association that consists of all the populations of different species that live and interact together within an are at the same time.
competition
The interaction among organisms that vie for the same resources, and the lifestyle to which it is fitted.
ecological niche
The totality of an organism’s adaptations, its use of resources, and the lifestyle to which it is fitted.
ecology
The study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their abiotic environment.
ecosystem
A community and its physical environment.
energy flow
The passage of energy in a one-way direction through an ecosystem.
first law of thermodynamics
A physical law which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed.
landscape
A region that includes several interacting ecosystems.
photosynthesis
The biological process that captures light energy and transforms it into the chemical energy of organic molecules, which are manufactured from carbon dioxide and water.
population
A group of organisms of the same species that live together in a the same area at the same time.
predation
The consumption of one species (the prey) by another (the predator).
second law of thermodynamics
A physical law which states that when energy is converted form one form to another, some of it is degraded into heat, a less form that disperses into the environment.
symbiosis
An intimate relationship or association between members of two or more species; includes mutualism, commensalism, and parisitism.