Chapter 5: Ecosystems Flashcards
Organism
living thing
Species
a group of living organisms capable of interbreeding with each other but not with members of other species
Population
a group of individuals of the same species living in the same area at a particular time
Community
more than one population living in the same area at a particular time
Producer
organism at the base of the food chain that does not need to feed on other organisms; also known as an autotroph
DEcomposer
organisms that break down organic matter into inorganic materials
Consumer
organism that relies on other organisms for its food; also known as a heterotroph
Auto troph
An organism that can feed itself e.g. Plants
Heterotrophs
obtain their nutrition from consuming or eating other organisms e.g. a rabbit, fox etc
Herbivores
animal that eats only plants
Carnivores
an animal that eats other animals
Omnivores
animal that eats plants and other animals
Symbiotic relationships
very close relationship between two organisms of different species. It may benefit or harm one of the partners. E.g. Parasitism, commensalism, Mutualism
Parasitism
an interaction in which one species (the parasite) lives in or on another species (the host) from which it obtains food, shelter and other requirements
Mutualism
relationship between two different organisms in which both benefit
Commensalism
relationship between organisms where one benefits and the other is unaffected
Interspecific Competition
competition between organisms of the same species
Intra specific competition
competition between organisms of different species
Biotic
the living things (organisms) in an ecosystem e.g. fox, rabbit
Abiotic Factors
the non-living features in an ecosystem e.g. water, rocks
Chloroplasts
oval-shaped organelle found only in plant cells. Chloroplasts contain the pigment chlorophyll. They are the ‘factories’ in which carbon dioxide and water are changed by sunlight and water into food by the process of photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis
the food-making process in plants that takes place in chloroplasts within cells. The process uses carbon dioxide, water and energy from the sun.
Food chains
diagram that shows how the energy stored in one organism is passed to another
Food Web
diagram showing several food chains joined together to demonstrate that animals eat more than one type of food
First order/Primary Consumer
the first consumer in a food chain; also known as a first-order consumer
Secondary Consumer/SEcond order consumer
organism that is within the third trophic level of a food chain (carnivores); also known as a secondary consumer
Trophic level
a level within a food chain, food web or food pyramid
Immigration
the number of individuals moving into an area
Emigration
The number of individuals moving out of an area
Carrying Capacity
the maximum population size that a particular environment can sustain
Introduced Species
an organism that has been released into an ecosystem in which it does not occur naturally
Tertiary Consumers
The organism at the third level of a predator prey relationship in a food chain.
