Chapter 5 - Ecosytems Flashcards
Ecosystem
A complex level of organisation made up of living and non-living things
Niche
A comfortable or suitable position in the environment for a species
Abiotic
Non living system
Biotic
Living system
Predator
An animal that naturally preys on others
Prey
An animal that is hunted and killed by a predator for food
Parasite
an organism which lives in or on another organism (its host) and benefits by taking nutrients at the other’s expense
Host
an animal or plant on or in which a parasite or commensal organism live
Symbiosis
interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both.
Mutualism
Both organisms benefit, E.g a bird eats a tick off a cows back and gets food the cow also gets cleaned.
Parasitism
One organism benefits the other is harmed, E.g a tick on a cow, the tick is the parasite as it is harming the cow.
Commensalism
One organism benefits the other doesn’t care, e.g a tree and a squirrel living inside, the squirrel gets a home and the tree does not care about something living in it.
Predator/Prey
A predator is an organism that eats another organism. The prey is the organism which the predator eats e.g a lion and a zebra
Detrivore
Breaks things up into smaller pieces e.g a earthworm
Decomposer
Chemical breakdown usually by fungi and bacteria
Chemosynthetic
describes organisms that produce organic material using energy released from chemical reactions rather than light
Food chains
diagram that shows how the energy stored in one organism is passed to another
Food webs
diagram showing several food chains joined together to demonstrate that animals eat more than one type of food
Trophic level
a level within a food chain, food web or food pyramid
First-order
organism that is within the second trophic level of a food chain (herbivores); also known as a primary consumer
Primary consumers
the first consumer in a food chain; also known as a first-order consumer
Second-order
organism that is within the third trophic level of a food chain (carnivores); also known as a secondary consumer
Secondary consumers
the second consumer in a food chain; also known as a second-order consumer
Energy pyramid
a representation of the level of food energy at each level within a food chain
pyramid of numbers
a representation of the population, or numbers of organisms, at each level within a food chain
pyramid of biomass
A representation of the dry mass of organisms at each level within a food chain
Birth rate
the number of organisms within a population that are born within a particular period of time
Death rate
the number of organisms within a population that die within a particular period of time
Immigration
the number of individuals moving into an area
Emigration
the number of individuals leaving an area
Sigmoid
the shape of a graph that shows a population increasing in number then reaching a plateau
Steady state
a state in which conditions are balanced and there is neither growth nor a decrease in number; also known as steady state or plateau phase
Plateau phase
a state in which conditions are balanced and there is neither growth nor a decrease in number; also known as steady state or plateau phase
Equilibrium
a state in which conditions are balanced and there is neither growth nor a decrease in number; also known as steady state or plateau phase
Zero population growth
the point at which birth and death rates balance each other out
carrying capacity
the maximum population size that a particular environment can sustain
Producers
organism at the base of the food chain that does not need to feed on other organisms; also known as an autotroph
Autotroph
organism at the base of the food chain that does not need to feed on other organisms; also known as an autotroph
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.
Metabolism
the chemical reactions occurring within an organism that enable the organism to use energy and grow and repair cells
Cellular respiration
the chemical reaction involving oxygen that moves the energy in glucose into the compound ATP. The body is able to use the energy contained in ATP.
Adenosine
triphosphate (ATP): a form of energy released during cellular respiration that provides cells with the energy needed to perform their functions
Aerobic respiration
the chemical breakdown of food using oxygen. The reaction needs enzymes, occurs in all body cells and releases energy.
Glycosis
process by which glucose is converted into a simple form, during which energy is released
Cytosol
the fluid found inside cells
Krebs cycle
part of the aerobic respiration process in which carbon dioxide and ATP (energy) are produced
Electron transport train reactions
part of the aerobic respiration process
Mitochondria
small rod-shaped organelles that supply energy to other parts of the cell. They are usually too small to be seen with light microscopes. Singular = mitochondrion.
Anerobic respiration
the chemical breakdown of food without oxygen. The reaction needs enzymes, occurs in cells and releases less energy than aerobic respiration.
Lactic acid
an end product of anaerobic respiration in animals; also known as lactate
Lactate
an end product of anaerobic respiration in animals; also known as lactate
Ethanol
an end product of anaerobic respiration in plants; a form of alcohol
Obligate anerobes
organisms that can respire only anaerobically (in the absence of oxygen)
Eutrophication
a form of water pollution involving an excess of nutrients such as nitrates and phosphorus, resulting in algal blooms and possible death of fish and other organisms
Insecticides
a chemical used to kill insects
Fungicides
a chemical used to kill fungal growth
Herbicides
a chemical used to kill unwanted plants (weeds)
Fumigants
a chemical used in the form of smoke or fumes, to kill pests
Bioaccumilation
magnification of concentrations of a substance such as a nonbiodegradable pesticide along the food chain; also known as biological magnification
Biological magnification
magnification of concentrations of a substance such as a nonbiodegradable pesticide along the food chain; also known as biological magnification
Introduced species
an organism that has been released into an ecosystem in which it does not occur naturally
Consumer
Organisms that get there energy from eating other organisms
Herbivore
An organism that feeds on plants
Heterotrophs
Eats other organisms for energy
Photosynthesis worded equation
Sunlight
Carbon dioxide + water —————> Glucose + Oxygen + Water
Chlorophyll
Cellular Respiration (aerobic respiration) worded equation
Glucose + Oxygen ——-> Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy
Anaerobic respiration worded equation
Glucose ——> Lactic Acid + Energy
