Characteristics of Life Flashcards
Ecology
Study of organisms and their interactions with their environment and other organisms.
Abiotic
Non living things (Ex: water, soil, light, ect.).
Biotic
Living things (Ex: Organisms).
Organism
Individual within a species.
Population
All members of the same species in an area.
Community
Several populations living and interacting in an area.
Ecosystem
Community plus abiotic factors.
Biome
Many similar ecosystems within a large area.
Biosphere
All biomes of the entire world.
Producer
Produce food through photosynthesis.
Secondary consumer
Organism that feeds on primary consumers.
Tertiary consumer
The top consumer (Ex: Carnivore)
Energy pyramid
Model that uses a pyramid shape to show that the energy available for consumers decreases as it travels through a typical food chain or web.
Primary consumer
Like the Herbivores.
Trophic level
Level of energy within the energy pyramid.
Biomass
All of the mass of living things in the world/area… the bodies.
10% rule
10% of energy makes it to the next level of the energy pyramid.
Photosynthesis
Process of harnessing energy from the sun to make sugars.
Cell respiration
Process of breaking that down to gain energy (oxygen helps break it down).
Population distribution
How a population of organisms is organized.
Population density
How many organisms are in one area.
Density dependent factors
Something that can change the number of organisms (not natural disasters).
Density independent factors
Natural disasters that we can’t control.
Growth rate
Change in number of individuals over time.
