Definitions Flashcards
Define ecology.
Ecology is the study of the interactions between living things (organisms) and between organisms and their environment
Define biosphere.
The biosphere is the part of the planet that contains living organisms
Define an ecosystem
An ecosystem is a group of clearly distinguished organisms that interact with their environment as a unit
Define a habitat
A habitat is the place where a plant or animal lives
Define a population
A population is all the members of the same species living in an area
Define a community
A community is all the different populations in an area
Define abiotic factors
Non-living factors
Define biotic factors
Living factors
Define edaphic factors
Edaphic factors relate to soil
Define climatic factors
Weather over a long period of time
Define producers
Producers are organisms that carry out photosynthesis
Define flora
Flora is all the plants in an ecosystem
Define consumers
Consumers are organisms that take in food from another organism
Define fauna
Fauna is all the animals in an ecosystem
Define decomposers
Decomposers are organisms that feed on dead organic matter
Define detritus feeders
Detritus feeders are organisms that feed on small pieces of dead organic matter
Define a food chain
A grazing food chain is a sequence of organisms in which each one is eaten by the next member in the chain
Define a trophic level
A feeding stage in a food chain
Define a food web
A food web consists of two or more interlinked food chains
Define a pyramid of numbers
A pyramid of numbers represents the number of organism at each trophic level (or stage) in a food chain
Define a niche
The ecological niche of an organisms is the functional role it plays in the community
Define nutrient recycling
Nutrient recycling is the way in which elements such as carbon and nitrogen are exchanged between the living and non-living components of an ecosystem
Define nitrogen fixation
The conversion of nitrogen gas into ammonia (NH3), ammonium (NH4+) or nitrate (NO3-)
Define nitrification
The conversion of ammonia and ammonium (NH4+) compounds to nitrite and then to nitrate
Define denitrification
Denitrification is the conversion of nitrates to nitrogen gas
Define pollution
Pollution is any harmful addition to the environment
Define pollutants
Pollutants are harmful additions to the environment
Define conservation
Conservation is the wise management of the existing natural resources in an ecosystem in order to maintain a wide range of habitats and prevent the death and extinction of organisms
