defintions Flashcards
ecosystem
living organisms that share a region and interact with each other and their non-living environment
population
all of the individuals of a single species in a particular area
community
individuals from all of the populations
sustainable ecosystems
natural ecosystems that maintain a relatively constant set of characteristics over a long period of time
limiting factor
any factor that places an upper limit on the size of a population
tolerance range
the range of conditions within which an organism is able to survive
competition
tow individuals vie for the same resource
predation
one individual feeds on another
mutualism
two individuals benefiting each other
parasitism
one individual lives on or in and feeds on a host organism
commensalism
one individual benefits and the other neither benefits nor is harmed
ecological pyramids
display relationships between trophic levels in ecosystems
food chain
a sequence of organisms, each feeding on the next, showing how energy is transferred from one organism to another
food web
a representation of the feeding relationships within a community
ecological niche
the role of a species within its ecosystem
producer
an organism that makes its own energy, the base for all food chains, any green plants
consumer
an organism that can’t make its own food, has to feed on other organisms to survive. insects
detritus
organic matter produced by the decomposition of organisms. fallen leaves
decomposer
an organism that decomposes organic materials. fungi
trophic level
the position of an organism along a food chain
carrying capacity
the size of a population that an ecosystem can support (its upper limit)
population growth
the increase of individuals in a population
exponential growth
the unrestricted growth of a population of organisms
equilibrium
the condition in which all acting influences are balanced or cancelled by equal opposing forces, resulting in a stable system
species at risk
any organism in danger of extinction
endangered
a species facing imminent extirpation or extinction
extirpated
a species that no longer exists in a specific area
threatened
a species that is likely to become endangered if factors reducing its survival are not changed
biodiversity
the variety of life found in an area
biomes
an area classified to the organisms and climate in that location
photosynthesis
converting light energy into chemical energy. carbon dioxide and water convert light energy into sugar and oxygen
cellular respiration
making stored energy. sugar and oxygen is converted into carbon dioxide and water and energy
atmosphere
the layer of gases extending up for hundreds of kilometres. acts like a blanket to moderate surface temperature
lithosphere
the rocky outer shell of the earth. consists of rocks and materials
hydrosphere
consists of all water, on, above, and below Earth’s surface
biosphere
the locations in which life can exist. very thin
fragmentation
the dividing up of a region into smaller parcels or fragments
bioaccumulation
the accumulation and concentration of pesticides in the body of an individual
bioamplification
any concentration or accumulation of a toxin (pesticides) in the body of an individual
urban sprawl
the uncontrolled expansion of urban areas
invasive species
introduced species with growing populations that have spread and have a negative effect on the environment
monoculture
the cultivation of a single crop in a given area
