earth systems Flashcards
Systems
A system pertains to interdependent or interrelated objects comprising and functioning as a whole.
Feedback
a response within a system
Model
a representation of the structure and function of a biological system, and may be concerned with any level of biology from molecules to ecosystems.
Biospere
he regions of the surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere of the earth (or analogous parts of other planets) occupied by living organisms.
Ecosystem
a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
Biome
a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat, e.g. forest or tundra.
Organism
an individual animal, plant, or single-celled life form.
Population
a particular section, group, or type of people or animals living in an area or country.
Biotic Factor
a living organism that shapes its environment.
Abiotic Factor
A nonliving condition or thing, as climate or habitat, that influences or affects an ecosystem and the organisms in it
Community
An interacting group of various species in a common location.
Habitat
The area and resources used by a particular species
Niche
A species’ niche encompasses both the physical and environmental conditions it requires (like temperature or terrain) and the interactions it has with other species (like predation or competition).
Biodiversity
The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
Keystone Species
An organism that helps define an entire ecosystem.
Exponential growth
growth whose rate becomes ever more rapid in proportion to the growing total number or size.
Logistic growth
When the population grows exponentially at first, but then slows as the population size approaches the carrying capacity,
Carrying capacity
The maximum population size of a biological species that can be sustained by that specific environment,
Density dependent
A factor whose effects on the size or growth of a population vary with the population density.
Density independent
Any force that affects the size of a population of living things regardless of the density of the population
Population density
The concentration of individuals within a species in a specific geographic locale.
Emigration
The act of leaving a resident country or place of residence with the intent to settle elsewhere.
Disturbance
A temporary change in environmental conditions that causes a pronounced change in an ecosystem.
