(Ecology 01) Ecology definitions

Question 1

Ecology

Answer 1

The study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment.

Question 2

Ecosystem

Answer 2

A geographic area where living things interact with their environment and work together to sustain one another.

Question 3

Food chain

Answer 3

A sequence of organisms that feed on each other, starting with plants (or producers).

Question 4

Producer

Answer 4

Plants that can make food energy through photosynthesis.

Question 5

Consumer

Answer 5

Animals and other living things that feed on producers and other consumers.

Question 6

Herbivore

Answer 6

An animal that eats plants.

Ex. Goat

Question 7

Carnivore

Answer 7

An animal that eats other animals.

Ex. Wolf

Question 8

Omnivore

Answer 8

An animal that eats both animals and plants.

Ex. Bears

Question 9

Decomposer

Answer 9

Organism that breaks down detritus (waste from plants and animals) to obtain nutrients and release nutrients into soil and water.

Ex. Fungi, worms, termites, etc.

Question 10

Abiotic

Answer 10

Non-living factors such as sunlight, temperature, weather patterns, etc.

Question 11

Biotic

Answer 11

Living organisms; factors caused by the presence of other living things.

Question 12

Habitat

Answer 12

A place where species live.

Question 13

Species

Answer 13

A group of similar organisms.

Question 14

Community

Answer 14

The collection of all population of all species in an ecosystem or habitat.

Question 15

Population

Answer 15

All members of the same species living in the same ecosystem.

Question 16

Ecotone

Answer 16

An ecotone is a transition area between two biological communities, where two communities meet and integrate.

Ex. Mangrove forests (between terrestrial and marine ecosystems).

Question 17

Terrestrial

Answer 17

Land; something related to earth.

Question 18

Marine

Answer 18

Water; something related to water.

Question 19

Food web

Answer 19

a complex network of food chains in one ecosystem.

Question 20

Biology

Answer 20

The study of all living things.

Question 21

Biodiversity

Answer 21

Different kinds of life in one area; the variety within those species.

Question 22

Pests

Answer 22

Organisms that cause problems to humans. They attack crops, food, livestock, etc,

Question 23

Trophic Pyramid

Answer 23

The basic structure of interaction in all biological communities.

Question 24

bioaccumulation

Answer 24

A process of accumulation of chemicals in an organism.

Question 25

biomagnification

Answer 25

the concentration of toxins in an organism as a result of it ingesting other plants or animals.

Question 26

Biomes

Answer 26

Large areas with distinct climate and vegetation.

Question 27

Autotroph

Answer 27

It makes its own food -> a producer/plan.

Question 28

Heterotroph

Answer 28

They need to feed off of other organisms -> consumers.

Question 29

Ecological niche

Answer 29

The role an organism performs in an ecosystem; includes what it feeds on, what eats it and how it behaves.

Question 30

Parasitism

Answer 30

The relationship between different species Where one benefits from the other organism by causing harm to it.

This could be internal or external.

Ex. Tapeworms, fleas, etc.

Question 31

Commensalism

Answer 31

A relationship where one organism benefits from the other organism without benefiting or harming it.

Question 32

Mutualism

Answer 32

A relationship where both organisms benefit from each other.

Question 33

Symbiotic relationships

Answer 33

The relationship between two or more different biological species.