ecology Flashcards
Biotic
describes living factors in the environment
Abiotic
describes the nonliving part of the environment, including water,rocks, light, and tempeture
Population
a groupof organisms of the same species that live in a specific geographical area
Community
all the populatiuons of species that live in the same habitat and interact with each other
Ecosystem
a comunity of organisms and their abiotic environment
Biosphere
the part of Earth where life exists
Herbivore
an organism that eats only plants
Carnivore
an organism that eats animals
Omnivore
an organism that eats both plants and animals
Food chain
the pathway of energy transfer through various stages as a result ofbthe feeding patterns of a seriuos of organisms
Food web
a diagram that shows the feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem
Energy pyramid
a trianglular diagram that shows an ecosystem’s loss of energy, which results as energy passes through the ecosystem’s food chain
Carrying capacity
the largest population that an environment can support at any given time
Prey
an organism that is killed and eaten by another organism
Predator
an organism that eats all or part of another organism
Mutualism
a relationship between two species in which both species benefit
Commensalism
a relationship between two organism in which on eorganism benefits and the other is unaffected
Parasitism
a relationship between two species in which one species, the parasite, benefits from the other species,the host,which is harmed
Producers
an organism that can make its own food by using energy from its surroundings.
Decomposers
an organism that gets energy by breaking down the remains of dead organisms or animal wastes and consuming or absorbing the nutrients.
Desert
an area that has little or no plant life, long periods without rain, and extreme tempatures; usually found in hot climates.
Tundra
a treeless plain found int he artic, in the antartic or on the tops of mountains thst is charcterized by very low winter temperatures and short, cool summers.
Temperate deciduous forest
a biome that has many deciduous trees which drop their leaves in the fall.
Tropical rainforest
very high annual rainfall, high average temperatures, nutrient-poor soil, and high levels of biodiversity
Coniferous forest
trees that grow needles instead of leaves and cones instead of flowers.
Savanna
a grassland that often has scattered trees and that is found in tropical and subtropical areas where seasonal rains,fires,and drought happen.
Temperate grassland
having grasses as the dominant vegetation.
