Ecology Flashcards
Ecology
the study of interactions between organisms and their environment
Biotic Factors
all living organisms inhabiting earth
Abiotic Factors
non living parts of the environment
Community
multiple interacting populations living in the same area
Ecosystem
communities of organisms living in a similar place in addition of abiotic factors in the enviroments
Biome
a group of ecosystems with similar climate and communities
Biosphere
the largest level or organization.
Including life, water, land, and air
Sunlight
the energy source of all life on earth
Autotroph
organisms that produce their own food
Common Name: Producers
Heterotroph
organisms that can’t produce their own food
Common Name: Consumer
Scavengers
organisms that feed on dead animals
Detritivores
small organisms that cycle matter back into the ecosystem
Common Name: Decomposers
Types of Prey Relationships
- Predator
- Predator eats Pray
Types of Symbiosis
- Commensalism
- Mutualism
- Parasitism
Commensalism
helps 1 species and has no effect on other
Mutualism
benefits both species
Parasitism
1 species benefits feeding on another, harming without killing it
Food Chain
a linear feeding relationship
Food Web
a complex, non-linear feeding relationship including multiple chains
Trophic Level
feeding levels in a food chain/web
Energy
- one way flow!!!
- flows throughout food chains/webs
What is Important about food chains/webs?
the arrow always points to the organism doing the eating because they are obtaining the energy
True or False: Energy DOES NOT gets cycled back into the beginning. it dissipates into the atmosphere
True
Energy transfer is _______
inefficient
% of Energy that is LOST at each trophic level
90%
Energy that is lost is…
- Used for bodily needs
- Stored as bone of hair
Examples of Bodily Needs that Needs Lost Energy
Digestion
Heart rate
etc
How is lost energy stored as bone of hair
it dissipates into the atmosphere as heat during energy transfer
% of energy that gets PASSED onto the next Trophic Level
10%
Biomass
organic material that is transferred when plants and animals are consumed
With less energy, there will be
less Induviduals
Biogeochemical Cycles
the cycling of matter through biotic and abiotic compartments of earth
Biotic compartments
biosphere
Abiotic compartments
lithosphere
atmosphere
hydrosphere
Is biomass cycled
YES!
energy flows, biomass is cycled
Pollutants
natural or man-made substances released into soil, air or water greater than natural amounts
Acid Rain
wet acid deposits combined with H2O
Bioaccumulation
Build up pollutants in tissues or organisms
Biological Magnification
chemicals increase as pollutants move up the food chain
DDT pesticide
leds to extinction to osprey
