Ecology Flashcards
Ecology
The study of relations between the living and non-living things in our environment
Aquatic
Forms of life growing or living in water
Terrestrial
Life forms on land
Ecosystem
A natural system in which living and non-living things interact with each other
Food Chain
A chain of events linking both plants and animals together
Food Web
A series of food chains
Biodiversity
A variety of animals and plants in an ecosystem
Population
Members of the same species living in the same area, that can reproduce
Habitat
The place where organisms live, eat and reproduce. Different species may share the same habitat
Community
A set of organisms that live in the same habitat, and interact together
Biome
A geographical area with characteristic vegetation that exists because of the climate of the area
Trophic Levels
Each step in a food chain or food web
Sustainability
The ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations
Hybrid
The offspring of two organisms of different species that have interbred
Species
Organisms that can interbreed with one another, and produce fertile offspring
Genus
A group of species that are closely related but do not interbreed
Interdependent
Rely on the support or existence of each other
Producers
Species that make things
Consumers
Species that use or eat things
Herbivores
Animals that eat green plants
Omnivores
Animals that eat both plants and animals
Carnivores
Meat-eating animals
Primary Consumers
Consumers of green plants
Secondary Consumers
Animals that feed on primary consumers
Tertiary Consumers
Animals that feed on secondary consumers
Homeostasis
A state of physical balance of functions and composition within an organism
Migration
Seasonal movement of species from one place to another
Decomposition
To become rotten; to decay
Biotic Factors
Living factors that influence an ecosystem
Abiotic factors
Non-living factors that influence an ecosystem
