Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Science > Ecology > Flashcards

Ecology Flashcards

1
Q

Biotic

A

Living

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Abiotic

A

Non-Living

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Ecology

A

The study of interactions among organisms with each other

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Habitat

A

Where an organism lives + what it needs to survive(abiotic factors)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Niche

A

A role which an organism plays in an ecosystem(a job)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Herbivore

A

eats plants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Omnivore

A

eats plants and animals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Carnivore

A

eats other animals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Detrivores/Decomposers

A

Eats dead/decaying material

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Autotrophs

A

Producers - Uses mostly light to make their own food

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Heterotrophs

A

Consumers - Consumes other organisms to obtain energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Symbiosis

A

An interaction between 2 organisms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Albedo

A

how much light a substance reflects back(mirrors, water, glass)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Pioneer species

A

The first organisms to live in a previously uninhabited area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Succession

A

The series of changes in an ecosystem when one community is replaced by another community as a result of changes in biotic and abiotic factors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Climax Community

A

A community that is able to maintain itself for long periods of time with few changes in the species that populate it.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Levels of Organization (6)

A

Species -> Population -> Community -> Ecosystem -> Biome -> Biosphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Species

A

A group of individuals that can mate with one another

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Population

A

All individuals of a species in one area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Community

A

All the population that live together in one area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Ecosystem

A

A community including the abiotic and biotic factors in one area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Biome

A

A large area that has a particular climate and organisms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Biosphere

A

A part of earth that supports life

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Lithosphere

A

crust & core of the earth

25
Hydrosphere
water
26
Atmosphere
sky
27
Primary Succession
The process of creating and developing an ecosystem in an area that was previously uninhabited. Eg. Sides of volcanoes and glacier recessions
28
Primary Succession Process (6 steps)
1. Pioneer species move into an unoccupied area 2. Once enough soil, small plants grow 3. Small plants create habitats for small animals 4. Larger plants begin to populate the area 5. Larger animals follow the larger plants 6. Eventually, a mature community is formed called a climax community
29
Secondary Succession
The process of repairing a damaged ecosystem (Eg. Natural disasters, human activities, death of organisms)
30
Secondary Succession notes(6)
- Occurs in areas where the soil was left intact - Usually much faster than primary succession because there is soil already - Never ending process - Any disturbance in ecosystem results in secondary succession starting over - Similar to primary succession but doesn’t require soil forming pioneer species - If ecosystem is often disturbed, it won’t be able to support large trees and animals so it will consist of the animals that are in the early stages of succession
31
Food Chain
A simple model that shows only a single set of energy-transfer relationships
32
Energy Pyramid
- Biomass = # of organisms x mass of organism - Only 10% of the energy is being passed on to next trophic lvl (/10 or *0.10) (10% rule) - The other 90% of energy is used for living, growing and reproducing
33
Food Webs
A food web consists of all the food chains in a single ecosystem
34
Photosynthesis
6CO^2 + 6H^2O --(light)--> C^6H^12O^6 + 6O^2
35
Cellular Respiration
Sugar + oxygen (O^2) → carbon dioxide (CO^2) + water (H^2O)
36
Water Cycle
evaporation/transpiration -> condensation -> precipitation -> surface runoff/groundwater
37
Carbon Cycle
- Reason for life - Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere causes the “Greenhouse Effect” -Allows for tolerable temps on earth -Plants require it for photosynthesis - Fossil Fuels are made of carbon - Burning them increases carbon dioxide - Oil and Coal Humans and animals exhale carbon dioxide
38
Nitrogen Cycle
(check other notes)
39
Carrying Capacity
the maximum # of individuals that an ecosystem can sustain for a long period of time bc all ecosystems have limited resources
40
Euthrophication
fertilizer -> groundwater/surface runoff -> bodies of water -> algae blooms -> dead zones
41
Invasive Species: Direct Threats
- preying on native species - out-competing native species for food or other resources - causing or carrying disease - preventing native species from reproducing or killing their young
42
Invasive Species: Indirect Threats
- Changing food webs - Decreasing biodiversity - replacing diverse ecosystem - Altering ecosystem conditions(eg. Changing soil chem)
43
Invasive Species: Control Methods
- chemical control - biological control - mechanical control
44
Chemical Control
pesticides, herbicides and poison
45
Biological Control
introduce a predator of the species
46
Mechanical Control
use tools to kill, destroy, trap and remove the species.(humans)
47
Bioaccumulation
The increase in concentration of a substance greater than the outside environment(as time goes on, more contaminants)
48
4 things needed for chemical bioaccumulation to occur
1. Long lived 2. Mobile 3. Fat soluble(dissolved) - if soluble in water, it will be excreted by organism 4. Biologically active - if not active, may biomagnify but not cause any problems
49
Biomagnification/Bioamplification
The increase in concentration of a substance as it moves through a food chain
50
Pros and Cons
Pros - vital nutrients Cons - pollutants, metals, pesticides
51
Pesticides
protection of crops, people, animals and biodiversity
52
DDT
- pesticide - half life of DDT - 15 years - Toxic to insects and in high concentrations can cause problems to animals
53
ppm
parts per million
54
Predator Prey interaction
one species hunts another for food
55
Mutualism
both benefit
56
Commensalism
one benefits while not harming the other organism
57
Parasitism
one lives off another harmfully
58
Competition
contest between organisms for resources, recognition, or group or social status

Science (10 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions