ecology Flashcards
producers
organisms that make their own food
decomposers
organisms that secrete digestive enzymes to decay dead organic matter to obtain food
population
total number of indivisuals of one species in a particular habitat at a particular time
how to find population of a species in a habitat
calculate area of habitat
measure the number of individuals in one quadrat
calculate average number of individuals in a quadrat
calculate how many quadrats fit into the total area
multiply the number of quadrats that fit into the area by the number of individuals that fit into the quadrat
reason for random sampling
to make sure the data is valid
and avoid choosing specific areas deliberately
transect
a line across a habitat which passes through a range of abiotic factors
community
formed of the populations of all species in an ecosystem at a particular time
pyramids of number
show the number of each organism at each trophic level
drawn to scale
pyramids of biomass
show the total mass of the organisms in each trophic level.
pyramids of energy
show the total energy available in each trophic level per square meter per year
Least efficient energy transfer?
from light source to producer
because some light will miss chloroplasts
some light will be reflected by the cuticle
some light has the wrong wavelength to be absorbed by the chlorophyll
approximately 10% energy is transferred, why?
some parts of the organism are not eaten
some parts are not digested
some materials are respired
carbon cycle
