Ecology Flashcards
Niche
An organisms particular role in an ecosystem
Trophic level
Hierarchical levels in an ecosystem
Food chain
Link species by their feeding relationships, one-way flow of energy
Food web
Network of complex interactions formed by the feeding relationships among the various organisms
10% rule
Only 10% of the total energy produced by each trophic level is available to the next level
Detritivore
Organism that feeds on plant and animal remains, and other dead matter
Decomposer
An organism that breaks down waste and dead organisms
Symbiosis
Roxy, close relationship between two species that benefits at least one of the species
Mutualism
Relationship between two species, in which both species benefit
Parasitism
Relationship between two organisms, where one benefits, and the other is harmed
Commensalism
A relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits, and the others unaffected
Evolutionary fitness
An organisms ability to pass its genetic material to its offspring
Caring capacity
Largest number of individuals and environment can support
Ecological succession
Gradual change in living communities that follow the disturbance
Primary succession
Succession that occurs on services were no soil exists
Secondary succession
Succession, following at a disturbance that destroys
Climax community
A stable, mature community, that undergoes little or no change in species overtime
Pioneer species
First species to populate an area during primary succession
Carbon cycle
Transfer of carbon from the atmosphere to the living organisms and return back to the atmosphere through cell respiration
Water cycle
How water evaporates rises, cools, and condenses into rain or snow in clouds, and falls back to earth
Nitrogen cycle
Transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil to living organisms and back to the atmosphere
Decomposition
Breaking down dead, and decaying plants and animals
Nitrogen, fixation
Process of converting nitrogen, gas into ammonia
Nitrification
Process of converting ammonia into nitrates
Assimilation
Plants, uptake, nitrate, or ammonium from soil
Denitrification
Process of converting nitrates into nitrogen gas
Ammonification
Process of converting dead material into ammonia
