Ecology Flashcards
Biotic Vs Abiotic
Abiotic: non living; physical things such as rocks, air, and water, or things that are measured, such as air temp hours of day light, and salt concentration in seawater)
Biotic: living organisms such as animals, plants, mushrooms, bacteria, and algae
Niche
All the interactions of a given species with its ecosystem
E.g: a raccoons niche is being a scavenger, feeding on pests, assisting in eliminating decomposing animal matter, and are hunted for food and their pelt
Decomposers
Consumer that breaks down organic matter and releases the nutrients back into the ecosystems; eg: fungi and bacteria
Producers
Organism that carry’s out photosynthesis
Consumers
Organism that eats other organisms to obtain energy since it cannot produce its own food
Commensalism (3 types of symbiosis)
relationship between 2 species where 1 benefits from the other without affecting it
Mutualism (3 types of symbiosis)
beneficial interaction between 2 species
Parasitism (3 types of symbiosis)
symbiotic relationship where a species benefits at the expense of another
Deciduous Forests (Terrestrial Biomes)
-have trees
-lose their leaves in autumn (like maples and oaks)
-moderate temps
-above average precipitation
-less snowfall
-fast decomposition
-richer soil
-many plants and animals species
-4 seasons
-Southern Ontario is mainly a deciduous forest biome
Boreal (Taiga) Forest (Terrestrial Biomes)
-have trees that have cones and needles
-soil is acidic due to conifer needle decomposition
-harsh Climate
-40 + cm of precipitation per year -large mammals
-most of northern Ontario is covered with boreal forests
Arctic Tundra (Terrestrial Biomes)
-a cold desert with a layer of permafrost that receives very little precipitation
-no trees, only small shrubs, hardy grasses, mosses and inches
-little decomposition
-limited nutrients available
-ontario’s northern coastline from Hudson Bay to James bay is Tundra
Grasslands (Terrestrial Biomes)
-have few trees
-more near rivers lakes or ponds, but are covered in various kinds of grasses and shrubs
-very fertile soil due to short-lived grasses
-high temp and constant decomposition
-found in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and a small part of Alberta
Temperate Coniferous Forest (Terrestrial Biomes)
-have different types of needles and cone bearing trees than the boreal forest
-abundant rainfall and moderate climate
-most of western British Columbia is temperate coniferous forests
Atmosphere (3 types of the biosphere)
The layer of gases surrounding the earth. Gives us warmth and protects us from harmful UV rays
Lithosphere (3 types of the biosphere)
The earth’s solid, outer layer. Contains the upper and the lower mantle.
Hydrosphere (3 types of the biosphere)
All of the water on earth. 97% of water for on earth is salt water and the remaining 3% is freshwater.
Food webs
A series of interconnected food chains, showing the sharing of energy in an ecosystem
Food chains
Diagram that shows the feeding relationship among organisms. Example: Plant (producer) —> Caterpillar (primary consumer) —> Mouse (prey) —> Wolf (predator)
Water Cycle
-water in the ocean or lake evaporates into the sky
-water v apour in the plants can transpire as well
-once the clouds get too heavy, the raindrops precipitate down onto the land
-the water can run off into the ocean or lake where it will evaporate again, or it will get taken by a plant
-it can also seep down into the ground, with groundwater
-the groundwater can empty into an aquifer or it can get taken by a plant in the soil called root-uptake or it can also empty back into the ocean or lake where it can evaporate again
Photosynthesis
How plants and some bacteria use sunlight to make food for themselves (glucose). Plants absorb CO2 and combine it chemically with water to produce glucose (sugar) Equation: CO2 + H2O + sunlight = glucose and oxygen
Cellular respiration
The process plants undergo to obtain their energy is called this.
Animals also carry this out by obtaining necessary glucose by eating food and containing carbohydrates (plants).
Equation: oxygen + glucose = CO2 + H2O + energy
Example: when you eat food, like a banana, your body breaks down the sugars in the banana to release energy. This energy is used by your cells to do everything from running to thinking. As a result, your body produces CO2 and H2O, which are then released when you breathe and sweat.
