Ecology Flashcards
What is ecology?
The study of the relationships between living organisms and the environment
Define ecosystem.
A single working unit consisting of a group of interacting organisms (biotic factors) and their physical environment (abiotic factors)
What is a habitat?
The actual place where an organism is found, where it feeds, reproduces, and spends most of its time
Define population in ecological terms.
All the organisms of the same species found in a particular area
What is a community in ecology?
All the populations of different species living and interacting with each other in the same area
What is an ecological niche?
The role of an organism in an ecosystem
Fill in the blank: The _______ niche is the full range of environmental conditions and resources an organism could theoretically use if there were no competitors.
Fundamental
Fill in the blank: The _______ niche is the actual range of resources and conditions a species uses in its environment due to limiting factors.
Realized
Define species.
Group of organisms with similar physical characteristics which can interbreed with each other to produce fertile offspring
What does the biosphere encompass?
Global sum of all ecosystems, including all living organisms and their interactions with the physical environment (air, water, and soil)
Define atmosphere.
Layer of gases that surrounds the Earth, made up of the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere
What is the hydrosphere?
All the water found on, under, and above the surface of the Earth, including all forms of water (liquid, solid, gas)
Define lithosphere.
Rigid outer layer of the Earth, composed of the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle; divided into tectonic plates
What is a biome?
A large geographic area characterized by specific climate conditions, plants, animals, and ecosystems
What is an ecotone?
Transition zones between two distinct ecosystems where species from both areas can mix and interact
