Ecology Flashcards
2nd Unit
Population
All of one single species
Community
All living things in an area
Ecosystem
Living and non-living things in an area
Biosphere
All of the Earth with life
Abiotic factors
Non-living things
Biotic factors
Living things
Niche
The role an organism plays in its ecosystem.
Carrying capacity
The maximum number of organisms that the ecosystem can support
Biodiversity
The different types of species in a given area
Succession
The process by which ecosystems change over time
Climax Community
The ecosystem reaches a stable ecosystem
Producer/Primary
Makes their own food through photosynthesis
Consumer
Eat other organisms for energy
Decomposer
Break down dead organisms and waste. They recycle the energy making the energy come back to the soil
Predators & Preys
Hunts and kills prey. The population of both depend on each other
Food Webs
Show many food chains interconnected together
Food chains
The transfer of energy from one organism to another in a community
Primary Consumer
They eat producers and herbivore
Secondary Consumers
They eat primary consumers.
Third Consumers
They are omnivores. Apex. At the top of the food chain or energy pyramid
Cell Respiration
Way to get energy. C6 H12 O6+O2 = ATP + CO2 + H2O
Parasitism
Parasite benefits and host is affected negatively
Mutualism
Both benefit
Commensalism
One benefits and the other is unaffected
Energy pyramid 1
Shows the relative amount of energy available at each trophic level
Habitat
The place where an animal or plant lives
Biome
Group of terrestrial ecosystems that have the same climate & communities
Limiting factors
Anything that restricts the size of the population. 2 types of limiting factors: Biotic and Abiotic
Biotic Factors
Competition: The best adapted will increase and the other will die out or move out
Indirect competition: Struggle for resources among organisms in an ecosystem
Abiotic Factors
Amount of: Energy, temperature, water, carbon dioxide, oxygen, soil, nutrients
What happens if 2 organisms occupy the same niche?
Organisms would compete until the best adapted wins
Organisms can appear to occupy the same niche, but under more careful observation, they do not.
Circle of life
All things are dependent on one another
Primary Succession
When an ecosystem develops for the very first time. There is no soil
Secondary Succession
When an ecosystem is destroyed and then re-grows over time
Pioneer species
The first group of organisms that inhabit an ecosystem
Destruction of Climax Communities
Wildfire, Volcanic eruptions, Floods, Deforestation, Tornadoes, Mudslides, Acid rain, etc.
Aerobic respiration
Oxygen + Sugar= Carbon dioxide + Energy + Water
Photosythesis
Carbon dioxide + Water= Oxygen + Sugar
Nitrogen
Component of DNA and protein
