Ecology Flashcards
What is an ecosystem?
An ecosystem is the interaction of a community of living organisms (biotic) with the non-living (abiotic) parts of their environment.
What do plants compete for in a habitat?
Plants compete for light, space, water, and mineral ions from the soil.
What do animals compete for in a habitat?
Animals compete for food, mates, and territory.
What is interdependence in a community?
Interdependence is when each species depends on other species for food, shelter, pollination, seed dispersal, etc.
What defines a stable community?
A stable community is one where all species and environmental factors are in balance, so population sizes remain fairly constant.
Name three abiotic factors affecting communities.
Light intensity, temperature, and moisture levels.
Name three biotic factors affecting communities.
Availability of food, new predators arriving, and new pathogens.
What are structural adaptations?
Structural adaptations are physical features of an organism, like the bill of a bird or the fur on a bear.
What are behavioral adaptations?
Behavioral adaptations are the things organisms do to survive, like bird calls and migration.
What are functional adaptations?
Functional adaptations are internal processes that increase an organism’s chance of survival, such as a plant’s ability to perform photosynthesis.
What are extremophiles?
Extremophiles are organisms that live in extreme environments, such as high temperature, pressure, or salt concentration.
What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?
Producers, like plants and algae, synthesize molecules and produce biomass for life on Earth through photosynthesis.
What is a primary consumer?
A primary consumer is an organism that eats producers; they are herbivores.
What is a secondary consumer?
A secondary consumer is an organism that eats primary consumers; they are carnivores.
What is a tertiary consumer?
A tertiary consumer is an organism that eats secondary consumers; they are top predators.
What is the purpose of a food chain?
A food chain shows the feeding relationships and energy flow between organisms in a community.
What is the carbon cycle?
The carbon cycle is the process by which carbon is recycled in ecosystems, involving processes like photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition.
What is the water cycle?
The water cycle describes how water evaporates from surfaces, condenses into clouds, and returns as precipitation, providing fresh water for organisms.
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety of all different species of organisms on Earth or within an ecosystem.
Why is high biodiversity important?
High biodiversity ensures ecosystem stability by reducing dependence of species on each other and maintaining environmental balance.
How does pollution affect biodiversity?
Pollution can reduce biodiversity by harming or killing organisms and disrupting ecosystems.
What is deforestation?
Deforestation is the large-scale removal of forests, often to clear land for agriculture or urban development.
How does deforestation affect biodiversity?
Deforestation reduces biodiversity by destroying habitats, leading to species extinction.
What is global warming?
Global warming is the long-term rise in Earth’s average temperature, primarily due to increased levels of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane.
