Ecology Flashcards
Organism
Definition:
Any contiguous living system.
Example:
My dog is an organism.
Population
Definition:
A summation of all the organisms of the same group or species, who live in the same geographical area, and have the capability of interbreeding.
Example:
The population of elephants are decreasing due to being hunted by humans.
Community
Definiton:
An assemblage or association of populations of two or more different species occupying the same geographical area and in a particular time.
Example:
These fish are part of an underwater community.
Ecosystem
Definition:
A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
Example:
A pond is an example of an ecosystem.
Species
Definition:
One of the basic units of biological classification.
Example:
Cats are a species.
Biome
Definition:
Very large ecological areas on the earth’s surface with animals and plants adapting to their environment.
Example:
This marine biome is dominated by kelp, a kind of seaweed.
Food Chain
Definition:
Shows how each living thing receives its food.
Example:
The Ankole Cattle are primary producers.
Food Web
Definition:
Consists of all the food chains in a single ecosystem.
Example:
This food web shows the many ways energy is distributed through the ecostystem.
Producer
Definition:
An organism that can produce its own energy and nutrients.
Example:
This berry plant is a producer.
Photosynthesis
Definition:
A process that plants use to convert the sun’s energy into food.
Example:
The leaf is using photosynthesis to get nutrients.
Consumer
Definition:
An organism on the food chain that depends on producers or other consumers for food, nutrition, and energy.
Example:
The cheetah is a consumer because it eats other animals.
Primary Consumer
Definition:
An organism that eats plants.
Example:
The koala is a primary consumer because it’s diet consists of plants.
Secondary Consumer
Definition:
An organism that eats the primary consumer, and can be an omnivore or a carnivore.
Example:
A bird is a secondary consumer because it eats primary consumers, like caterpillars.
Tertiary Consumer
Definition:
A carnivore that eats other carnivorous organisms.
Example:
The whale is a tertiary consumer because it is eating another fish that seemly, by it’s size, is a carnivore.
Quaternary Consumer
Definition:
A quaternary consumer is an organism that is at the top of the food chain.
Example:
Humans are quaternary consumers.
Herbivores
Definition:
An organism that feeds on plants.
Example:
The sea turtle is an herbivore.
Carnivores
Definition:
A carnivore is an organism that eats meat.
Example:
An osprey is a carnivore.
Omnivores
Definition:
An organism that consumes both plants and meat.
Example:
A black bear eats plants and meat, so therefore it is an omnivore.
Decomposers
Definition:
An organism that breaks down dead material.
Example:
A mushroom is a decomposer.
Abiotic Factor
Definition:
Non-living things that affect the living things in that environment.
Example:
A river is an abiotic factor in this environment.
Biota
Definition:
The animal and plant life of a particular region, habitat, or geological period.
Example:
The biota in a desert area must be able to take extreme heat.
Nutrients
Definition:
Chemical substances found in every living thing on Earth that help break down food to give organisms energy.
Example:
Fruit is considered a nutrient.
Carbon Cycle
Definition:
Series of processes in which carbon atoms circulate through Earth’s land, ocean, atmosphere, and interior.
Example:
The carbon cycle is an important process.
Nitrogen Cycle
Definition:
Chemical circulation of Earth’s nitrogen through the atmosphere, soil, and living and decaying organisms.
Example:
The nitrogen cycle goes through many steps.
Ecology
Definition:
Branch of biology that studies the relationship between living organisms and their environment.
Example:
Being in the field of ecology means you have to treat the animals you study kindly.
Habitat
Definition:
A place that an organism makes its home.
Example:
Red-eyed tree frogs live in a tropical rain forest habitat.
Abiotic
Definition:
Characterized by the absence of life or living organisms.
Example:
Rocks are abiotic.
Biotic
Definition:
Having to do with living or once-living organisms.
Example:
Fish are biotic.
Biodiversity
Definition:
All the different kinds of living organisms within a given area.
Example:
Coral reefs are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet.
Pioneer Species
Definition:
First organism to establish itself in bare land, often after a devastating natural disaster.
Example:
Lichen are a good example of a pioneer species.
Succession
Definition:
The process by which a plant or animal community successively gives way to another until a stable climax is reached.
Example:
Plants reestablishing themselves in a place that was once barren/destroyed is succession.
Primary Succession
Definition:
One of two types of biological and ecological succession of plant life, occurring in an environment in which new substrate devoid of vegetation and usually lacking soil, such as a lava flow or area left from retreated glacier, is deposited.
Example:
Plants growing in an area that has no vegetation is an example of primary succession.
Secondary Succession
Definition:
A process started by an event that reduces an already established ecosystem to a smaller population of species, and occurs on preexisting soil.
Example:
Plants growing back after a forest fire would be a secondary succession.
Climax Community
Definition:
A stable mature community in a successive series which has reached equilibrium after having evolved through stages and adapted to its environment.
Example:
Trees, plants, and animals coming back to an area over a period of time would make it a climax community.
Primary Productivity
Definiton:
A measure of the rate at which new organic matter is developed through photosynthesis and chemosynthesis in producer organisms based on the oxygen released and carbon taken in.
Example:
Primary productivity starts with the fixation of sunlight by plants and other autotrophic organisms.
Autotroph
Definition:
An autotroph is an organism that can produce its own food using light, water, carbon dioxide, or other chemicals.
Example:
Kelp, an autotroph, works hard to support an entire marine ecosystem.
Heterotroph
Definition:
Organism that cannot make its own nutrients and must rely on other organisms for food.
Example:
Wolves are herterotrophs because they rely on the nutrients they get from eating other organisms.
Trophic Level
Definition:
One of three positions on the food chain.
Example:
The energy given to an organism varies depending on what trophic level its in.
Ecological Pyramid
Definition:
An ecological pyramid is a graphical representation designed to show the biomass or biomass productivity at each trophic level in a given ecosystem.
Example:
Ecological pyramids are a useful tool to show energy flow through an ecosystem.
10% Rule
Definition:
The 10% transfer of energy to organisms on different trophic levels.
Example:
The 10% rule easily allows you to see the descent of energy through the trophic levels.
Energy Transfer
Definition:
The process where energy is transferred from one organism/thing to another.
Example:
There is an anergy transfer between organisms in an ecosytem.
First Law of Thermodynamics
Definition:
The branch of physical science that deals with the relations between heat and other forms of energy (such as mechanical, electrical, or chemical energy), and, by extension, of the relationships between all forms of energy.
Example:
The First Law of Thermodynamics help show the relationships between different types of energy.
Solar Energy
Definition:
Any type of energy generated by the sun.
Example:
Solar panels use solar energy to convert it into electricity.
Chemical Energy
Definition:
The part of the energy in a substance that can be released by a chemical reaction.
Example:
Fireworks are an example of chemical energy because they are part of a chemical reaction.
Kinetic Energy
Definition:
Power or force an object has because of its motion.
Example:
Kinetic energy comes after potential energy.
Thermal Energy
Definition:
Heat, measured in joules or calories.
Example:
There are different types of thermal energy like radiation and convection.
Predation
Definition:
Behavior of one animal feeding on another.
Example:
A fox carrying a squirrel off to eat it is an example of predation.
Predator/Prey Relationship
Definition:
A predator-prey relationship describes a biological interaction where a predator feeds on a prey.
Example:
A lion chasing down a zebra is an example of a predator/prey relationship because the lion is preying on the zebra.
Symbiosis
Definition:
Two distinct organisms living together for the benefit of one or both.
Example:
A bird cleaning the teeth of a crocodile is an example of symbiosis because the bird gets nutrition and the crocodile’s teeth is ridden of food particles.
Ammensalism
Definition:
Amensalism is any relationship between organisms of different species in which one organism is inhibited or destroyed while the other organism remains unaffected.
Example:
Penicillium bread molds releasing penicillin to kill other bacteria is an example of ammensalism.
Parasitism
Definition:
A form of symbiosis in which one organism derives nutrients from the second organism which suffers some harm but it is usually not killed.
Example:
A mosquito biting a person for nutrients is an example of parasitism.
Mutualism
Definition:
A form of symbiosis in which both orgnisms help each other.
Example:
An egret eating bugs off of a rhino helps both because the egret gets food and the rhino is ridden of pests.
Commensalism
Definition:
A form of symbiosis in which one organism helps the other organism, but there is no benefit or harm done in return.
Example:
A lamb cuddling with a person is an example of commensalism because the lamb doesn’t really affect the person, but the person’s warmth affects the lamb.
Resource
Definition:
Available supply of materials, goods, or services.
Example:
Grass is a resource of food for many primary consumers, like rabbits.
Introduced Species
Definition:
A species that does not naturally occur in an area and is reintroduced to it.
Example:
Deer being put back into an ecosystem is an example of an introduced species.
Invasive Species
Definition:
An organism that is not indigenous, or native, to a particular area, and messes up the ecological balance.
Example:
Lionfish are popular in aquariums, but less popular in the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean—they are an invasive species that outcompete native fish for resources.
Niche
Definition:
Role and space of a species within an ecosystem.
Example:
A tree in a savanna serves as a producer in that particular ecosystem.
Fundamental Niche
Definition:
What an organism’s niche would be in the absence of competition from other species.
Example:
A cheetah’s fundamental niche would be top predator if there were no lions.
Realized Niche
Definition:
Describes where a species actually lives, and the lifestyle it pursues.
Example:
Coyotes, better able to coexist with humans, have moved into habitats wolves have been evicted from. Enjoying a wider range, their realized niche is now much larger than before.
Competition
Definition:
A relationsip where two types of organisms compete for the same resource such as food, water, and nesting sites.
Example:
Grey herons fighting over a piece of fish is an example of competition.
Endangered Species
Definition:
A species of animal or plant that is seriously at risk of extinction.
Example:
Pandas are an endangered species because their habitat is dissapearing due to deforestation.
Indicator Species
Definition:
Any species that determines a characteristic of its environment, such as range or ecological health.
Example:
Humans are indicator species because they greatly affect their environment.
Biomass
Definition:
Living organisms, and the energy contained within them.
Example:
Industrial residues are an example of a source of biomass.
Biosphere
Definition:
The biosphere is made up of the parts of Earth where life exists.
Example:
Plants are a part of the biosphere.
Camouflage
Definition:
Camouflage is a defense or tactic that organisms use to disguise their appearance, usually to blend in with their surroundings.
Example:
The owl is using camouflage by blending into the tree.
Soil
Definition:
Top layer of the Earth’s surface where plants can grow.
Example:
Plants get their nutrients from the soil.
Scavenger
Definition:
An organism that mostly consumes decaying biomass.
Example:
Hyenas are a good example of a scavenger.
Predator
Definition:
An animal that hunts other animals for food.
Example:
Tigers are predators because they hunt and eat other animals.
Prey
Definition:
An animal that is hunted and eaten by other animals.
Example:
Mice are the prey of multiple animals.
Host
Definition:
An organism that is home to a parasite.
Example:
A dog with fleas (a parasite) is a host.
Deforestation
Definition:
Destruction or removal of forests and their undergrowth.
Example:
Deforestation is very devastating to any organisms that live in forest areas.
Habitat Destruction
Definition:
When enough change has happened to an area that it can no longer support the natural wildlife.
Example:
A forest being completely destroyed due to humans is an example of habitat destruction.
Global Warming
Definition:
The current rise in the average temperature of Earth’s air and oceans.
Example:
The melting of the polar ice caps is a example of global warming.
Chemical Spills
Definition:
A situation in which a chemical is accidentally released.
Example:
Oil spills are a common example of a chemical spill.
Adaptation
Definition:
A mutation, or genetic change, that helps an organism survive in its environment.
Example:
Over time, animals have adapted to the different changes in their environments.
Carrying Capacity
Definition:
Maximum number of living organisms a given area can support at a specific time, under specific levels of consumption, without upsetting the ecosystem.
Example:
If the carrying capacity is exceeded, the habitat will become unstable, and death will occur.
Population Density
Definition:
The number of people living in a set area.
Example:
The population density varies from area to area.
Limiting Factor
Definition:
A resource or environmental condition that limits the growth, abundance, or distribution of an organism or a population of organisms in an ecosystem.
Example:
A limiting factor is harmful to any organisms affected.
Nutrient Cycles
Definition:
Circulation of a chemical through living and nonliving parts of Earth.
Example:
Nutrient cycles occur naturally in our everyday lives.
Carbon Sink
Definition:
Area or ecosystem that absorbs more carbon dioxide than it releases.
Example:
Trees taking in carbon dioxide and not giving back enough is an example of carbon sink.
Water Cycle
Definition:
Movement of water between atmosphere, land, and ocean.
Example:
Rain condensing into storm clouds is part of the water cycle.
Run-off
Definition:
Overflow of fluid from a farm or industrial factory.
Example:
Runoff can pollute different bodies of water like lakes and rivers.
Eutrophication
Definition:
Build-up of sediment and organic matter in bodies of water, which may cause a change in the productivity of the ecosystem.
Example:
Eutrophication can cause major changes in an ecosystem.
Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria
Definition:
Microorganisms capable of transforming atmospheric nitrogen into fixed nitrogen, inorganic compounds usable by plants.
Example:
Nitrogen fixing bacteria are microscopic.
Root Nodules
Definition:
A swelling on a root of a leguminous plant containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
Example:
Root nodules are a sign that a plant’s root contains nitrogen fixing bacteria.
Ozone Layer
Definition:
Layer in the atmosphere containing the gas ozone, which absorbs most of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.
Example:
The ozone layer serves as a protection to us.
Phosphorus Cycle
Definition:
The biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of phosphorus through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.
Example:
The phosphorus cycle involves the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.
