Ecology Flashcards
Habitat
Place where an organism lives and is adapted to
Population
Members of the same species living in an area
Community
Populations of different species in an area
Ecosystem
Relationships where organisms interact with their environment
Biosphere
Part of earth that supports life
Ecology
The study of the interaction of plants and animals with each other and their environment
Biotic
Living factors that affect living organisms
Abiotic
Non living factors that affect living organism
Climate
Long term weather conditions
Weather
Short term weather conditions
Edaphic
Soil conditions that affect living organisms
Aquatic
Water conditions that affect living organisms
Food chain
A sequence of organisms where each one is eaten by the next in the chain
Grazing food chain
A food chain that starts with a plant
Detritus food chain
A food chain starting with dead organic matter
Tropic level
Position of an organism in a food chain
Food web
Set of interconnected food chains
Nutrient recycling
Where elements/ minerals are exchanged between the living and non living parts of the eco system
Eutrophication
When lakes become enriched with nutrients (fertilisers)
Niche
The role of an organism in an ecosystem
Competition
Struggle between organisms of the same or different species for a limited resource
Intra- specific competition
Competition between members of the same species
Inter-specific competition
Competition between members of different species
Contest competition
Active struggle between 2 organisms where only one wins the resource
Example: competition for mates (dears)