Ecology Flashcards
the transfer of energy from organic food from one trophic level to the next
10% Rule
the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.
Ecology
physical rather than biological; not derived from living organisms.
Abiotic
of, relating to, or resulting from living things, especially in their ecological relations.
Biotic
an individual animal, plant, or single-celled life form.
Organism
all the inhabitants of a particular town, area, or country.
Population
a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.
Community
a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
Ecosystem
the regions of the surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere of the earth (or analogous parts of other planets) occupied by living organisms.
Biosphere
a person, company, or country that makes, grows, or supplies goods or commodities for sale.
Producer
We just established that the primary consumer is the living organism that eats the producers, which are the plants.
Primary Consumer
Primary consumers are animals that eat primary producers; they are also called herbivores (plant-eaters).
Secondary Consumer
a carnivore at the topmost level in a food chain that feeds on other carnivores; an animal that feeds only on secondary consumers.
Tertiary Consumer
An energy pyramid is a graphical model of energy flow in a community. The different levels represent different groups of organisms that might compose a food chain.
Energy Pyramid
All the mass of living things in the world/area.
Biomass
level of energy within the energy pyramid
Trophic Level
a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat, e.g., forest or tundra.
Biome
the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water.
Photosynthesis
The chemical process that generates most of the energy in the cell, supplying molecules needed to make the metabolic reactions
Cellular Respiration
How a population of organisms is organized
Population Distribution
High when there is a lot in a particular area, low where there is not
Population Density
Have an effect on the population due to its high density
Density Dependent Factors
Have an effect on the population but is out of the organisms control
Density Independent Factors
Change in number of individuals over time
Growth Rate
Under ideal conditions in which organisms benefit always
Exponential Growth
Resources are shared and not endless
Limited Growth
Number of organisms an environment can hold
Carrying Capacity
