Ecology Flashcards
Ecology definition
The branch of biology that deals with the relationships of organisms with one another and to their physical surroundings
The ecology tree
Biosphere Biomes Ecosystems Community Population Individual
What are abiotic factors
Non living environmental factors that can affect the organisms in an ecosystem e.g. Light intensity, temperature, moisture levels, soil, mineral content in soil wind intensity, availability of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
What are biotic factors
Factors associated with living organisms e.g. Availability of food, competition between organisms, predators, pathogens.
What is interdependence?
The dependance of every form of life on other living things and in the natural resources in its environment such as air, soil and water e.g. Herbivore relies on plants to eat.
What is a population
The amount of a species in a community
What is a community
Made up of different species of organisms that are interdependent in a habitat.
What is a stable community
The species of living organisms are balanced and the number of species remain relatively constant.
What is an ecosystem
An area of interacting organisms and their physical habitats
What do plants compete for
- Minerals in soil
- Light and water
- Space
- Co2
What is interspecific competition
Competition between organisms of different species
What is infraspecific competition
Is competition between the same species.
What is the carbon cycle
- Carbon is released into the atmosphere by combustion and respiration.
- Carbon dioxide is absorbed by producers to make carbohydrates in photosynthesis.
- Animals eat other animals and plants, passing on carbon in this way.
- Animals and plants release energy from glucose in respiration. This also releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
- When animals and plants die they decompose and carbon is released back into the soil.
Extremophiles
Organisms adapted to live in very extreme conditions e.g. in places of extreme heat.
