ecology Flashcards
ecosystem
a system or group of interconnected elements formed, formed by the interaction of a community with their environment.
biotic factors
living factors in an ecosystem, plants/animals.
abiotic factors
Non living factors in an ecosystem. water/air
organism
individual living thing that can react to stimuli,eat, grow, reproduce and maintain homeostasis
Species
specific unit of biological classification and a taxonomic rank
population
a group of organisms of one species that internal group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live in the same place at the same time
community
an large group of various species living together
Habitat
area where an organism or population live.
natural selection
Survival of the fittest, Charles Darwin
Evolution
The change in the heritable characteristics over a long period of adaptation
producers/autotroph
Makes their own food from sunlight and inorganic matter
consumers/ heterotrophs
usually eat producers, cannot make their own food
primary consumers
living organism that eats the producer
secondary consumer
Eat primary consumers but can also eat producers
tertiary consumer
Carnivore at the top most level of the food chain
herbivores
Eats only producers, plants
carnivores
Eats only other consumers
omnivores
Eats both producers and consumers
decomposers
Eats dead plant or animal matter that is being decayed
food chain
feeding hierarchy in which organisms in an ecosystem are grouped into trophic levels to show the flow of food energy.
food web
showing the interconnecting food chains in an ecological community
energy pyramid
Graphical model showing energy flow in a community
carbon cycle
The cycle of carbon throughout processes like photosynthesis, decomposition and respiration.
nitrogen cycle
Natural process of the cycle of nitrogen from air to soil to organisms.
ecological succession
process by which the structure of a biological community evolves over time.
primary succession
Areas incapable of sustaining plant life, such as area damaged from lava flow, begins in barren areas.
secondary succession
Starts in an already established ecosystem, and damages it, ex. hurricane
pioneer species
first species to inhabit these recovering ecosystems.
climax community
A perfect balance of populations, final stage of succession.
ecosystem
Community of interacting organisms their physical environment
