Ecology Flashcards
Ecology
Ecology is the study of the relationships between organisms and their physical and biotic environment
Biosphere
The biosphere is the region within which all living things are found on earth.
It is the narrow belt around the earth extending from the bottom of the oceans to the upper atmosphere
Biomes
Biomes are the largest geographically biotic communities that can be conveniently recognised.
Ecosystem
An ecosystem encompasses the physical environment and the community.
Biotic factors
Competitors Symbionts Predators Parasites Pathogens
Abiotic factors
Atmosphere Temperature Water Wind speed Wind direction Current velocity Soil
Community
A community is a naturally occurring group of organisms living together as an ecological entity; the biological part of the ecosystem
Population
A population is a group of the same species living in a particular ecosystem.
Environment
The physical environment refers to the physical surroundings of any organism.
Habitat
A particular place an organism is found in an ecosystem.
Niche
The role of an organism in an ecosystem
Symbiosis
Symbiosis is the term used to describe interactions that occur between different species.
Mutualism
Both species benefit from the interaction and depend on each other for their survival (requires evolution of adaptions in both species)
Cooperation
Each species benefits, but does not depend on each other for survival.
Commensalism
One organism benefits, the other is not affected.
