Ecology Flashcards
species
group of organisms with similar characteristics
able to potentially interbreed and produce fertile offspring
population
group of organisms of same species who live in same area at same time
autotroph
organism that is able to form nutritional organic substances from simple inorganic substances
heterotroph
organism deriving its nutritional requirements from complex organic substances
saprotroph
heterotrophs that feed on dead organisms by external digestion
consumer
heterotrophs that feed on living things by ingestion
detritivore
heterotroph that feed on dertritus by internal digestion
community
group of populations of different species living together and interacting with each other in same area
food web
complex network of trophic relationships in community
abiotic environment
non-living surroundings of community
ecosystem
community of organisms which interact with abiotic environment
mesocosm
small experimental area set up in ecological research programme
quadrat
square sample area used in ecological research
requirements for sustainability of ecosystems
nutrient availability
detoxification of waste products
energy availability
initial source of energy (for most communities)
sunlight
autotrophs which carry out photosynthesis
plants
eukaryotic algae
cyanobacteria
food chain
sequence of organisms wherein each organism feeds on previous one
trophic level
each of several hierarchical levels in ecosystem
comprised of organisms that share same function in food chain and same nutritional relationship to producers of energy
producer
autotroph
organism which makes its food by energy conversion
1st organism in food chain
primary consumer
organism which consumes producers
herbivorous
secondary consumer
organism which consumes primary consumers
carnivorous/omnivorous
ways by which food and energy can be passed to saprotrophs and detritivores
death of organism before being consumed by next organism in food chain
remnants of organisms consumed by next organism in food chain
indigestible nutrients found in organisms egested by next organism in food chain
biomass
total mass of group of organisms
consists of cells and tissues of organisms
has energy
cause of energy losses in ecosystems
inability to convert heat energy (particularly from cellular respiration) into any other form of energy
failure to entirely consume organisms in previous trophic level
inability for all parts of food ingested to be digested and absorbed
unit used to measure biomass
grams
tertiary consumer
organism which consumes primary consumers and secondary consumers
typically carnivorous (sometimes omnivorous)
energy pyramid
trophic pyramid
ecological pyramid
graphical representation of flow of energy at each trophic level in ecosystem
function of nutrient recycling in sustainability of ecosystems
allows essential nutrients to be absorbed from environment, used by living organisms, and eventually returned to environment
makes up for limited supply of nutrients in ecosystems
