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Biology - June Exam > Ecology Definitions > Flashcards

Ecology Definitions Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Ecology

A

The scientific study of interactions between organism and their environments, focusing on energy transfer.

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2
Q

Biosphere

A

The global ecological system integrating all living beings & their relationships including their interactions with elements of the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere. The life supporting zone of Earth.

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3
Q

Lithosphere

A

The rocky outer layer of the Earths’s crust including rock and soil, it is the ultimate source of all mineral elements required by living organisms.

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4
Q

Hydrosphere

A

All the Earth’s water - salt water, fresh water & water vapour.

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5
Q

Atmosphere

A

The gaseous layer surrounding the Earths, comprised of mainly nitrogen and oxygen.

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6
Q

Biome

A

A large area of similar climate and vegetation.

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7
Q

Ecosystem

A

All biopics factors and abiotic factors with which they interact.

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8
Q

Community

A

Several populations that live in a common environment.

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9
Q

Population

A

A group of organisms of the same species, living in the same place at the same time.

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10
Q

Habitat

A

The area in which an organism lives out its life.

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11
Q

Niche

A

The role and position that an organism has in its environment.

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12
Q

Biotic factors

A

All living organisms inhabiting the Earth.

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13
Q

Abiotic factors

A

Non-living parts of the environment.

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15
Q

Physiographic factors

A

Aspect - position an area in relation to the sun
Slope - can affect water run off
Altitude - height above sea level

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16
Q

Climatic factors

A

Factors relating to climate, including sunlight, rainfall & temperature.

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17
Q

Producers

A

All autotrophic plants that trap energy from the sun to carry out photosynthesis, using water and carbon dioxide to make glucose and oxygen.

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18
Q

Primary consumers

A

Animals that eat plants.

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19
Q

Secondary consumers

A

Animals that eat primary consumers.

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20
Q

Decomposer

A

Break down the complex compounds of dead or decaying plants and animals into simpler molecules that can be absorbed.

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21
Q

Herbivores

A

Only eat plants.

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22
Q

Edaphic factors

A

Factors relating to the soil, including soil type & texture.

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23
Q

Indigenous

A

Originating from a region but also found elsewhere.

24
Q

Alien plant

A

Organisms that are non-native to an ecosystem and may cause economic r environmental harm or adversely affect human health.

25
Q

Diurnal

A

Animals that are active during the day.

26
Q

Nocturnal

A

Animals which are active during the night.

27
Q

Ectothermic

A

An animals whose regulation of body temperature is dependent on external sources.

28
Q

Endothermic

A

An animals who generates heat to maintain its own body temperature.

29
Q

Hibernation

A

A state of inactivity and metabolic depression of animals in the Winter.

30
Q

Aestivation

A

Burrowing in hot, dry conditions.

31
Q

Migration

A

The movement of animals to warmer conditions.

32
Q

Autotroph

A

Living organisms that can produce their own food supply through photosynthesis.

33
Q

Heterotroph

A

An animal that cannot manufacture its own food supply and instead, ingests it.

34
Q

Intraspecific competition

A

Animals of the same species that compete for limited resources

35
Q

Interspecific competition

A

Animals of different species that compete with each other for the same resources in an ecosystem.

36
Q

Symbiosis

A

Relations are a special type of interaction between species. They can sometimes be beneficial of harmful but are essential to organisms and ecosystems. They provide a balance that can only be achieved through working together.

37
Q

Commensalism

A

One species benefits, the other is neither harmed nor helped.

38
Q

Mutualism

A

Both species benefit.

39
Q

Parasitism

A

One species benefits (parasite) and the other is harmed (host).

40
Q

Animal camouflage

A

An adaptation in the form of pattern, colour or behaviour that enables an animal to escape detection by predators by blending in with its environment.

41
Q

Mimicry

A

Involves a palatable species (the mimic) that resembles a poisonous species (the model), therefore the mimic is avoided by predators.

42
Q

Carnivore

A

Predatory animals that eat prey animals

43
Q

Scavenger

A

Feed on dead or decaying animal remains

44
Q

Omnivore

A

A species that eats both plants and animals

45
Q

Food web

A

Realistic path of every transfer in an ecosystem made up of many interlinking food chains.

46
Q

Food chain

A

Simple energy path through an ecosystem showing the feeding relationships in that ecosystem.

47
Q

Photosynthesis

A

The complex process in which CO2 and water are converted into glucose and oxygen by green plants using energy from the sun and chlorophyll.

48
Q

Cellular respiration

A

A set of metabolic reactions and processes that take place in cells to turn biochemical energy from nutrients into adenosine triphosphate and then release waste products.

49
Q

Biodiversity

A

The variability or diversity of organisms within species, between species and of ecosystems.

50
Q

Phototropism

A

Plants that grow in the direction of maximum sunlight.

51
Q

Photoperidicity

A

The length of days or seasons that influences the growth of plants.

52
Q

Endemic

A

Only found in a specific region

53
Q

Xerophyte

A

Plants adapted to grow in dry conditions

54
Q

Mesophyte

A

Plants adapted to grow in moderate water supply.

55
Q

Hydrophyte

A

Plants that re adapted to grow in water.

Biology - June Exam (1 decks)

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