ecology flashcards
describes living factors in the enviroment
Biotic
describes the nonliving part of the environment including waternrocks light and temperature
Abiotic
a group of organisms of the same species that live in a specific geographical area
Population
all the populations of species that live in the same habitat and interact with each other
Community
a community of organisms and their abiotic enviroment
Ecosystem
the part of earth where life exists
Biosphere
an organism that eats only plants
Herbivore
an organism that eats only animals
Carnivore
an organism that eats both plants and animals
Omnivore
the pathway of energy transfer through various stages as a result of feeding patterns of a series of organisms
Food chain
a diagram that shows the feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem
Food web
a triangular diagram that shows an ecosystem’s loss of energy which results as energy passes through the ecosystem’s foos chain
Energy pyramid
the largest population that an enviroment can support at any given time
Carrying capacity
an organism that is killed and eaten by another organism
Prey
an organism that eats all or part of another organism
Predator
a relationship between 2 species in which both speies benefit
Mutualism
a relationship between 2 organisms in which 1 organism benefits and the other is unaffected
Commensalism
a relationship between 2 species in which 1 species the parasite benefits from the other species the host which is harmed
Parasitism
an organism that can make its own food by using energy from its surroundings
Producers
an organism that gets energy by breaking down the remains of dead organisms or animal wastes and consuming or absorbing the nutrients
Decomposers
an area that has little or no plant life long periods without rain and extreme temperatures usually found in hot climates
Desert
a treeless plain found in the arctic in the antarctic or on the tops of mountains that is characterized by very low winter temperatures and short cool summers
Tundra
in forests plant growth happens in layers the leafy tops of the trees reach high above forest floor where the leaves can get sunlight woody shrubs catch the light that filters through the trees ferns and mosses are scattered across the forest floor flowering plants often bloom in early spring before the trees frow new leavs
Temperate deciduous forest
they have more kinds plants and animals than any other land biome
Tropical rainforest
home to many insects and birds that eat those insects
Coniferous forest
a grassland that often has scattered trees and that is found in tropical and subtropial areas where seasonal rains fires and drought happen
Savanna
includes grasses and other flowering plants few trees fires, droughts, and grazing prevent the growth of trees and shrubs
Temperate grassland
