ecology test Flashcards
made up of all the living and nonliving organisms in an environment
ecosystem
a place where an organism lives that provides the type of resources needed for survival
habitat
all the populations of different species living in an ecosystem
community
all the populations that belong to the same species living in a community
population
the variety of life in an ecosystem
biodiversity
when an organism moves into a population
immigration
when an organism moves out of a population
emigration
largest number of individuals that an ecosystem can support overtime
carrying capacity
a species is excluded from an environment due to conflict between another organism
competitive exclusion
unlimited resources
biotic potential
an organism that can produce its own energy rich molecules
producer
the study of interactions between organisms
ecology
an organism who can not produce its own energy rich molecules
consumer
an organism that breaks down organic matter
decomposer
an organism who only eats plants
herbivore
an organism who only eats meat
carnivore
an organism who eats both plants and meat
omnivore
give examples of biotic factors
plants
animals
bacteria
give examples of abiotic factors
rocks
soil
What happens when
birth rate > death rate
population increases
What happens when
birth rate
population decreases
what happens when
birth rate equals death rate
population stays the same
what are two types of graphs that can show population
exponential
logistic
what type of growth does an exponential graph show
quick
what type of growth does a logistic graph show
gradual
what are two methods to counting a population over a large area
trap-mark-release
large sample counts
name some common limiting factors
predators
lack of resources
human activity
temperature change
what are two possible outcomes of conflict between organisms i the same community
on can be exiled
they can divide the resources
what does an energy pyramid show
the loss of energy from each trophic level
what is predation?
the act of organism killing another for food
describe coevolution
back and forth adjustment
what is parasitism?
a relationship between organisms in which one benefits while the other is harmed
give an example of parasitism
flea on a dog
what are the two types of symbiosis
mutualism
commensalism
describe mutualism
both organisms benefit
describe commensalism
one organism benefits while the other is not affected
give an example of a simple food chain and describe how much energy is gained in each trophic level
grass ——– caterpillar ——– bird
100% ——– 10% —————–1%
describe coevolution between plants and animals
animal eats the plant
animal dies
animal decomposes giving nutrients back to the plants
what makes up our biosphere?
top portion of earth’s crust
all the water on earth’s surface
the atmosphere
