ecology vocab Flashcards
the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings
ecology
a place where a particular population of a species has everything it needs to live, grow, and reproduce
habitat
a community and all of the physical aspects of its habitat (including soil, air, water, and weather)
ecosystem
physical rather than biological
abiotic
the living organisms of a habitat
biotic
a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characterstics in common
community
all the different kinds of life you’ll find in one area
biodiversity
the first organisms to live in a new habitat. Usually small, fast growing plants
pioneer species
a number of people or things sharing a specififed characterstics
succession
succession that occurs where plants have not grown before (ex: volcanoes, receding glaciers)
primary succession
secondary ecological succession of a plants life
secondary succession
synthesis of organic compounds from atmospheric or carbon dixoide
primary succession
organisms that make their own food (producers)
autotrophs
an organism that eats other plants or animals for energy and nutrients
heterotroph
organisms that capture energy from the sun/light and make their own food in the process of photosynthesis
producer
Organisms that eat other living things
consumer
the position of an organism in the food chain
trophic level
the path of energy through the trophic levels of an ecosystem
food chain
animal that eats plants
herbivores
organisms that eat other animals in order to get their energy
carnivores
an animal or person that eats both plants and animals
omnivores
organisms that obtain energy from organic waste and dead bodies and release the nutrients back into the environment
detritivores
consists of all the food chains in a single ecosystem
food web
the total quantity or weight of organisms
biomass
the act of one organism feeding on another
predation
two or more species that live together in a close long-term association
symbiosis
a relationship between the two living species in which one organism is benefitted at the expense of the other
parasitism
a symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit (ex: bees and flowering plants)
mutualism
a unique relationship between two species wherein one species draws food, shelter, or transport from the other without harming it
commensalism
the entire range of conditions an organism is potentially able to occupy
fundamental niche
role an organisms plays
niche
major biological community of flora(plants) and fauna(animals) that occurs over a large area of land
biome
a species that is not native to a specific location and that has a tendency to cause damage to the environment and native species
invasive species
the purposeful clearing of forested land
deforestation
a fuel that comes from the remains of organisms ex: coal; nonrenewable
fossil fuel
any factor (biotic or abiotic) that limits the size of a population
limiting factors
an animal that naturally preys on others
predator
animal that is caught and killed by others for food
prey
