Ecostystems Flashcards
Environment
All factors that affect an organisms survival over its lifetime
Ecology
The study of how organisms interact with each other and non-living surroundings
Ecosystem
A place where organisms and their physical surroundings form an environment different from nearby environments
Abiotic factors
Non-living, physical factors = fire, light, oxygen levels,soil type or temperature (flost)
Biotic factors
Living factors = competition, parasitism, predation, mutualism, commensalism
Photosynthesis
Process by which plants make their own food, using water, carbon dioxide and light
Why is fire an abiotic factor
Fire can kill some plants, but help others to reproduce and flower
Why is light an abiotic factor
Light is used for photosynthesis
Why are oxygen levels abiotic factors
The amount of oxygen in an area affects most animals, as the need it for respiration
Respiration
A reaction that provides cells with energy
Why is water an abiotic factor
Because all living organisms need water to survive
Why is soil type an abiotic factor
Because plants grow in the soil which provides the water and nutrition that they need to survive
Why is temperature an abiotic factor
Because temperature affects the speed of chemical reactions in cells, as the temperature ^ the speed of the reaction ^
Ectothermic
When an organism can’t generate its own heat internally and must obtain heat from its surroundings
Endothermic
Organisms that have the ability to generate heat internally
Interdependence
The relationship between organisms who affect each other’s survival
What is a community
All of the living things that make up an ecosystem
Competition
When 2 organisms both try to obtain the same resource
Predation
When one organism kills and eats another
Mutualism
The relationship between 2 organisms that live closely together and both benefit
Parasitism
The relationship between 2 organisms, where one benefits and the other is harmed
Commensalism
the relationship where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected
Ectothermic
When an organism is unable to generate heat internally and must obtain heat from its surroundings
Endothermic
When an organism has the ability to generate its own heat internally
