Ecosystem Flashcards
Define the term niche
The exact role of an organism in the ecosystem
Define the term population
All of the organisms of one species that live in the same place at the same time and who can breed with each other
Define the term community
All of the organisms of different species who live in the same place at the same time and can interact with each other
Define the term biotic factors
Impacts living organisms in an ecosystem can have on each other e.g. Food supply, predation and disease
Define the term abiotic factor
Non living components of an ecosystem and their effects e.g. pH, temperature and soil type
Define the term habitat
The place where individual species live
Define the term consumer
- An organism that feed on other organisms e.g. Animals and birds
- they digest the complex organic molecules made by autotrophs the use the products for growth or as substrates in respiration
Define the term decomposer
- An organism that’s feeds on waste or dead organic matter
* they gain their energy by digesting and respiring the complex molecules in the organic matter
What are primary consumers?
Organisms that feed on plants
What are secondary consumers?
Organisms that feed on primary consumers
What are tertiary consumers?
Organisms that feed on secondary consumers
Define the term tropic level
A stage in a food chain occupied by a particular group of organisms (each feeding level in a food chain)
Define the term ecosystem
- It is all the living organisms and all the non living components in a specific area and their interactions
- they are dynamic systems (changing all the time)
Define the term producer
An organism that converts simple inorganic compounds into complex organic compounds
