Ecosystem Flashcards
The study of how organisms interact with one another and with their physical environment.
Ecology
An expert in or student of ecology.
Ecologist
A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
Ecosystem
Physical rather than biological; not derived from living organisms. (non- living)
Abiotic
Relating to or resulting from living organisms. (living)
Biotic
A group of interdependent plants or animals growing or living together in natural conditions or occupying a specified habitat.
Community
An individual animal, plant, or single-celled life form.
Organism
A community of animals, plants, or humans among whose members interbreeding occurs.
Population
A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding.
Species
Breed or cause to breed with another of a different race or species.
Interbreed
Able to conceive young or produce seed.
Fertile
Arole taken by a particular type of organism within its community.
Niche
The natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.
Habitat
An organism that produces organic compounds from simple substances such as water and carbon dioxide; an autotroph.
Producers
An organism that is able to form nutritional organic substances from simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide.
Autotrophs
A division of microorganisms that are related to the bacteria but are capable of photosynthesis. They are prokaryotic and represent the earliest known form of life on the earth.
Cyanobacteria
A simple sugar which is an important energy source in living organisms and is a component of many carbohydrates.
Glucose
Four important classes of organic molecules—carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids—are discussed in the following sections.
Organic molecules
Stiffen (fabric or clothing) with starch.
Starches
Any of a class of organic compounds that are fatty acids or their derivatives and are insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. They include many natural oils, waxes, and steroids.
Lipids
Any of a class of nitrogenous organic compounds which have large molecules composed of one or more long chains of amino acids and are an essential part of all living organisms, especially as structural components of body tissues such as muscle, hair, etc., and as enzymes and antibodies.
Proteins
A complex organic substance present in living cells, especially DNA or RNA, whose molecules consist of many nucleotides linked in a long chain.
Nucleic Acids
An organism that derives the organic compounds and energy it needs from the consumption of other organisms; a heterotroph.
Consumers
An organism deriving its nutritional requirements from complex organic substances.
Heterotrophs
An animal that feeds on plants.
Herbivores
An animal that feeds on other animals.
Carnivores
An animal or person that eats a variety of food of both plant and animal origin.
Omnivores
An organism, especially a soil bacterium, fungus, or invertebrate, that decomposes organic material.
Decomposers
An organism that feeds on or derives nourishment from decaying organic matter.
Saprotrophs
