Ecosystems Flashcards
Define community *
the sum of all living organisms in a habitat
Environment*
the abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) components which may affect an organisms survival in an area
Ecosystem *
A community, its environment, and the interactions between them
Habitat
a place where an organism lives ( and its needs are met)
Ecology
the study of how organisms interact with each other and their
environment.
Biodiversity
The variety of (and between) organisms within an ecosystem
Communities in an ecosystem are affected by two environmental factors, what are they?
Abiotic and biotic factors
What does Abiotic mean?
non-living
What are some Abiotic factors:
physical factors such as water, temperature, light, soil nutrients/minerals, and oxygen / carbon dioxide
What does Biotic mean?
living factors
What are some Biotic factors:
predator/prey, parasites, competitors, pollinators, and disease
What is predation
One organism (predator) kills another organism (prey) for
food
Give examples of predation
- Animals preying on animals
- Animals preying on plants
- Plants preying on animals
Competition
One organism competes with another organism for limited resources (often food)
Competition Examples
cheetahs and lions
