Ecosystems Flashcards
Abiotic
Non-living organisms
Biotic
Living organisms
Niche
A comfortable or suitable position in the environment
Parasite
an organism which lives in or on another organism (its host) and benefits by deriving nutrients at the other’s expense.
Host
an organism which lives in or on another organism and benefits by deriving nutrients at the other’s expense.
Ecosystem
a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
Predator
an animal that naturally preys on others.
Prey
an animal that is hunted and killed by another for food.
Mutualism
symbiosis which is beneficial to both organisms involved.
Commensalism
an association between two organisms in which one benefits and the other derives neither benefit nor harm
Symbiosis
A relationship between 2 animals
Parasitism
One benefits and the other is harmed
Chemosynthetic
describes organisms that produce organic material using energy released from chemical reactions rather than light
Food chains
diagram that shows how the energy stored in one organism is passed to another
Food web
diagram showing several food chains joined together to demonstrate that animals eat more than one type of food
Trophies level
a level within a food chain, food web or food pyramid
First order
organism that is within the second trophic level of a food chain (herbivores); also known as a primary consumer
Primary consumers
the first consumer in a food chain; also known as a first-order consumer
Second order
organism that is within the third trophic level of a food chain (carnivores); also known as a secondary consumer
Secondary consumer
the second consumer in a food chain; also known as a second-order consumer
Energy pyramid
a representation of the level of food energy at each level within a food chain
Pyramid of numbers
a representation of the population, or numbers of organisms, at each level within a food chain
Pyramid of biomass
a representation of the dry mass of organisms at each level within a food chain
Birth rate
the number of organisms within a population that are born within a particular period of time
Death rate
the number of organisms within a population that die within a particular period of time
Immigration
the number of individuals moving into an area
Emigration
the number of individuals leaving an area
Exponential growth
a rapid increase in number or size, represented by a J-shaped graph
Sigmoid
the shape of a graph that shows a population increasing in number then reaching a plateau
Steady state
see equilibrium
Plateau phrase
see equilibrium
Equilibrium
a state in which conditions are balanced and there is neither growth nor a decrease in number; also known as steady state or plateau phase
Zero population growth
the point at which birth and death rates balance each other out
Carrying capacity
the maximum population size that a particular environment can sustain
Producers
organism at the base of the food chain that does not need to feed on other organisms; also known as an autotroph
Autotrophs
Makes its own food
Photosynthesis
the food-making process in plants that takes place in chloroplasts within cells. The process uses carbon dioxide, water and energy from the sun.
Metabolism
the chemical reactions occurring within an organism that enable the organism to use energy and grow and repair cells
Cellular respiration
the chemical reaction involving oxygen that moves the energy in glucose into the compound ATP. The body is able to use the energy contained in ATP.
ATP
a form of energy released during cellular respiration that provides cells with the energy needed to perform their functions
Aerobic respiration
the chemical breakdown of food using oxygen. The reaction needs enzymes, occurs in all body cells and releases energy.
Glycolysis
process by which glucose is converted into a simple form, during which energy is released
Cytosol
the fluid found inside cells
Krebs cycle
part of the aerobic respiration process in which carbon dioxide and ATP (energy) are produced
Electron transport chain reactions
part of the aerobic respiration process
Mitochondria
small rod-shaped organelles that supply energy to other parts of the cell. They are usually too small to be seen with light microscopes. Singular = mitochondrion.
Anaerobic respiration
the chemical breakdown of food without oxygen. The reaction needs enzymes, occurs in cells and releases less energy than aerobic respiration.
Lactic acid
an end product of anaerobic respiration in animals; also known as lactate
Lactate
See lactic acid
Ethanol
an end product of anaerobic respiration in plants; a form of alcohol
Eutrophication
a form of water pollution involving an excess of nutrients such as nitrates and phosphorus, resulting in algal blooms and possible death of fish and other organisms
Insecticides
a chemical used to kill insects
Fungicides
a chemical used to kill fungal growth
Herbicides
a chemical used to kill unwanted plants (weeds)
Fumigant
a chemical used in the form of smoke or fumes, to kill pests
Bioaccumulation
magnification of concentrations of a substance such as a nonbiodegradable pesticide along the food chain; also known as biological magnification
Biological magnification
see bioaccumulation
Introduced species
an organism that has been released into an ecosystem in which it does not occur naturally
