Ecosystems Flashcards
ecology
the study of relationships between living organisms and between organisms and their environment
ecologist
a person who studies plants and animals in relation to their environment
ecosystem
a particular area where a community and its abiotic environment interacts
abiotic
non-living matter found in the environment
biotic
living matter found in the environment
community
a group of different populations living and interacting with each other in a particular ecosystem
organism
one living individual
population
a group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time
species
a group of living organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring
interbreed
the mixing of different species to produce offspring
fertile
the ability to produce offspring
niche
the role which a species normally performs (the job of a living organism)
habitat
the environment in which a species normally lives
producers
an organism that produces organic compounds from simple substances such as water and carbon dioxide
autotrophs
organisms that use solar energy or chemical energy to make their own food
cyanobacteria
a division of micro-organisms that are related to the bacteria but are capable of photosynthesis
glucose
a simple sugar which is an important energy source in living organisms
organic molecules
has carbon-hydrogen bonds and is created by living organisms
starches
are white, granular, organic chemicals produced by all green plants
lipids
organic molecules of fats and oils made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and some elements like sodium, potassium and phosphate
proteins
organic molecules made of amino acids, structure an organism, specialised to form enzymes and hormones
nucleic acids
organic molecules found in a cell, responsible for hereditary and protein synthesis
consumers
organism that obtains its food by consuming organic material
heterotrophs
organism that obtains food by feeding on other organisms
herbivores
animals that feed on plants
carnivores
animals that feed on other animals
omnivores
animals or people that eats a variety of both plant and animal origin
decomposers
organisms that break down dead or decaying organic matter
saprotrophs
an organism that feeds on or derives nourishment from decaying organic matter
