Ecosystems and Photosynthesis Flashcards
Define Ecology
The study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment.
Define ecosystems
A system formed by a group of living things interacting with each other and their non-living surroundings. Can vary in size as long as they are self-sustaining
What are the 3 main concepts ecosystems are split into?
o Physical surroundings, such as rocks soil water
o Living organisms
o Living and non-living factors that make up the environment
(Biotic and Abiotic)
Define habitat
A habitat is a place where the population of organisms lives. They can vary in size depending on the amount of food, water, and shelter they provide
Define population
A group of living organism that are the same species, living in the same place at the same time
What is it called when organisms interact with each other?
Community
What happens if a habitat does not supply all of the needs for the organisms?
they will move to another or die out
What are some abiotic factors/examples?
o Non-living factors
o Examples: water, air quality, amount of light, temperature, wind, soil type, the humidity of the air, tides, waves, lightning, and fires.
What are some biotic factors/examples?
o Living factors
o Examples: predators, fungi, parasites, infectious organisms, competitors and collaborators.
Define competition
This occurs between members of the same species. This occurs when organisms need the same resource and there is a limited amount of it.
What is an example of competition
Many animals establish territories to ensure they have enough food, nestling places, shelter, water and other resources
Animals defend their territory by attacking competing animals that enter.
What is mutualism?
Two organisms live closely together to benefit each other.
What is an example of mutualism?
cleaner shrimp and fish. Cleaner shrimp clean the parasites off the bodies of other fish by eating them so both fish benefit.
What is commensalism?
One organism benefit and the other is unharmed.
What is an example of commensalism?
Clown fish and anemone. The clown fish feed on left-over food caught by the anemone, so they do not compete with the anemone or provide the anemone with any benefit.
What is parasitism?
Parasites are organisms that live on or in another organism and feed off it. Usually harms the host, rarely kills it.
What is an example of parasitism?
tapeworms cannot survive inside humans without the organism in which it lives.
Define predation?
When one organism kills and eats another, the attacker is called the predator and the one being eaten is called the prey
What is photosynthesis?
the conversion of light energy into chemical energy using the chlorophyll of plants
How does photosynthesis work?
o Leaves of plants absorb CO2 from the air, roots absorb H20 = glucose + oxygen.
o Carbon dioxide + water -> glucose + oxygen
What is chlorophyll?
o Green colour in leaves
o Can absorb energy from sunlight
What happens when sunlight falls on chlorophyll?
o When sunlight falls on cells containing chlorophyll, the cells start making sugar
o Used to make proteins, fats and vitamins for the plant
What is cell respiration?
Process of using oxygen to burn glucose and convert it into energy that the cell can use.
What is a carnivore?
Eats Meat
What is a herbivore?
Eats Plants
What is an omnivore?
Eats both meat and plants
What is a food web?
Diagram that represents the way energy is transferred from producer to consumer in an ecosystem.
A food web is the natural interconnection of food chains and a graphical representation of what-eats-what in an ecological community.
In a pyramid of biomass how much energy gets passed on?
-Only 10% of energy passed on to the next
trophic level
