Glossary Flashcards
Habitat
The place where an organism, species, or population lives
Population
All the individuals of a particular species living in a particular area
Exoskeleton
A skeleton on the outside f an organism such as found in insects and crustaceans
Turbulence
The roughness of the environment caused by chaotic air or water flow
Heterotroph
An organism that gains its organic compounds for energy and growth from other organisms
Cellulase
An enzyme that digests cellulose that is produced by some bacteria, fungi, protozoans
Cellulose
The carbohydrate made of linked glucose molecules which is a major component of plant cell walls and wood
Symbiosis
A relationship between organisms of different species which live together.
One benefits while the other suffers, is unaffected, or also benefits
Mycorrhizal fungi
Symbiotic fungi associated with plant roots tat gain carbohydrates from the plants and aid the uptake of nutrients such as phosphates from the soil by the plants
Pollination
The transfer of the male plant gametes onto the female part of a flower, resulting in fertilisation and seed production
Community
A community of species refers to the populations of all the species living in a particular area
Taxonomy
The study of organisms to assess how they may be grouped or classified
Taxon
A group of organisms based on their biological similarities
Genus
A group of closely related species
Ecosystem
The community of organisms living in an area, their inter-relationships and interactions with their abiotic environment
Biome
A large geographical region with particular climatic features in which a characteristic unique community lives
Ecological succession
The sequences of changes in a community composition that changes as an area is colonised and develops until a climax community is reached
Lithosere
The sequence of changes in community composition as bare rock is colonised and becomes a terrestrial climax community
Autotrophs
Organisms that can capture light or chemical energy from the environment to make high-energy substances such as carbohydrates.
Includes photoautotrophs and chemoautotrophs
Density independent factors
A factor that is not influenced by the population density of the species that may be affected eg. drought
Density dependent factors
A factor whose effect is affected by the density of the population eg. disease
Carrying capacity
The greatest population that can be sustainably supported in an area
Sigmoidal population growth
The growth pattern of a population where abundant resources allow rapid growth followed by population stabilisation as the carrying capacity is reached
Edaphic
A factor related to soil, particularly as it affects living organisms
