identify, describe & explain terminology Flashcards
independent
cause - does not change
dependant
effect
biosphere
the part of the earth that supports all life
ecology
the study of the interaction of organisms & their environment
chemical potential energy
the form in which energy is stored in food during photosynthesis
abiotic factors
non-living elements of an environment
biotic factors
living elements an environment that influences each other
greenhouse effect
sunlight warms up the earth, but heat can’t escape the denser atmosphere anymore
rain shadow
clouds blown upward, causing mountain rainfall
hibernation
winter sleep due to extremely low temps
estivation
summer sleep due to high day temps with dry conditions
homogenous
you cant see the difference in the nature of the plants
stratification
the appearance of 3 layers
1. crown
2. shrubs
3. fern, ground
habitat
living place of an organism
niche
role played in an ecosystem
carrying capacity
number of organisms that can be supported by the environment
habitat modification
a change in land use or land cover that has an impact on local ecosystems
fynbos
small leaves
indigenous plants
a plant that naturally grows there
endemic plants
plants that are only found in that area and nowhere else
fuel pile
gathering of flammable liquids
salinity
concentration of salt in water or soil
bio-diversity
the different kinds of life you’ll find in one area
eco-region
areas where ecosystems (and the type, quality, and quantity of environmental resources) are generally similar
flagship-species
a species chosen to raise support for biodiversity conservation in a given place or social context
invader
nocturnal
active at night
diurnal
active at daytime
sandy soil
poor water retention
loam soil
high humus, good water retention
clay soil
high water retention
alkaline
occurs in areas w a low rainfall where salts accumulate in the soil
acidic
found in areas w high rainfall. water washes leaches salts from the soil and is replaced by H+-ions- hence the low pH
hydroscopic (absorption)
water molecules cling to the soil particles
capillary
water is found between soil particles & can be absorbed by plants
seepage (borehole)
water is available to plants as it seeps through the upper soil layers
autotrophs
an organism that can produce their own food
heterotrophs
organisms that eat other plants or animals for energy & nutrients
saprophytic
obtaining food by absorbing dissolved organic material
biome
an ecological area
population
a group of the same species living in the same area at the same time
communtiy
a group of diff species living in the same area at the same time
genetic diversity
the variety, as well as the variation in a species
species diversity
the number of diff species found in certain area
endemic species
are only found in a specific area
extint
species die out due to natural or human impacts
taxonomy
naming and classification of living organism
eukaryotes
True nucleus
prokaryotes
no true nucleus
