Key Terms & Concepts Ecology Flashcards
Ecosystem
All the interacting parts of a biological community and its environment.
Biodiversity
the number and variety of life forms; including species, ecosystem and genetic, found within a specific region.
Niche
A subset of habitat where only a particular species lives.
Community
all the populations of the different species that interact in a specific habitat or ecosystem.
Population
all the individuals of a species that occupy a particular geographic area at a certain time.
Species
a group of organisms that can reproduce with one another in nature and produce a fertile offspring.
Food chain
the order of events in an ecosystem, where one thing eats another
Food web
all of the food chain in an ecosystem or a system of interlocking and independent food chains.
Tropic level
a category of organisms that is defined by how the organism gains their energy.
Producer
something that creates its own energy and food.
Consumer
an organism that obtains energy by consuming another organism.
Décomposer
something that has the ability to break down dead organisms into smaller particles and create kew compounds.
Photosynthesis
a process that runs solar energy into chemical energy.
Formula: light energy+6CO2+6H2O=C6H12O6 +6O2
Formula: light energy + carbon dioxide+water=glucose +oxygen
Cellular respiration
a process that releases energy from organic molecules, like carbohydrates in the presence of oxygen.
Formula: C6H12O6+ 6O2=6CO2+6H2O+energy
Formula: Glucose + oxygen = carbon dioxide + water + energy
Carbon cycle
A nutrient cycle that goes through the atmosphere, biosphere and lithosphere
Nitrogen cycle
A nutrient cycle that goes through the atmosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere.
Water cycle
A nutrient cycle that goes through the hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.
Phosphorus cycle
A nutrient cycle that goes through the lithosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere.
Ecological succession
the process by which the mix of species and habitat in an area that changes over time.
Biosphere
The parts of the earth where living things can exist.
Lithosphere
The hard part of earths surface.
Hydrosphere
All the water found on earth.
Atmosphere
The layer of gases above earths surface.
Competition
occurs when two or more organisms compete for a resource
Mutualism
a symbiotic relationship between two organisms in which both benefit from the relationship.
Parasitism
a relationship between two organisms in which one benefits at the expense of the other without, occasionally without killing off the organism.
Commensalism
a relationship where one organism benefits without harming the other organism.
Symbiosis
is a relationship between two organisms that are in close association.
Keystone species
species that are so abundant that they have the biggest biomass of any community.
Invasive species
a species that can take over the habitat of native species.
Ecological ncihe
the way that an organism occupies a position in an ecosystem, including all the necessary biotic and abiotic factors.
Ecological footprint
represents the demand made on the ecosystem and natural resources
Global warming
is the long term warming of the planet’s overall temperature.
Renewable energy
energy for a source that is not depleted when used, such as wind, or solar energy.
Non-renewable energy
energy that comes from sources that will run out or will not be repleted in the near future.
Energy conservation
the prevention of the wasteful use of energy and to ensure its continued availability.
Energy conservation
the prevention of the wasteful use of energy and to ensure its continued availability.
Sustainability
use of earth resources, including lands and water, at a level that can continue forever.
Greenhouse effect
the warming of the earth as a result of greenhouse gases, which trap some of the energy that would otherwise leave earth.
Ozone depletion
is the thinning of ozone in the ozone layer.
Deforestation
the practice of clearing forests for logging and not replanting them.
Overfishing
fishing for human uses and never in large quantities faster than fish can reproduce.
Pollution
the presence or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects.
Acid rain
rain, snow, or fog that is unnaturally acidic due to gases in the atmosphere that react with water and from acidic rain.
Eutrophication
a process in which nutrient levels in aquatic ecosystems increase, leading to an increase in the populations of primary producers.
Conservation
the preservation of natural and environment and ecosystems and the things they inhabit.
Restoration
accelerate or recreate the recovery of an ecosystem that has been disturbed.
Wetland
an area of land over which the run-off drains into a body of water.
Desertification
the change of non-desert land into a desert; desertification may result from climate change and unsustainable farming or water use.
Ecosystem engineer
Is something that can create, modify or destroy a habitat.
