Relationships in Ecosystems Flashcards
Ecology
The study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment.
Niche
The role and position a species occupies in its environment; this includes how it meets its needs for food and shelter, how it survives and how it reproduces. Each species has its own unique niche.
Symbiosis
A close relationship between members of different species, where each depends upon the other for survival.
Mutualism
Both species in the relationship benefit from the relationship.
Commensalism
One species benefits and the other is unaffected.
Parasitism
One species benefits and the other is harmed. Parasites live on or in a host organism.
Amensalism
One organism is inhibited or destroyed and the other is unaffected.
Competition
Refers to a relationship between members of the same or different species of individuals who are adversely affected by the presence of those having the same living environment.
Intraspecies Competition
Between members of the same species.
Interspecies Competition
Between members of different species.
Producer
Manufactures their own food by process of photosynthesis. Plants
Consumer
East producers or heterotrophs. Any animal.
Scavenger
Eats dead animals. Hyena.
De-composer
Breakdown organic material. Fungi.
Primary Consumer
Eats producers. Kangaroos.
Secondary Consumer
Animals that consume primary producers.
Detritivore
Obtains nutrients by consuming decomposing plants and animals parts and well as faeces. Worms.
Parasite
They live in another organism and are detrimental to their host. Ticks
Autotroph
Able to undergo photosynthesis.
Heterotroph
Obtains energy by consuming other organisms.
Food Chain
Show a single energy flow pathway beginning with a producer and ending up with an apex predator.
Food Webs
Considered to be a better representation of a community.
Keystone Species
A plant or animal that plays a unique and crucial role in a way an ecosystem functions.
Geographic Distribution
Refers to the extent of the area where that species can be found. A species geographic distribution is also known as its range.
Calculation of Change in Population Size
Change in Pop = (Births + Immigration) - (Death + emigration)
Boundary
The biological barrier between organisms that deters the natural exchange of genetic material.
Pioneer species
Are the first species to enter an area after a disturbance. They are the colonizers.
Carrying Capacity
The maximum population of the species that the environment can sustain indefinitely, given the food, habitat, water and other necessities available in the environment.
Distribution
The spacial relationship between members of a population within a habitat.
Energy Chain
The amount of energy that moves through a food chain. The transfers of chemical energy in an ecosystem may be shown in various ways, such as food webs and food chains.
Trophic Level
A position that an organism occupies is called it’s trophic level. In a food chain an organism can only occupy one trophic level. But may occupy two or more trophic levels in a food web.
Phytoplankton
The collective term for the tiny photosynthetic organism present in the bodies of water.
Zooplakton
A collective term for the tiny heterotrophic organism present in the bodies of water.
Biotic factor
A factor related to the effect a living organism has on another living organisms.
