science ecology revision Flashcards
What is an ecosystem?
An ecosystem is a system formed by a group of living things that interact with each other and their non-living surroundings.
Sunlight
Energy from the sun needed for photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis
The process in which plants (and some algae) produce their own food in the form of glucose.
Consumer/Heterotroph
The name given to living things that can’t photosynthesize.
Producer/Autotroph
A living thing that can photosynthesize.
Biotic
Something living (or once living)
Abiotic
Something in a habitat that is never living.
Decomposer
Organisms (eg fungi) that break down the dead bodies of other organisms and return the nutrients to the soil.
Detritivore
An animal which feeds on organic matter but unlike decomposers because they only eat organic matter.
Habitat
Where an organism lives at a given time.
Environment
All of the factors in an organisms surroundings that affect the organism.
Population
All of the individuals of one species that live in the one habitat.
Community
All of the living organisms in an ecosystem.
Organism
An individual, plant or single-celled life form.
Predation
When one organism kills and eat another.
Competition (within species)
When two members of the same species compete for the same resource.
Competition (between species)
When two individuals of different species compete for the same resource.
Parasitism
When a member of one species benefits at the expense of another.
Mutualism
When two species interact and they both benefit.
Commensalism
When members of two species interact, one benefits and the other is not affected.
What are structural adaptations?
Physical features.
What are behavioural adaptations?
How an organism behaves.
What are functional adaptations?
How an organism functions.
What are endo and ectotherms?
Endotherms are animals that generate their own body heat from within their body.
While Ectotherms have to get their heat from their environment.
