The Living World Flashcards
Natural Ecosystem Change
Climate shifts, species movement
Ecology
Study of nature
- How organisms interact with one another and with their nonliving environment
Species Diversity
The number of different species it contains combined with the abundance of individuals within each of those species
Indicator Species: Biological Smoke Alarms
Early warnings of damage to a community or an ecosystem
Ex: Presence or absence of trout species bc they are sensitive to temp. and Oxygen levels
Keystone Species: Major Players
determines the types and numbers of other species in a community, helping to sustain it
Foundation Species: Other Major Players
can create and enhance habitats which benefits other species in a community
Ex: elephants push over trees, creating forest openings promoting grass growth for other species to utilize
Population
A group of the same species living w/in a particular area
Community
All the pop. in an area
Ecosystem
All nonliving and living components
Abiotic
Nonliving
Ex. Sunlight, Temperature, Soil, Clouds
Biotic
Living
Habitat
The place where an organism or a pop. lives
Realm of Ecology
(Bottom to top)
Organisms –> Pop. –> Community –> Ecosystems –> Biosphere
Niche
- Total way of life or role of a species in an ecosystem
- All the physical, chemical, & biological conditions in a species needs to live; reproduce in an ecosystem
Parasitism
When 1 species (parasite) feeds on a part of another species (host) by living on or in it
Commensalism
Benefits 1 species but doesn’t harm or help the other
-Ex. Animal getting “free ride”
Predator
An organism that captures and feeds on parts or all of another animal
Biome Type
Determined by precipitation, temp., and soil type
Food Webs/ Chains
How energy and nutrients move through the ecosystem
Ecological Efficiency
Percentage of usable energy from one trophic level to the next
10% Rule
- Assume that 90% of energy at each energy level is lost bc organism uses energy as heat
- more efficient to eat lower on the energy pyramid = get more
- explains why predators are few in number and vulnerable to extinction
Producers
Makes their own food
Primary Consumer
Feed directly on all or parts of plants
herbivore
Secondary Consumer
Feed only on primary consumer. May be plants or animals (mostly animals)
Tertiary Consumer
Feed on animal-eating animals
Ex. Sharks, hawks, lions, bass
Quaternary Consumer
Feeds on tertiary consumers
Ex. Humans
Detrivores
Insect or other scavengers that feed on waste or dead bodies
Scavenger
Eat/clean up dead carcasses of other animals
Ex. Vultures, crows
Biodiversity
The many forms of life found on Earth
Genetic Diversity
The variety of genetic makeup within a single species
Species Diversity
The variety of species in different habitats on Earth
Biological Evolution
Has led to the variety of species we find on the Earth today
Energy flow
Photosynthesis and cellular respiration, food webs and trophic levels
Symbiosis
Close relationship b/w 2 organisms
Mutations
Random changes in DNA that can being writes by offspring
Succession
Process where plants and animals of a particular area are replaced by other more complex species over time
Primary Succession
Begins w a lifeless area where there is no soil (ex. bare rock). Soil formation begins w lichens or moss
Secondary succession
Begins where the natural community has been disturbed, removed, or destroyed, but soil or bottom sediments remain
Pioneer Communities
Lichens and moss
Climax communities
Dominated by a few, long- lived plant species
Sinks
Store CO2
Source Definition and Example
Release CO2
Ex: Deforestation
Flux
Process that carries CO2 source to sink
Why are large amounts of phosphate removed from the Earth?
To make fertilizer
How is phosphorus removed from tropical soils?
By clearing forests
How do we add excess phosphates to aquatic systems?
From runoff of animal wastes and fertilizers
Nitrogen Fixation
Bacteria coverts N2 has to ammonia (NH3) that can be used by plants
Nitrification
Ammonia is converted to nitrite (NO2), then to nitrate (NO3)
Assimilation
Plants use nitrites and nitrates to make DNA, amino acids and proteins
Ammonification
Decomposing bacteria convert wastes, and dead bodies into ammonia
Denitrification
Nitrate ions and nitrite ions are converted into nitrous oxide gas and nitrogen has by denitrifying bacteria
