topic four Flashcards
(103 cards)
what is a species
a group of genetically similar living organisms that are able to interbreed and produce fertile offspring. Fertile offspring are those which can in turn interbreed and pass on their genes to another generation.
population
A group of organisms of the same species that live in a particular area at the same time.
community
A group of populations living and interacting in a particular area.
ecosystem
A community and its abiotic environment.
abiotic factors
Non-living factors, such as pH, salinity, wind speed, type of soil, etc.
biotic factors
Living factors in an ecosystem, such as the plants and animals.
autotroph
Organisms that are capable of making their own complex organic molecules from carbon dioxide and other simple compounds are called autotrophs
heterotroph
Organisms that obtain their organic compounds through feeding on other organisms are called heterotrophs.
consumers
organisms that gain nutrients by feeding on other organisms using ingestion or absorption.
primary consumers feed only on
autotrophs
secondary consumers feed on
primary consumers
teritary consumers feed on
secondary consumers
omnivores
consumers who feed on both producers and consumers.
detritivores
heterotrophs that obtain their organic nutrients from detritus, which is waste or other organic debris, by internal digestion.
internal digestion
the process by which an organism digests its food inside of its body, usually with the aid of a digestive tract.
saprotrophs
organisms that get their nutrients by secreting digestive enzymes into their environment to break down organic debris around them.
extracellular digestion
the process by which organisms secrete enzymes into their environment to break down organic debris around them.
ecology
the study of relationships between living organisms and their interactions with their environment
mutualism
symbiotic rel where both parties benefit
commensalism
where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected
parasitism
when one organism benefits and the other is harmed
A predator-prey relationship is one in which
one organism hunts and feeds on another.
community
a group of populations of different species living in the same area and interacting with each other.
nutrient cycle