Unit 1 Ecology Flashcards
biotic
living parts; animals and plants
abiotic
non living parts like rocks; water etc
species
population whose members have the potential to produce viable offspring
population
A group of individuals of the same species living in a particular geographic area
community
different populations living in one area
ecosystems
All of the abiotic factors in addition to the community of species that exists in a certain area; multiple ecosystems in a biome
biome
major geographic regions that encompass multiple ecosystems; deciduous forest, coniferous forest etc
producers/autotrophs
makes their own food and supports other in an ecosystem
consumers/heterotrophs
eat other producers and consumers to obtain energy
primary consumer
usually classified as Herbuvores bc their main source of nutrition are plants
secondary consumer
can be classified as carnivores (only eat other consumers) and/or omnivores (eat consumers and producers)
tertiary consumers
the highest of the food chain; can be classified as carnivores (only eat other consumers) and/or omnivores (eat consumers and producers)
Decomposers(Saprophytes):
absorb nutrients from non-living organic materials such as corpses, fallen plant material, and the wastes of living organisms, and convert them into inorganic forms.
detrivores
similar to decomposers but they feed off of dead matter; not just absorb the nutrients
food web
the feeding relationships in an ecosystem
niche
the role or function of an organism or a species within an ecosystem
trophic levels
producers and consumers are separated on the ecological pyramid based on their main source of nutrition
ecological pyramid (energy)
the multiplicative loss of energy in an ecological system; the higher you go up, the less energy
ecological pyramid (numbers)
measures population size
ecological pyramid (biomass)
measures the amount of organic material in each trophic level
carbon/oxygen cycle
The relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration in the biosphere leads to most sources of release and storage of carbon;
nitrogen cycle
an essential component of nucleic acids and proteins; Nitrogen gas (N2 ) is converted into usable forms via two pathways
Atmospheric deposition
Nitrogen Fixation via Nitrogen fixing bacteria
phosphorus cycle
Phosphorus is a major component of many important biomolecules such as nucleic acids, phospholipids, and ATP
symbiosis
close association between two species one being a host and the other being a symbiont.
commensalism
one party benefits without significantly affecting the other; birds nest and a tree
parasitism
a parasite harms the other party: mosquito and its host
mutualism
both parties benefit; nitrogen fixing bacteria and the roots it lives in
phosphorus cycle
Phosphorus is a major component of many important biomolecules such as nucleic acids, phospholipids, and ATP
symbiosis
close association between two species one being a host and the other being a symbiont.
commensalism
one partner benefits without significantly affecting the other.
A bird’s nest and a tree
parasitism
one organism (the parasite) harms the host .
Mosquito and its host
mutualism
both partners benefit from the relationship.
nitrogen fixing bacteria and the roots it lives in
types of predation
Parasitism: predators that live on or in their hosts.
Parasitoidism:insects laying eggs on the larva of other insects.
Herbivory:consumers eating plants
Carnivory:consumers eating other consumers
competitive exclusion principle
two species with similar needs for the same limiting resources cannot exist in the same place.
exponential growth-j curve
predicts unlimited population increase under conditions of unlimited resource
lag phase
Population growth begins slowly with a small population
log phase
population growth is exponential as long as conditions are ideal
Thomas Malthus iron law
population grows exponentially and resources grow linearly (eventually run out)
Logistic Growth-S curve
population growth that starts with a slow initial phase, then rapidly increases, and eventually levels off at a maximum limit; many limiting factors prevent a population from reaching its biotic potential
predator prey curve
The populations of predator and prey directly influence each other; meaning a change in one population directly affects the size of the other population,
carrying capacity
the biotic and abiotic factors determine the number of individuals from a population which the ecosystem can maintain and support
flux
when the population exceeds the carrying capacity
interspecific competition
competition between opposing species for resources
intraspecific competition
competition within the same species
r-selected organisms
found in high Variable areas; fast development; short lived and many offspring
K-selected organisms
slow development; long lived; not many offspring (humans are k selected)
natality
number of offspring produced in a certain period of time
mortality
the number of individuals that die off in a certain period of time
immigration
individuals of one species entering a non-native ecological system over a period of time
emigration
Individuals of one species leaving their native ecological system over a period of time
invasive species
human introduced and non native; has negative impacts due to a lack of density dependent limiting factors.
edge effect
changes to the abiotic and biotic factors at the boundary of two habitats.
biomagnification
retained substances which become more concentrated with each link in the food chain.
biodiversity
the relative concentration of species in a given area
High biodiversity is associated with overall ecology system health
extinction
local: the loss of a species from a specific area
Ecological: the loss of a species niche within an ecosystem
biological: the complete loss of a species in the biosphere
species vs population
A species is a certain unique type or organism in the entire biosphere, while a population is all of the members of a species in one ecosystem or area
