Unit 10: Ecology - Notes 1 Flashcards
What is Ecology?
study of living things interact with each other and their environment.
*the ecosystem and its organisms!!
What does organisms require?
energy and matter
What does organisms depend on?
their environments
What are the two factors in environments that influence organisms?
abiotic and biotic
What is abiotic?
nonliving parts (sunlight, soil, etc)
What is biotic?
living parts (organisms)
Ecosystem can vary in size depending on what?
size! a log and lake are both ecosystems!
Where do ecosystems get energy?
SUn!
Matter does not enter the ecosystem, it does what?
it is constantly recycled
What is a habitat?
the physical environment in which a species live and to which it is adapted
What is a niche?
the role of a species within its organisms (one species per niche)
What is Competitive Exculsion Principle?
two different species cannot occupy the same niche in the same place for very long
What soon enough occurs because of Competitive Exculsion Principle?
one species would eventually outcompete the other. If not, they can exist together if they ADAPT to different niches!
What are producers?
the first step of an ecosystem is composed of organisms that can MAKE THEIR OWN FOOD
What are photoautotrophs?
use energy from sunlight and make food via photosynthesis
What are chemoautotrophs?
use energy from chemical compounds to make food by chemosynthesis
What are consumers?
next step in an ecosystem is composed of organisms that must consumes others. HETEROTROPHS
What are herbivores?
consumes producers like plants and algae
Carnivores?
consumes animals
Omnivores?
consumes both plants and animals
What are decomposers?
break down the matter left behind by a deceased organism to recycle molecules back into environment. ESSENTIAL
What are scavengers?
consume soft tissue of dead animals,
ex: vultures, racoons
Detritivores?
consume “detritus”, dead leaves, animal feces, organic debris.
ex: earthworms, beettles
Saprotrophs? examples
once decomposers are done, they eat the remaining organic matter, final step in decompostion
ex: fungi, bacteria
What is a food chain?
shows single pathway, simple
What is a food web?
represents multiple pathways, shows real life, much more realistic
What is both food web and food chain show?
shows energy flow through ecosystem
What are trophic levels?
feeding positions in a food web/chain
What is the 1st trophic levels?
producer - makes its own food
What is the 2nd trophic levels?
Primary consumer - consumes producers
What is the 3rd trophic levels?
Secondary consumer - eats primary consumer
What is the 4th trophic levels?
Tertiary Consumer - consumers Secondary consumer
How much of the energy at one is available for the next level?
10%
What happens to the other 90%?
used for metabolic processes or given off to the environment as heat
Due to less energy at higher trophic levels what happens to the organisms?
There is less the more you go up
What is biomass?
total mass of organisms at trophic levels, biomass decreases as trophic levels increase
