*Unit 10 Part 1: Ecology Flashcards
Ecology
Ecology
The study of how organisms interact with each other and their environments
Biotic
living factors
List 3 examples of biotic factors
~predators/prey
~mates
~plants
Abiotic
non-living factors
List 3 examples of abiotic factors
~water
~light
~soil
List the levels of organization
- Organism
- Population
- Community
- Ecosystem
- Biome
- Biosphere
Population
all organisms of one species that live in an area
Community
all of the living organisms (population) in an area
Ecosystem
all biotic and abiotic factors in an area
Biome
major region characterized by specific plants, animals, and climate
Biosphere
all areas of the Earth that can sustain life
List the four steps of the water cycle.
- Evaporation
- Condensation
- Precipitation
- Transpiration
Evaporation
liquid water is changed to water vapor (gas)
Condensation
water vapor condenses to a liquid in the clouds
Precipitation
liquid water falls from sky to earth
Transpiration
evaporation of water from the leaves of plants
List the three steps of the carbon cycle.
- Carbon fixation
- Respiration
- Burning of fossil fuels
Carbon fixation
CO₂ captured from atmosphere by plants in photosynthesis
Respiration
releases CO₂ into the atmosphere (performed by ALL ORGANISMS)
What does burning of fossil fuels in the Carbon Cycle do?
releases stored carbon for millions of year into the atmosphere
ex. oil, gas, coal
(basically humans ruin everything)
Where is the most carbon held?
in the ocean
Nitrogen Fixation
bacteria capture nitrogen from the atmosphere for plants to use
Denitrification
bacteria release nitrogen back into the atmosphere
List the steps of the nitrogen cycle
- Nitrogen fixation
- Other organisms get nitrogen by consuming plants
- Denitrification
