Unit 12/13 Ecology And Ecosystems Flashcards
Autotroph
Produces its own food
Abiotic
Characterized by the absence of life or living organisms
Biosphere
Part of earth that supports life
Biotic
In the presence of living things
Carbon cycle
Circulation of carbon atoms in the biosphere
Commensalism
type of relationship between two species of a plant, animal, fungus, etc., in which one lives with, on, or in another without damage to either
Ecosystem
formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their environment
Eurotrophication
characterized by an abundant accumulation of nutrients that support a dense growth of algae and other organisms, the decay of which depletes the shallow waters of oxygen in summer
Exctinction
Annihilation
Food chain
chain from a food source to the ultimate consumer.
Foo web
A group of food chains in a community
Habitat
The natural environment for an organism
Herbivore
Animal that eats only plants
Heterotroph
An organism requiring organic (living) compounds for its principal source of food
Mutualism
A relationship between two species of animals in which both benefit
Niche
Position or function of an organism (kinda like a habitat, but not)
Nitrogen cycle
the continuous sequence of events by which atmospheric nitrogen and nitrogenous compounds in the soil are converted, as by nitrification and nitrogen fixation, into substances that can be utilized by green plants, the substances returning to the air and soil as a result of the decay of the plants and denitrification
Omnivore
An animal that eats plants and other animals
Parasitism
A relationship between tow organisms in which one lives as a parasite on the other (harmed)
Population
total number of persons inhabiting a country, city, or any district or area
Predation
Predatory behavior
Primary succession
Begins with bare rock exposed by geologic activity
Rock slide, fire, volcano
Come first: algae, lichens, grasses, mice
Producer
One who produces food in their environment
Secondary succession
On bare productive ground
Grow- tall grasses, weeds, brush, rabbits, mice, deer
