Unit 2 List 1 Ecology Flashcards
Abiotic Factors
A nonliving condition or thing
Autotrophs
An organism that can produce its own food using light, water, carbon dioxide, or other chemicals
Biotic Factors
Any living thing that has an effect on an ecosystem
Bioaccumulation
A process of accumulation of chemicals in an organism
Carbon Sink
Anything that absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases
Carnivore
An animal that feeds on flesh
Commensalism
An association between two organisms in which one benefits and the other derives neither benefit nor harm
Competition
Competition refers to the rivalry between or among living things for territory, resources, goods, mates, etc
Consumer
An organism that cannot produce its own food and must eat other plants and/or animals to get energy
Decomposer
Any organism that breaks down or eats decaying material for its energy source
Ecosystem
A community of living organisms in a particular area
Energy Pyramid
A model that shows the flow of energy from one trophic, or feeding, level to the next in an ecosystem
Food Chain
A series of organisms that eat one another so that energy and nutrients flow from one to the next
Food Web
Consists of all the food chains in a single ecosystem
Habitat
The natural home or environment of a plant, animal, or other organism
Herbivore
An animal that feeds on plants
Heterotrophs
An organism that eats other plants or animals for energy and nutrients
Leaching
The loss of water-soluble plant nutrients from the soil
Limiting Factor
Anything that constrains a population’s size and slows or stops it from growing
Mutualism
A relationship in which both species are mutually benefited
Niche
The role an organism plays in a community
Ocean Acidification
A change in the properties of ocean water that can be harmful for plants and animals
Omnivore
An animal or person that eats food of both plant and animal origin
Parasitism
A relationship between the two living species in which one organism is benefited at the expense of the other
Phytoplankton
Plankton consisting of microscopic plants
Pioneer Species
The species that first colonize new habitats created by disturbance
Population
The whole number of people or inhabitants in a country or region
Predator
An animal that naturally preys on others
Predation
The preying of one animal on others
Prey
An animal that is caught and killed by another for food
Primary Succession
The colonization of new sites by communities of organisms
Producer
Organisms that make their own food
Secondary Succession
A climax community or intermediate community is impacted by a disturbance
Species Overshoot
The growth of a population beyond the environment’s or ecosystem’s ability to support that species
Sustainability
The ability to maintain or support a process continuously over time
