Unit 2 List 1 Ecology AJS

Question 1

Autotrophs

Answer 1

an organism that can convert abiotic sources of energy into energy stored in organic compounds, which can be used by other organisms.

Question 1

Abiotic factors

Answer 1

A nonliving part of an ecosystem that shapes its environment.

Question 2

Biotic factors

Answer 2

Living things within an ecosystem

Question 3

Bioaccumulation

Answer 3

The accumulation over time of a substance and especially a contaminant

Question 4

Carbon Sink

Answer 4

A forest, ocean, or other natural environment viewed in terms of its ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Question 5

Carnivore

Answer 5

An animal that feeds on flesh.

Question 6

Commensalism

Answer 6

An association between two organisms in which one benefits and the other derives neither benefit nor harm.

Question 7

Competition

Answer 7

A set of interactions between organisms and species to get a limited resource.

Question 8

Consumer

Answer 8

one that utilizes economic goods

Question 9

Decomposer

Answer 9

an organism, especially a soil bacterium, fungus, or invertebrate, that decomposes organic material.

Question 10

Ecosystem

Answer 10

a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment

Question 11

Energy Pyramid

Answer 11

a model that shows the flow of energy from one trophic, or feeding, level to the next in an ecosystem

Question 12

Food Chain

Answer 12

a linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.

Question 13

Food web

Answer 13

represents feeding relationships within a community

Question 14

Habitat

Answer 14

the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.

Question 15

Herbivore

Answer 15

an animal that feeds on plants

Question 16

Heterotrophs

Answer 16

an organism deriving its nutritional requirements from complex organic substances

Question 17

Leaching

Answer 17

the process of a solute becoming detached or extracted from its carrier substance by way of a solvent

Question 18

Limiting Factors

Answer 18

the factor that limits the reaction rate in any physiological process governed by many variables

Question 19

Mutualism

Answer 19

association between organisms of two different species in which each benefits

Question 20

Niche

Answer 20

a comfortable or suitable position in life or employment

Question 21

Ocean Acidification

Answer 21

a reduction in the pH of the ocean over an extended period of time, caused primarily by uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere

Question 22

Omnivore

Answer 22

an animal or person that eats food of both plant and animal origin

Question 23

Parasitism

Answer 23

a relationship between the two living species in which one organism is benefited at the expense of the other

Question 24

Phytoplankton

Answer 24

are the autotrophic components of the plankton community and a key part of ocean and freshwater ecosystems

Question 25

Pioneer Species

Answer 25

species that are the first to colonize newly created environments or recently disturbed environments during the processes

Question 26

Population

Answer 26

all the inhabitants of a particular town, area, or country.

Question 27

Predation

Answer 27

the preying of one animal on others

Question 28

Predator

Answer 28

an animal that naturally preys on others

Question 29

Prey

Answer 29

an animal that is caught and killed by another for food

Question 30

Primary Succession

Answer 30

type of ecological succession in which plants and animals first colonize a barren, lifeless habitat

Question 31

Producer

Answer 31

a person, company, or country that makes, grows, or supplies goods or commodities for sale

Question 32

Secondary Succession

Answer 32

where a disturbance did not eliminate all life and nutrients from the environment

Question 33

Species Overshoot

Answer 33

the growth of a population beyond the environment’s or ecosystem’s ability to support that species

Question 34

Sustainability

Answer 34

the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level