Unit 2 List 1 Ecology GLW Flashcards
Autotrophs
an organism that is able to form nutritional organic substances from simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide.
Abiotic Factors
a non-living part of an ecosystem that shapes its environment
Biotic Factors
the living components (organisms) that shape up the environment
Bioaccumulation
an increase in the concentration of a chemical in a biological organism over time, compared to the chemical’s concentration in the environment
Carbon Sink
a forest, ocean, or other natural environment viewed in terms of its ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
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
a set of interactions between organisms and species to get a limited resource.
Consumer
a person or thing that eats or uses something.
Decomposer
an organism, especially a soil bacterium, fungus, or invertebrate, that decomposes organic material.
Ecosystem
a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
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 hierarchical series of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food.
Food Web
a system of interlocking and interdependent food chains.
Habitat
the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.
Herbivore
an animal that eats only plants
Heterotrophs
an organism deriving its nutritional requirements from complex organic substances.
Leaching
drain away from soil, ash, or similar material by the action of percolating liquid, especially rainwater.
“the nutrient is quickly leached away”
Limiting Factor
anything that constrains a population’s size and slows or stops it from growing
Mutualism
symbiosis that is beneficial to both organisms involved.
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
the practice of living as a parasite in or on another organism.
