Unit 4.1- Species, communities and ecosystems Flashcards
What is a population?
A group of a single species of different species living in the same area and interacting with each other
What is a community?
A group of populations
What is a habitat?
The biotic and abiotic environment where an organism lives
What is an ecosystem?
A community’s interaction with its abiotic factors
What is a biome?
A group of ecosystems
What is the biosphere?
The Earth or place where all organisms live
What is a species?
A group of genetically similar living organisms that are able to interbreed and produce fertile offspring
What are autotrophs?
Organisms that are capable of making their own complex organic molecules from carbon dioxide and other simple compounds
What are heterotrophs?
Organisms that obtain their organic compounds through feeding on other organisms
What are mixotrophs?
Organisms which use both autotrophic and heterotrophic modes of nutrition
Definition of ingestion?
The taking in of a substance
What are consumers?
Organisms that gain nutrients by feeding on other organisms using ingestion or absorption
How many tiers of consumers are there?
Three
What do primary consumers feed on and what are they called?
Autotrophs/produces and are called herbivores
What is the third tier of consumers called?
Tertiary consumer
What is are the organisms the solely feed on consumers called?
Carnivores
What are omnivores?
Consumers who feed on both producers and consumers
Which organisms gain nutrients by feeding on dead organic material and breaking it into smaller organic molecules?
Detritivores
What is internal digestion?
The process by which an organism digests its food inside of its body, usually with the aid of a digestive tract.
How does external digestion work?
Organisms secrete enzymes into their environment to break down organic debris around them
What are saprotrophs?
Heterotrophs that get their nutrients by secreting digestive enzymes into their environment to break down organic debris around them
What is the branch of biology where scientists study ecosystems and the interactions of the biotic and abiotic factors?
Ecology
What is Symbiosis?
‘Living together’
What is a type of symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit?
Mutualism
What is Commensalism?
A type of symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected.
What is a type of symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other is harmed?
Parasitism
What is a predator-prey relationship?
A relationship is one in which one organism hunts and feeds on another
What is the abiotic environment?
The non-living factors in the area
What does nutrient cycling help to do?
Move organic molecules and minerals through the food chain and back into the soil where they can be taken up by plants to re-enter the food chain
What is an experimental tool that allows the experimenter to control the conditions in a small part of the natural environment
A mesocosm
