Unit 5: Ecology and Ecosystems Flashcards
habitat
place where an organism lives
abiotic factors
non-living factors that affect organisms within their habitat
examples of adaptations to abiotic factors
MARAM GRASS
-adapted to sand dunes
-stomata sunken in pits
-inner surface covered in tiny hairs
- thick waxy cuticle
- rolled up leaves
MANGROVE SWAMPS
- aerial root system
- root cells prevent entry of salt and water loss
xerophyte
group of plants adapted to survive in dry conditions
range of tolerance
range of a certain factor that an organism can survive in
biome
collection of similar ecosystems in a different geographical area
convergent evolution
species that face similar challenges tend to evolve to have similar features
what factors determine a biome?
temp, precipitation
characteristics of hot deserts
hot days and cold nights, low rainfall, limited soil, soil is nutrient poor
characteristics of tropical rainforests
high temp, high rainfall, high light intensity
ecological niche
the role a species plays in the ecosystem
obligate aerobes/anaerobes
requires oxygen/
requires anoxic environment
facultative anaerobes
can survive in oxic or anoxic environments
holozoic nutrition
whole pieces of food are eaten and digested internally
assimilation
absorption + digestion of food or nutrients by the body
mixotrophic
can gather nutrients/energy in autotrophic and heterotrophic ways
obligate mixotroph
