Unit D: Changes in Living Systems Flashcards
Biotic Factor
A living organism in the environment.
Abiotic Factor
A physical, non-living part of the environment.
Ecosystem
All the organisms in an area as well as the abiotic factors with which they interact.
Habitat
All the biotic and biotic factors present in an area that encourage the reproduction and survival of a particular organism.
Nutrient
Any element or compound that an organism needs for metabolism, growth or other functioning.
Algae
Microscopic, photosynthetic organisms that play a vital role in marine and freshwater ecosystems.
Harmful algal bloom
A rapid growth of algae that can deplete the oxygen dissolved in the water and lock the sunlight required by other organisms in the aquatic ecosystem.
Biomass
The dry mass of all the living organisms occupying a habitat.
Ecology
The study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with their physical environment.
Population
A group of organisms, all of the same species which interbreed and live in the same area at the same time.
Biological community
Interacting populations living in a certain area at a certain time.
Symbiosis
A long-lasting ecological relationship that benefits at least one organisms of two different species that live in close contact.
Mutualism
A symbiotic relationship in which the organism of both species benefit.
Commensalism
A form of symbiosis in which one organism benefits and the other organism is neither helped nor harmed.
Parasitism
A symbiotic relationship in which one organism called the parasite derives benefit at the expense of another organism called the host.
Competition
An interaction in which two or more organism compete for the same limited resource.
Producer
An organism that uses light energy to synthesize sugars and other organic compounds through the process of photosynthesis.
Consumer
An organisms that uses other organisms as a source of energy.
Primary consumer/ Herbivore
An organism that eats green plants algae or phytoplanktons.
Secondary consumer
An organism that eats herbivores.
Tertiary consumer
An organism that eats secondary consumers.
Carnivore
An organism that kills and eats other animals.
Omnivore
An organism that eats both plants and animals
Scavenger
A bird or animal that feeds on dead and decaying animals that it did not kill itself.
Decomposer
An organism that breaks down complex, organic molecules into simpler molecules.
Trophic Level
The division of species within an ecosystem based upon its energy source.
Food Chain
The pathway along which food is transferred from one trophic level to another.
Food Web
The interconnected feeding relationships within an ecosystem.
Transect
A straight line perpendicular to the baseline along which ecological measurements are taken.