APB G8L7 Ecology Matching

food webs

complex feeding relationships in ecosystems

trophic pyramids

how energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next

autotroph

an organism that makes its own food

heterotroph

an organism that gains energy by eating other organisms

photosynthesis

energy conversion from sunlight to glucose

chemosynthesis

energy conversion using chemical energy from inorganic compounds to make organic compounds

exponential growth

population growth with unlimited resources; makes a J-curve

logistic growth

population growth with limited resources, makes an S-curve

species

organisms that can successfully reproduce to produce fertile offspring

population

all organisms of the same species in the same area

community

organisms of many different species living in the same area

ecosystem

organisms living in an environment along with the abiotic factors present

biome

areas with similar environments/climates in different regions of the world

biosphere

areas on Earth inhabited by living organisms

density dependent limiting factors

factors that control the size of populations that are influenced by the density of the population

density independent limiting factors

factors that control the size of populations that are not influenced by the density of the population