lesson 9 and Environmental Science Flashcards

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Flashcards based on lecture notes about Ecology and Environmental Science, covering topics from basic definitions to energy flow in ecosystems.

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23 Terms

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Ecology

The study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with their nonliving environment of matter and energy.

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Inference

A logical conclusion that is based on observations or prior knowledge but that has not been scientifically tested.

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Scientific Method

A systematic method used in scientific investigations of the natural world, which includes designing and carrying out controlled experiments to test hypotheses.

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Observational Study

A scientific study in which the scientist attempts to gain scientific information by observing natural phenomena without interfering with the normal order of the environment.

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Quantitative

Referring to quantities or numerical data.

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Qualitative

Referring to qualities or non-numerical data.

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Risk-benefit analysis

A method used to analyze the potential negative impacts of a project against the potential positive economic and social benefits.

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Biosphere

The part of Earth inhabited by plants and animals, encompassing all communities of living things on Earth.

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Biome

A large area of Earth characterized by distinctive climate and soil conditions with a biological community adapted to those conditions.

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Population

A group of individuals of the same species living in a particular geographic area at the same time.

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Habitat

The place or type of environment where an organism or a population of organisms lives.

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Community

Populations of all species living in a particular area at a particular time.

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Biotic

Referring to the living organisms and their products in an ecosystem.

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Abiotic

Referring to the nonliving components of an ecosystem.

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Ecosystem

A community of different species interacting with one another and with the abiotic environment.

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Chemotroph

A producer that converts the energy found in organic chemical compounds into other forms of energy without the use of sunlight.

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Exotic Species

A species that has migrated to or has been introduced by humans to a geographic area.

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Indicator Species

A species sensitive to small changes in environmental conditions, used to indirectly monitor the health of the environment.

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Keystone Species

A species that is critically important to the balance and survival of the particular ecosystem in which it lives.

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Energy Flow

The one-way transfer of energy within an ecosystem.

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Trophic Level

A step in the transfer of matter and energy along a food chain or through a food web; each organism is assigned to a level based on its primary source of food.

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Energy Pyramid

A model that illustrates energy flow from producers at the beginning of food chains to consumers farther along.

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Pyramid of Numbers

A model that illustrates the number of organisms of a particular type that can be supported at each trophic level.