ecology

species

group of genetically similar living organisms able to interbreed and produce fertile offspring

fertile offspring

offspring that can reproduce

ecosystem

all biotic and abiotic factors in an area

population

group of same species that live in the same area

community

All the different populations that live together in an area

Abiotic factors

Non-living factors, such as pH, salinity, wind speed, type of soil, etc.

Biotic factors

Living factors in an ecosystem, such as the plants and animals.

Ecology

study of relationships between living organism and interactions with environment

mutualism

both organisms benefit

commensalism

one organism benefits and the other is unaffected

parasitism

one benefits and the other is harmed

symbiotic relationship

the relationship between two species in close physical association

Symbiosis

means 'living together' - refers to the following outcomes of interactions between populations.

Autotrophic

organism - organic molecules made using abiotic environment

Heterotrophic

organism - obtain organic molecules from other organisms

Mixotroph

uses both autotrophic and heterotrophic modes of nutrition

reservoir (aka sink)

place where certain element (carbon) has pooled/accumulated

flux

when carbon moves from one sink to another

example of flux

photosynthesis: inorganic carbon -\> organic biomass (atmospheric CO2 to glucose and compounds by autotrophs) -\> carbon is locked in organism

lithosphere

crust and upper mantle (biggest carbon sink)

hydrosphere

water areas on earth (ocean, lake, pond, river)

biota

living organisms

atmosphere

layer of gases surrounding earth

carbon cycle

carbon flux

habitat

environment a species normally lives

food chain

steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten

food web

a system of interlocking and interdependent food chains.

cellular respiration

oxygen and glucose -\> CO2, H2O and ATP

photosynthesis

light CO2 and H20 -\> O2 and glucose

nutrient cycling

movement of organic and inorganic material

detritivore

eats dead organic matter (vulture, dung beetle)

saprotroph

secretes enzyme to externally digest dead organic matter (fungus, bacteria)

niche

An organism's particular role in an ecosystem, or how it makes its living.

biomass

total mass of a group of organisms

CO2

main greenhouse gas -\> from cellular respiration and combustion of fossil fuels

water vapour

water found in the atmosphere, most abundant greenhouse gas part of water cycle

greenhouse gases

gases found in the atmosphere such as water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxides, that contribute to the greenhouse effect.

greenhouse effect

warming that results when solar radiation is trapped by the atmosphere

radiation

energy that may be a subatomic particle

solar radiation

energy from sun in electromagnetic waves

ozone layer

protects earth from UV radiation

UV radiation

short wave from sun

infrared light

long wavelength emitted from earth and atmospher

ecology

study of how living things interact with each other and their environment

carbonic acid (H2CO3)

when CO2 and water combine -\> unstable and H ions are released into ocean water

ocean acidification

pH becoming more acidic from increased CO2

peat

waterlogged decaying organic materials

coal

compressed peat over long time

oil

coal compressed even longer

limestone

calcium carbonate from dead marine animals fossilized in sea beds

Ruminants

mammals that have mutalistic relationship with methanogenic archaens -\> digest cellulose from plants ( in the walls) -\> methane produced as gas

methanogenic achaeans

bacteria found in anoxic environment -\> produce methane

anoxic environment

lacks oxygen

hydrolysis

breaking down a polymer (plants)

acidogenesis

organic matter -\> acids/alcohols from bacteria

acetogenesis

bacteria take alcohol/acids -\> acetate

methanogenesis

methane made from CO2 + H2 in bacteria or acetate breakdown

precautionary principle

if human change -\> severe harm -\> must prove will not do harm

albedo effect

ability of earths surface to reflect light

(bright \= high albedo because less light absorbed)

climate

Overall weather in an area over a long period of time

Coral reefs

ridge in the ocean where living coral polyps attach and secrete calcium carbonate -\> in warm shallow water

Calcification

process used by molluscs, crustaceans, and corals to build their shells and exoskeletons using calcium carbonate

methane

main natural gas + fossil fuel emitted from marshes, water logged places and landfills but has lowest concentration in atmosphere

anaerobic

form of respiration that happens when there is no oxygen