Ecology

GO RACER

Growth and development

Organization

Response to environment

Adapt and evolve

Cells

Energy

Reproduction

Taxonomy

The science of classification of living organisms into hierarchical categories based on their shared characteristics and evolutionary relationships.

Domains

Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya

Eubacteria

Reproduction: Asexually

Cell type: Prokaryote

#of cells: Unicellular

Cell wall: Cell walls with peptidoglycan

Mode of nutrition: Autotroph or heterotroph

Archaebacteria

Reproduction: Asexually

Cell type: Prokaryote

#of cells: Unicellular

Cell wall: Cell walls without peptidoglycan

Mode of nutrition: Autotroph or heterotroph

Protista

Reproduction: Asexually or sexually

Cell type: Eukaryote

#of cells: Most unicellular, some colonial, and some multicellular

Cell wall: Cellulose some have chloroplasts

Mode of nutrition: Autotroph or heterotroph

Fungi

Reproduction: Sexually or asexually

Cell type: Eukaryote

#of cells: Most multicellular some unicellular

Cell wall: Cell walls or chitin

Mode of nutrition: Heterotroph

Plantae

Reproduction: Sexually or asexually

Cell type: Eukaryote

#of cells: Most multicellular some unicellular (green algae)

Cell wall: Cellulose some have chloroplasts

Mode of nutrition: Autotroph

Animalia

Reproduction: Sexually

Cell type: Eukaryote

#of cells: Multicellular

Cell wall: No cell walls or chloroplests

Mode of nutrition: Heterotroph

Ecology

The study of interactions between organisms and their environment, including relationships among organisms and their physical surroundings.

Ecosystem

A biological community interacting with its physical environment, including living organisms and non-living elements.

Population

A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area, interacting with one another and sharing resources.

Community

A group of different species living and interacting in a specific area, forming various relationships and contributing to the ecosystem.

Biome

A large geographic biotic community characterized by distinct climate, vegetation, and animal life, such as tundra, desert, or rainforest.

Biosphere

The global sum of all ecosystems, encompassing all living beings and their relationships with the environment, including land, water, and the atmosphere.

10% transfer rule

A principle in ecology that states only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is passed on to the next level in a food chain, while the rest is lost as heat and metabolic processes.

Niche

The role or function of an organism within its ecosystem, including its habitat, resource use, and interactions with other organisms.

Symbiosis

A close and often long-term interaction between two different species, which can be beneficial, neutral, or harmful to one or both parties.

Commensalism

A type of symbiosis where one organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed. An example is barnacles attaching to a whale, gaining mobility without affecting the whale.

Mutualism

A type of symbiotic relationship where both species benefit from the interaction, enhancing survival or reproduction for each.

Parasitism

A type of symbiosis where one organism, the parasite, benefits at the expense of the host, often causing harm. Examples include ticks feeding on mammals or tapeworms in the intestines.