APES Unit 1: The Living World: Ecosystems

Ecosystems

A biological community of living (biotic) and unliving (abiotic) factors interacting together in an environment

Biotic Factors

Living organisms part of an ecosystem

Abiotic Factors

Nonliving parts of an ecosystem

Niche

An organisms position and role within a habitat that leads to greater chances of survival

Habitat

The natural environment where a particular species or organism lives and obtains the resources it needs to survive.

Community

Various populations of organisms belonging to different species interacting with each other in an ecosystem

Population

The makeup of a group of organisms from a particular/same species

Species

A group of organisms with similar features that are capable of reproducing with each other

Biodiversity

The variety of living organisms in a particular ecosystem or on Earth as a whole - diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems

Ecological Succession

The gradual change in a species composition and community structure in an ecosystem over time - occurs when one community replaces another due to natural disturbances or human activities

Biome

A large geographic area where many ecosystems exist with similar climates and organisms

Tundra

One of the coldest biomes on Earth with low vegetation, low biodiversity, and low rainfall

Taiga (Boreal Forest)

Cold biomes with more precipitation than Tundra’s with coniferous trees

Temperate Rainforest

Forest biome with heavy rainfalls, moderate temperatures, and evergreen trees

Temperate Seasonal Forest (Deciduous)

Forest biome with four seasons, moderate rainfall, and deciduous trees

Tropical Rainforest Biome

The most biodiverse biome on Earth, with wide varieties of vegetation and heavy rainfall

Shrubland (Chaparral)

Grassland biomes with dry and hot summers, with mild and wet winters - fire adapted

Temperate Grassland (Prairie)

Grassland biome with hot summers, cold winters, moderate rainfall, and a variety of tall and short grass species,

Savanna

Grassland biome that experience periods of heavy rainfall often followed by severe droughts

Climatogram (Climate Diagram)

A graph that shows the average monthly temperature and average monthly precipitation for a location

Freshwater Biome

Aquatic biome consisting of freshwater bodies such as lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and wetlands

Saltwater (Marine) Biome

Aquatic biome with high salinity, AKA saltwater - oceans, coral reefs, marshlands and estuaries

Wetlands

Aquatic biome that is covered or saturated with water throughout parts of the year

Estuaries

Aquatic biome where fresh water from the river mixes with the salty water from the ocean

Coral Reefs

Aquatic biome of ridged rock formations found in the sea formed by the growth and deposit of calcium carbonate

Intertidal Zone

Aquatic biome of narrow bands located on the coastline - found usually between levels of high and low tide

Open Ocean (Pelagic Zone)

Aquatic biome consisting of vast seawater extending beyond coastlines - deep waters with low nutrient levels and supports marine life

Photic Zone

Aquatic biome of upper layers of bodies of water where sunlight can penetrate for photosynthesis to occur

Aphotic Zone

Aquatic biome where photosynthesis can no longer take place because sunlight cannot reach the depth

Littoral Zone

Aquatic biome where the zone of a lake with a shallow area of water is closest to shore, containing majority of vegetation

Benthic Zone

Aquatic biome consisting of a muddy layer at the bottom of the ocean, lake or pond - little sunlight reaches here

Phosphorus

A chemical element essential for life, found in the form of phosphates in biological systems - plays a crucial role in energy transfer

Weathering

The process that breaks down rocks and minerals at the surface of the Earth through physical, chemical, and biological means

Runoff

The movement of water, such as rainwater or snow over land surfaces into bodies of water - occurs when the ground cannot absorb any more water

Sedimentation

The process where particles suspended in a fluid (water) fall to the bottom and group together due to gravity, forming sediment

No Atmospheric Component

A particular element or substance does not have a significant gaseous phase in the atmosphere

Evaporation

The process by which heat causes water to turn into water vapor, entering the atmosphere

Condensation

The process by which water vapor turns back into a liquid

Precipitation

The process where atmospheric water falls from clouds

Infiltration

The process where water filters through from the surface into the soil

Percolation

The downward movement of water through soil and rock due to gravity

Transpiration

Evaporation of water from the leaves of a plant

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

The total rate of photosynthesis in a given area

Net Primary Productivity

The rate of energy stored by an ecosystem after accounting for the energy used in respiration

Respiration

The process of cells breaking down glucose using energy from ATP, taking carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen back into the atmosphere

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants and other organisms convert light energy into chemical energy using water and carbon dioxide, converting it into oxygen and glucose

Limiting Factors

Environmental factors that restrict the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population within an ecosystem - food availability, predators/prey, temperature, water supply, sunlight

Producer (Autotroph)

An organism that can make its own food

Primary Consumer (Herbivore)

An organism that feeds on producers

Secondary Consumer (Carnivore/Omnivore)

An organism that feeds on primary consumers

Tertiary Consumer (Carnivore)

An organism, particularly carnivore, that feeds on primary/secondary consumers

Decomposer

An organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead organic matter

Detritivore

An organism that scavenges waste products or dead bodies

Trophic Level

Each step found in a food chain or web

Energy Pyramid

A chart that shows the flow of energy through different trophic levels in an ecosystem - shows how energy decreases from the base to the top

10% Rule

Only ten percent of the total energy produced at each trophic level is available at the next level

Energy Efficiency

The process of using less energy to accomplish the same tasks or achieve the same level of comfort

Heat Loss

The transfer of thermal energy from a warmer object or system to a cooler one, resulting in decrease in temperature of the warmer object/system

Law of Thermodynamics

A set of principles that describe the behavior and transfer of energy in systems - energy cannot be created nor destroyed, only transferred or transformed

Food Chain

A linear series of food relationships - producer → 1st consumer → 2nd consumer → 3rd consumer → decomposer

Food Web

A community of organisms connected through food relationships of several food chains

Keystone Species

A species that influences the survival of many other species in an ecosystem

Trophic Cascade

Ecological changes that occur when there are alterations at one trophic level (such as a removal of a predator) that impact multiple levels below it

Energy Flow

The flow of energy from producer to consumer

Top Down VS Bottom Up Control

Top Down Control - Upper trophic levels control lower level trophic levels

Bottom Up Control - Lower Trophic Levels control upper trophic levels