Chapter 3-7: Ecology

Ecology

The study of the interactions between organisms and nonliving components of their environment.

Interdependence

Relationship on how different species rely on each other and on the nonliving components of their environment.

Biosphere

Consists of all life on Earth and all parts of Earth in which life exists, including land, water, and atmosphere.

Biome

A group of ecosystems that share similar climates and organisms.

Ecosystem

All of the organisms and the nonliving environments in a particular place.

Community

All of the living organisms in an area, comprising different populations of individuals.

Population

A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area.

Species

A group of related organisms that are capable of producing fertile offspring.

Biotic Factors

Any living or once-living parts of the environment with which an organism might interact.

Abiotic Factors

Any nonliving part of an environment.

Habitat

An area with a particular combination of physical and biological environment factors that affect which organisms can live within it.

Niche

Range of physical and biological conditions in which a species lives and the way the species obtains what it needs to survive and reproduce.

Range of Tolerance

Variety of environmental conditions within which a species can survive and reproduce.

Immigration

Individuals that move into a population from elsewhere.

Emigration

Individuals that move out of a population.

Exponential Growth

Population increase under ideal conditions with unlimited resources, a population will increase exponentially.

Logistic Growth

Population growth that slows and then stops following a period of exponential growth.

Carrying Capacity

Maximum number of individuals of a particular species in a particular enviroment

Primary Producers

Organisms that capture energy and use it to make organic molecules.

Photosynthesis

Process used by producers to convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy used for cell activity.

Chemosynthesis

Process by which some organisms use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates to power cell activities.

Consumers

Organisms that gain energy by consuming other organisms or waste.

Omnivores

Organisms that eat both plants and animals.

Decomposers

Organisms that 'feed' by breaking down organic matter chemically.

Trophic Levels

Feeding relationships in an ecosystem indicating an organism's position in the energy transfer sequence.

Ecological Pyramids

Illustrations showing the relative amount of energy contained in each trophic level.

Food Chain

A series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten.

Food Web

A network of complex interactions formed by feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem.

Competition

When two organisms attempt to use the same essential resource, which can’t be shared.

Predation

An interaction in which one animal (predator) eats all or part of another animal (prey).

Herbivory

An interaction in which one animal (herbivore) feeds on producers (plants).

Keystone Species

A species that plays a vital and unique role in maintaining structure, stability, and diversity in its ecosystem.

Symbiosis

A close, independent relationship between two species.

Mutualism

A relationship between two species where both benefit from each other.

Parasitism

A relationship in which one organism (parasite) lives on or inside another organism (host) and harms it.

Commensalism

A relationship in which one organism benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped.

Biochemical Cycles

Processes by which elements, compounds, and forms of matter are passed between organisms and the biosphere.

Water Cycle

The continuous movement of water between oceans, atmosphere, and land involving evaporation and condensation.

Carbon Cycle

The process by which carbon is cycled through land, water, and the atmosphere.

Nitrogen Cycle

The process by which nitrogen is cycled through the atmosphere, water, and land.

Phosphorous Cycle

The process by which phosphorus is cycled through land and water.

Primary Productivity

The rate at which primary producers create organic material.

Limiting Nutrient

The nutrient whose supply limits productivity in an ecosystem.

Ecosystem Services

Benefits provided by ecosystems to humans.

Nutrient Availability

Relates to the productivity of an ecosystem.

Water Purification

Freshwater is filtered and purified through the ground and microorganisms.

Soil Structure

Maintained by nutrient cycling which keeps soil healthy for plant growth.

Regulation of Pests

Prevention of pest populations by healthy ecosystems.

Buffer for Extreme Weather

Healthy ecosystems protect against erosion, landslides, and runoff.

Carnivores

Obtain energy by killing and consuming other animals

Scavengers

Consume carcasses (dead bodies) of other animals

Detritivores

Chemicals that feed on detrias particles, waste, dead organisms

Interspecific competition

competition between individuals of different species

Intraspecific competition

competition between individuals of the same species

Nutrients

Chemical substance that an organism needs to sustain life

The C cycle is important because..

Major component of all organic compounds

The N cycle is important because..

Required by all organisms to make proteins and nucleic acids

The P cycle is important because..

Essential for nucleic acid formations