Untitled Flashcards Set

Biosphere

Combination of all ecosystems on Earth.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms and their interactions with the environment.

Photosynthesis

The process of using solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose.

Cellular Respiration

The process by which cells unlock the energy of chemical compounds.

Aerobic Respiration

When cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide, and water.

Anaerobic Respiration

When cells convert glucose into energy in the absence of oxygen.

Producers

Organisms that produce their own energy through processes like photosynthesis.

Primary Consumers

Herbivores that consume producers.

Secondary Consumers

Carnivores that eat primary consumers.

Tertiary Consumers

Carnivores that eat secondary consumers.

Trophic Levels

Successive levels of organisms consuming one another.

Food Chain

A linear sequence of energy transfer between trophic levels.

Food Web

A complex model showing how energy and matter move through trophic levels.

Omnivores

Organisms that consume both plants and animals.

Scavengers

Organisms that consume dead animals.

Detritivores

Organisms that break down dead tissues and waste into smaller particles.

Decomposers

Fungi and bacteria that convert organic matter into inorganic elements.

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

Total amount of solar energy producers capture via photosynthesis.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

Energy captured by producers minus the energy producers respire.

Ecological Efficiency

The proportion of energy passed from one trophic level to another.

Trophic Pyramid

Representation of the distribution of biomass, numbers, or energy among trophic levels.

Community Ecology

The study of interactions among species.

Symbiotic Relationships

Interactions between two species living in close association.

Competition

Struggle between individuals to obtain a shared limiting resource.

Competitive Exclusion Principle

Two species competing for the same resource cannot coexist.

Predation

An interaction where one animal kills and consumes another.

Parasitoids

Animals that lay eggs inside other organisms.

Mutualism

Interaction that increases the chances of survival or reproduction for both species.

Commensalism

Relationship where one species benefits while the other is neither harmed nor helped.

Keystone Species

A species that has a large effect on its ecological community despite being not very abundant.

Terrestrial Biomes

Geographic regions categorized by temperature, precipitation, and plant growth forms.

Aquatic Biomes

Aquatic regions characterized by salinity, depth, and water flow.

Tundra Biome

Cold and treeless biome with low growing vegetation.

Boreal Forest Biome

Forest made of coniferous evergreen trees tolerant of cold winters.

Temperate Rainforest Biome

Coastal biome with moderate temperatures and high precipitation.

Temperate Seasonal Forest

Biome with warm summers and cold winters, dominated by deciduous trees.

Woodland/Shrubland Biome

Biome with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters.

Temperate Grassland/Cold Desert

Biome characterized by cold winters and hot, dry summers.

Tropical Rainforest

Warm and wet biome with high biodiversity and rapid decomposition.

Subtropical Desert

Biome with hot temperatures, extremely dry conditions, and sparse vegetation.

Freshwater Biomes

Aquatic ecosystems that include streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.

Saltwater Biomes

Aquatic ecosystems that include marine areas like estuaries and coral reefs.

Photic Zone

Upper layer of ocean water that receives enough sunlight for photosynthesis.

Hydrologic Cycle

Movement of water through the biosphere.

Carbon Cycle

Movement of carbon throughout the biosphere via photosynthesis and respiration.

Nitrogen Cycle

Movement of nitrogen around the biosphere through several processes.

Phosphorus Cycle

Movement of phosphorus between land and water.

Sulfur Cycle

Movement of sulfur through the environment.

Species Richness

The number of species in a given area.

Species Evenness

The relative proportion of individuals among different species.

Fundamental Niche

The suite of abiotic conditions under which a species can survive.

Realized Niche

The range of conditions under which a species actually lives.

Niche Generalist

Species that can thrive under a wide range of abiotic or biotic conditions.

Niche Specialist

Species that are adapted to specific habitats or food sources.

Microevolution

Evolution below the species level.

Macroevolution

Evolution that gives rise to new species, genera, families, or classes.

Speciation

The process by which new species are formed.

Intrinsic Growth Rate

The maximum potential for growth of a population under ideal conditions.

Overshoot

When a population exceeds its environment's carrying capacity.

K-Selected Species

Species with low intrinsic growth rates that grow slowly and maintain stable populations.

r-Selected Species

Species with high intrinsic growth rates, often leading to population overshoots.

Survivorship Curve

Graph representing distinct patterns of species survival over time.

Ecological Succession

Predictable replacement of one group of species by another over time.

Primary Succession

Ecological succession occurring on surfaces that are initially devoid of soil.

Secondary Succession

Succession of plant life in areas that have been disturbed but retain soil.

Pioneer Species

Species that colonize new areas rapidly in full sunshine.

Climax Community

The final stage of ecological succession.

Population Density

Number of individuals per unit area at a given time.

Limiting Resource

A resource that a population cannot live without, occurring in lower quantities.

Density-Dependent Factor

Factors influencing survival and reproduction based on population size.

Density-Independent Factors

Factors affecting survival and reproduction regardless of population size.

Population Growth Rate

The difference between the number of births and deaths in a population over time.

Demographic Transition Theory

Model describing the shift in population growth as a country develops.

Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

Average number of children a woman will bear during her lifetime.

Replacement-Level Fertility

Total fertility rate needed to maintain current population size.

Population Momentum

Continued population growth despite reduced growth measures.