Ecology definitions

ecology

the study of the interactions between living organisms and their environment

ecosystem

is a community of organisms and their interactions with their environment

community

all the organisms found within an ecosystem

biosphere

all the parts of the earth where life can exist

niche

the functional role of an organism in an ecosystem

habitat

the place where a species lives and to which it is adapted

species

a group of organisms which can interbreed to produce fertile offspring

population

all the members of the same species living in a habitat

flora

refers to plants growing in a habitat

fauna

refers to animals growing in a habitat

biology

the study of living things

biotic factors

refer to living factors

abiotic factors

refer to non-living factors

edaphic factors

abiotic factors which refer to the soil

climate

refers to long-term prevailing conditions

weather

refers to short-term atmospheric conditions

parasite (parasitism)

a species which lives in or on the body of the host, causing harm (role is population control)

ectoparasite

organisms which live on the outside of the host and cause harm

endoparasite

organism which lives inside the host and cause harm

predator

an animal which catches kills and eats another animal

prey

refers to the animal that is killed and eaten

predation

the act of catching killing and eating another animal for food

adaptations

structural or behavioural features that help organisms to survive and thrive in a habitat

competition

the struggle between organisms for limited resources in short supply. grass buttercup and daisy compete for light, water and minerals

contest competition

a struggle for a limited resource where only one wins, and one organisms loses the resource

scramble competition

a struggle for a scarce resource where all get some of the resource

symbiosis

a close relationship between organisms of two different species where at least one benefits. examples include parastitism and mutualism

feeding

a pathway of energy flow within an ecosystem

energy flow

a pathway of energy transfer

detritus

animal waste and decaying plants and animals

detritus feeders

consume decaying plant and animal parts as well as faeces

food chain

a list of species such as that each species in the list is eaten by the next one. it is a pathway along which energy is passed from one species to another, through feeding, with one species at each trophic level

grazing vs detritus food chain

grazing food chain begins with green plants

detritus food chains begin with detritus which is dead or decaying organic matter in the soil

trophic level

the feeding or energy level

marks the position of a species within a food chain

fod web

consists of two or more interconnected food chains with more than one species at each trophic level

pyramid of numbers

a diagram which shows the number of different organisms at each trophic level

producers

make their own food using an energy input. carry out photosynthesis and include green plants and some bacteria

consumers

cannot make their own food. take in food from another organism and include all animals

herbivores

only eat plants

carnivores

only eat animals

omnivore

an animal that consumes both plants and animals

scavenger

secondary consumers who feed on animals which are killed by other sources

decomposers

feed on dead organic matter usually by extracellular digestion

nutrient recycling

the way in which elements are exchanged between the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem. often referred to as the reuse of elements as elements are returned to the environment

biomolecules

chemicals containing the element carbon and made inside living things include carbohydrates protein lipids and vitamins

pollution

any harmful addition to the environment

pollutant

any substance that causes damage to the environment

conservation

wise management of the environment to maintain biodiversity by preventing the death and extinction of organisms

biodiversity

refers to a large variety of organisms that exist in an ecosystem

eutrophication

nutrient enrichment of water leading to excess plant growth

a key

a guide to identification of flora/fauna

qualitative survey

a survey to establish the presence or absence of a species

quantitative survey

a survey which records the number of individuals of each species which are present