apes unit 1 vocab

just the apes unit 1 vocab from quizlet -> knowt

Ecosystem

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Abiotic factors

Nonliving parts of an ecosystem.

Predation

Process by which individuals of one species (predators) capture, kill, and consume individuals of another species (prey).

Predator

An animal that hunts other animals for food.

Biotic factors

Living parts of an ecosystem.

Prey

Organism that is killed and eaten by another organism.

Symbiosis

Close relationship between two species that benefits at least one of the species.

Mutualism

Relationship between two species in which both species benefit.

Commensalism

Relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected.

Parasitism

Relationship between two organisms of different species where one benefits and the other is harmed.

Competition

Common demand by two or more organisms upon a limited supply of a resource.

Resource partitioning

Process by which species use different resources or use shared resources in different ways.

Fundamental niche

The niche species could potentially occupy.

Realized niche

The niche species actually occupies.

Interspecies competition

Competition for resources between different species.

Biome

Major regional complex of similar communities recognized by plant type and vegetation structure.

Terrestrial biome

Biomes that are found on land (e.g., tundra, taiga, grassland).

Climate

Average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time.

Climatograph

A climate diagram showing an area's mean monthly temperature and precipitation.

Latitude

Distance north or south of the Equator, measured in degrees.

Longitude

Distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees.

Altitude

Elevation above sea level.

Aquatic biomes

Freshwater and marine biomes.

Freshwater biomes

Lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and wetlands.

Marine biomes

Ocean, coral reefs, marshlands, and estuaries.

Salinity

The total amount of dissolved salts in a water sample.

Turbidity

Measure of how clear water is.

Reservoir

Where nutrients or water are stored for varying amounts of time.

Source

A pool that releases more nutrients than it accepts.

Sink

A pool that accepts more nutrients than it releases.

Nitrogen fixation

Process by which nitrogen is combined with hydrogen to form ammonium, usable by plants.

Nitrification

The process by which nitrites and nitrates are produced by bacteria in the soil.

Denitrification

Process in which nitrogen compounds are converted back into nitrogen gas by bacteria.

Ammonification

Formation of ammonia compounds in the soil by the action of bacteria on decaying matter.

Eutrophication

Occurs when substances rich in nitrogen and phosphorus flow into waterways, causing algae growth.

Evaporation

A change of water from a liquid state to a gas.

Condensation

Change of water from a gas state to a liquid.

Transpiration

Evaporation of water from the leaves of a plant.

Infiltration

Water filters through from the surface into the soil.

Percolation

Downward movement of water through soil and rock due to gravity.

Sublimation

Change directly from the solid to the gaseous state without becoming liquid.

Photosynthesis

Converts solar energy into chemical energy.

Chemosynthesis

Process by which some organisms use chemical energy to produce their own food.

Primary productivity

Rate in which solar energy is converted into organic compounds by photosynthesis.

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

Total rate of photosynthesis in a given area.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

Rate of energy storage by photosynthesizers after subtracting energy lost to respiration.

Trophic levels

Each step in a food chain or food web.

10% rule

Only 10% of the total energy produced at each trophic level is available to the next level.

1st law of thermodynamics

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only altered.

2nd law of thermodynamics

Energy cannot be changed from one form to another without a loss of usable energy.

Producers

Organisms that make their own food.

Consumers

Organisms that eat living producers and/or other consumers for food.

Primary producers

Autotrophs, usually photosynthetic organisms, that support all other levels.

Primary consumer

Consumer that feeds directly on producers.

Secondary consumer

An organism that eats primary consumers.

Tertiary consumers

Carnivores that eat secondary consumers