Ecology (IB)

Ecology

The branch of biology that studies interactions among organisms and their environment.

Interdependence

The idea that organisms and their environments are interconnected, leading to effects in one part of the ecosystem impacting others.

Holistic Approach

Studying ecological systems as a whole rather than in isolated parts.

Individual

Focus on how single organisms survive, reproduce, and adapt to their environment.

Population Ecology

The study of populations of a single species living in a geographic area.

Community Ecology

Examines interactions among different species living and interacting in an area.

Ecosystem

Includes both living organisms and non-living components in an environment.

Biosphere

The global sum of all ecosystems, representing the zone of life on Earth.

Biotic Factors

Living components of an ecosystem that affect other organisms.

Producers

Organisms that produce their own food using sunlight or chemical energy.

Consumers

Organisms that must consume other organisms to obtain energy.

Decomposers

Organisms that break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients into the ecosystem.

Competition

When organisms vie for the same resources within an ecosystem.

Predation

The interaction where one organism hunts and consumes another.

Symbiosis

A close, long-term interaction between two different species.

Abiotic Factors

Non-living physical and chemical components of an ecosystem that affect life.

Climate

Long-term patterns of temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation.

Soil

The upper layer of Earth where plants grow, consisting of minerals, organic matter, and organisms.

Water

A vital component of life required for biochemical processes, nutrient transport, and temperature regulation.

Sunlight

The main energy source for life on Earth, crucial for photosynthesis.

Nutrients

Essential chemical elements required by organisms for growth and survival.

Topography

The physical features of the Earth's surface, including elevation, slope, and orientation.

Energy Flow

The movement of energy through an ecosystem via food chains and food webs.

Food Chain

A linear sequence of organisms where each is consumed by the next member.

Food Web

A complex network of interconnected food chains.

Trophic Levels

Levels in an ecosystem defined by the source of energy and nutrients they obtain.

10% Rule

Only about 10% of energy is transferred to the next trophic level; 90% is lost as heat.

Water Cycle

The continuous movement of water through evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.

Carbon Cycle

The series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment.

Nitrogen Cycle

The cycle through which nitrogen is converted into multiple chemical forms as it circulates among atmosphere, terrestrial, and marine ecosystems.

Population Growth

The change in the number of individuals in a population over time.

Exponential Growth

A rapid increase in population size when resources are abundant.

Logistic Growth

Population growth that slows as it reaches carrying capacity.

Carrying Capacity (K)

The maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can support.