Biology-Ecology

Biosphere

Parts of the Earth where life exists.

Biome

Groups of ecosystems with a similar climate.

Ecosystem

All the living and non-living components of an area.

Community

All the various populations in an area that interact.

Population

A group of the same species that interbreed.

Species

All the similar organisms which can interbreed and produce viable offspring.

Ecology

The study of interactions among organisms and their environments.

Abiotic

Non-living

Biotic

Living

Aquatic Ecosystems

Oceans, lakes, rivers, streams, estuaries, and wetlands.

Terrestrial Ecosystems

Land-based; tundra, taiga, deciduous forests, tropical rainforests, grasslands, and deserts.

Biodiversity

The variety of organisms in an ecosystem.

Organism

Any single living things within an ecosystem.

Habitat

The place where an organism obtains the food, shelter, moisture, and temperature that it needs.

Niche

The unique role and position an organism has in its environment, including all interactions with biotic and abiotic factors.

Energy Flow

The transfer of energy from one organism to another.

Decomposers

Break down dead organic material. Ex: bacteria, mushrooms

Detrivores

Eat organic dead material. Ex: earthworms, pillbugs

Scavengers

Eat larger quantities of dead materials. Ex: racoons, vultures, coyotes

Biomass

Total mass of organisms. Energy is stored in organisms as this.

~90%

Biomass is consumed and the energy is used in cellular respiration, growth, other functions and is released as heat to the environment.

Heterotrophs

An organism that consumes other organisms.

Autotrophs

An organism that produces its own food or energy.

Native Species

A group of organisms that are alike and can produce offspring.

Feral Species

Once tame but become wild.

Introduced Species

An organism that is not native to the place or area where it has been accidentally or deliberately transported by human activity.

Invasive Species

An organism that is not indigenous to a particular ecosystem and can cause great economic and environmental harm to the new area.

Population Size

The number of individuals in the population.

Geographic Distribution

The range of the population meaning the area that is inhabited by the population.

Population Density

The number of individuals per unit area and one of the main characteristics that describes a population.

Population Dispersion

The spacial distribution of individuals within the population.

Type 1

High death rate in post-reproductive years.

Type 2

Constant mortality rate throughout life span.

Type 3

Very high early mortality rate but the dew survivors then live long(stay reproductive).

Survivorship Curves

Graph that shows % survival rate for different age groups in a population over their max lifespan.

K-strategist

Large, long lifespans

Few offspring

Lots of parental care

low biotic potential

vulnerable to extinction

type 1

density dependent factors leave a greater impact

ex:elephant

R-strategist

Small and short life spans

little/no parental care

high biotic potential

type 3

density independent leave a greater impact

ex:mice

Biotic Potential

Maximum reproduction rate of a population under ideal conditions

Growth rate

the amount by which a population’s size changes in a given time

Exponential growth

describes a population that increases at a constant rate over time, resulting in a J-shaped curve when plotted on a graph.

Limiting factor

any factor that restrains the growth of a population

carrying capacity

the average number of individuals the environment can support over a long period of time

logistic growth

describes a population that grows rapidly at first and then levels off as it approaches the carrying capacity of its environment, resulting in an S-shaped curve.