AP bio 8.2 ecology

Logistic Growth

Occurs when resources are limited and there is a carrying capacity (realistic)

Assimilation

Plants absorb nitrate from soil to make organic molecules

Limiting Factor

A biotic or abiotic factor that restricts the number, distribution, or reproduction of a population within a community (sunlight, temperature, water, nutrients, other plant and animal species)

Decomposition

The decay of organisms by decomposers releases CO2 back into the atmosphere, soil, or water

Denitrification

Bacteria convert nitrates (NO3-) back to nitrogen gas (N2)

Carrying Capacity

The sustainable abundance of a species that can be supported by the ecosystem’s total available resources (represented by K)

Evaporation

Transformation of water from liquid to gas from the ground or bodies of water into the atmosphere

Density-Independent Factor

A limiting factor that does not depend on how dense a population is (natural disasters, seasonal cycles, rainfall)

Exponential Growth

A form of population growth where no constraints on a population cause unlimited population growth (not realistic)

Tertiary consumer

Organism that consumes secondary consumers

Photosynthesis

Fixes CO2 into organic carbon compounds, such as glucose and other carbohydrates; removes CO2 from atmosphere and water reservoirs.

Detritivore

Type of consumer that feeds on detritus and the composing products of organisms

Primary Productivity

The rate at which energy is converted by autotrophs (like plants) into organic compounds through processes like photosynthesis, forming the foundation of ecosystems and determining the energy available for other organism

Combustion

Burning of fossil fuels releases stored CO2 into the atmosphere

Transpiration

Release of water from plants into the air

Density-Dependent Factor

A limiting factor that depends on how dense a population is (disease, competition, predation)

Cellular respiration

Breaks down organic compounds and releases CO2 into the atmosphere or water reservoirs.

Precipitation

Condensed water vapor falls to earth as rain, snow, sleet, hail

Quaternary consumer

Organisms that are at the top of the food chain that consumes tertiary consumers.

Herbivore

Type of consumer that eats producers

Primary producer

Bottom trophic level. Able to synthesize own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.

Secondary consumer

Organism that consumes primary consumers.

Nitrification

Bacteria convert ammonium (NH4+) via nitrite (NO2-) into nitrate (NO3-)

Producer

Autotrophs are also known as ____.

Biotic Potential

The highest rate of natural increase for a population, when resources are unlimited

Scavenger

Type of consumer that eats dead animals and plants

Ammonification

Bacteria/fungi convert organic nitrogen from organisms into ammonia

Energy

Can be converted from one type to another. Flows through a system.

Nitrogen fixation

Nitrogen gas (N2) is fixed into ammonia (NH3), which ionizes into ammonium (NH4+) by acquiring hydrogen ions from the soil solution

Omnivore

Type of consumer that eats both producers and consumers

Evaporation

Water from gas to liquid water droplets in air, creating clouds and fog.

Trophic Level

An indicator of feeding level or position in the food chain.

Biomass

How much matter is made up by living organisms.

10% Rule

Rule that states only about 10% of the energy stored in one trophic level is transferred to the next higher trophic level in a food chain or food web.

Matter

Cycles between various inorganic and organic forms

Primary consumer

Organism that consumes primary producers. These organisms are herbivores.

Ectotherm

Lack efficient internal mechanisms for maintaining body temperature, although they may regulate their temperature behaviorally by moving to the sun or shade or by aggregating with other individuals.

Carnivore

Type of consumer that eats other consumers

Decomposers

Non-photosynthetic bacteria and fungi that extract energy from dead matter, including animal wastes in the soil and make nutrients available.

Heterotroph

Need a source of preformed organic nutrients to capture energy- in other words, cannot make their own food.

Autotroph

Uses CO2 to build organic compounds using energy from their environment (ex. sunlight)

K-selected species

Life strategy that is characterized by few offspring, high parental care

R-selected species

Life strategy that is characterized by having many offspring and low survival rate of those offspring. Low parental care.

Chemoautotroph

Prokaryotes that capture energy from small inorganic molecules present in their environment and use chemosynthesis to make organic compounds.

Photoautotroph

Type of autotroph that captures light energy present in sunlight and perform photosynthesis

endotherm

Use thermal energy generated by metabolism to maintain homeostatic body temperatures.