NC Envirothon

Biotic

The living components of an ecosystem

Abiotic

Non-living factors in an environment; for example light, water, rocks, temperature

Ecology

Scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment

Organism

Any form of life

Population

A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area

Community

When multiple populations of a varying species come together in the same area

Ecosystem

The community of living organisms interacting with the abiotic factors in their environment are known as an _____________.

Biosphere

the part of Earth where life exists. Ecosystems come together to form this.

Habitat

The native environment of an animal or plant, or the kind of place that is natural for an animal or plant;

must provide:

1. food

2. water

3. shelter/cover

4. space

5. arrangement

Arrangement

How food, water, shelter/cover, and space are positioned in relation to each other within a habitat.

Generalists

Can live in almost any habitat, eat a variety of different foods, and can easily live in close association with people. Raccoons and coyotes are examples. These animals typically do not become threatened or endangered.

Specialists

These animal require very particular habitat elements or diets often eat a very limited diet or have specific nesting needs. They often become threatened or endangered, because of habitat fragmentation or destruction. For example, the red-cockaded woodpecker requires mature longleaf pine forests as habitats.

Food chain

The transfer of food energy from organisms in one nutritional level to those in another

Keystone species

A species whose removal will effect many different plants and species; a beaver for example. They create habitats for other animals

Food web

A complex and interlocking series of food chains

Indicator species

Organisms that warns of problems in the environment such as pollution. Songbirds and amphibians for example

Producers

These are organisms that make their own food using the sun's light energy.

Endemic species

Species that can be found in only particular areas

Omnivores

These animals eat plant and animal matter

Carnivores

These animals eat other animals.

Herbivores

organisms that only eat plant matter

Decomposers / Detritivores

A plant, animal, or fungi which feeds on dead material and causes its mechanical or chemical breakdown.

Trophic levels

positions occupied by organisms and different levels in the food web or energy pyramid

Consumers

eat plants or other living organisms to obtain energy

Primary consumers

organisms that eat producers, such as herbivores.

Secondary consumers

those that eat the primary consumers.

predator

An animal that hunts or captures other animals for food.

Prey

Animals that are killed and eaten by other animals.

scavenger

An animal that eats the dead remains and wastes of other animals and plants.

carrion

The bodies of dead animals, usually found in nature in the process of decay; not "fresh meat".

symbiosis

The living together in close association of two or more dissimilar organisms; includes parasitism, mutualism, and neutralism.

Mutualism

a relationship where both organisms benefit, such as between bees and flowers

commensalism

A relationship between two organisms of different species in which one organisms benefits, while the other is generally neither helped nor harmed. Flocks of birds following a herd of herbivores for example.

parasitism

a relationship where one organism benefits and the other is harmed, but rarely killed. Fleas and ticks on mammals for example.

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home range

The area in which an animal travels in the scope of normal activities; not to be confused with territory.

succession

The natural sequence of plant community replacement: beginning with bare ground and

resulting in a final, stable community in which a climax forest is reached. Foresters, wildlife biologists, and farmers constantly battle ecological succession to try to maintain a particular vegetative cover

species diversity

The number of different species and their relative abundance in a given area.

Tertiary consumers

those that eat the secondary consumers and are typically carnivores.

ecosystem diversity

the diversity of all the habitats, communities, and processes in an ecosystem.

Detritivores

organisms that eat detritus, or dead organic matter and waste products such as feces, decaying flesh or plant matter, or leaf litter.

energy pyramid

A diagram that shows the amount of energy that moves from one feeding level to another in a food web, about 10% is transferred up at each level

prescribed burns

The planned burning of a forest, stand, prairie, or slash pile with the intent to confine the burning to a predetermined area. Also known as controlled burns.

snag

A standing dead tree; frequently provide homes for wildlife.

cavity nesters

animal species that use cavities in trees for homes and nesting sites such as woodpeckers and owls.

limiting factors

factors that restrict the population growth in a habitat - such as the quality or quantity of food, water, or cover. Predators and disease can also be limiting factors.

carrying capacity

the maximum number of organisms an environment can support without degradation of that habitat. Usually refers to "biological carrying capacity".

The cultural carrying capacity

maximum numbers of organisms depends on the attitudes of the public and human-wildlife conflicts. Beavers are often subject to this as humans are often intolerant of property damage caused by beaver dams and flooding.

competition

When two or more organisms use the same resources

resource partitioning

when a species specializes to a particular layer of habitat (such as a low bush or high tree canopy), or time of day for hunting (such as nocturnal species)

niche

Refers to specific role in an ecosystem

biotic change

Habitats will naturally change over time from one type of vegetation to another. Also called succession.

Primary succession

occurs on new land that has no developed soil, such as a volcanic island.

secondary succession

occurs in areas that have once been covered with vegetation but have experienced disturbance, such as a wildfire, flood, or human activity

climax community

the final community of natural vegetation that doesn't change unless disturbed. Characterized by mature hardwood forest in NC.

pioneer species

An organism capable of growing on bare sites (such as a newly exposed soil or rock surfaces) and persisting there until supplanted by successor species. The first plants to grow in an area.

Ecotone

A land area where two different succession layers come together; edge. Good wildlife habitat

edge effect

the change in the variety of species and the number of each species in ecotones

interior species

Some species require large expanses of the same type of habitat.

Game species

those that may be hunted or trapped (often referred to as consumptive use) according to wildlife regulations for seasons and limits, such as big game (deer, bear, and wild turkey) and waterfowl.

Furbearers

What are those game species that are trapped primarily for their fur, such as beaver, river otter, and mink.

Non-game species

All wildlife species which are not commonly hunted, or consumed by humans, like songbirds and raptors.

non-consumptive use

In general terms related to wildlife, any use which does not directly kill wildlife. For example, most forms of bird watching, photography, hiking and other pursuits involving activity as well as various forms such as movie, television, and gallery viewing of wildlife.

consumptive use

In general terms related to wildlife, any use resulting in the use of wildlife after harvest. Examples may be the death of an individual animal as in hunting, fishing, and trapping.

Arthropods

invertebrates with an exoskeleton and jointed legs or feet. Millipedes, centipedes, crustaceans, and insects.

metamorphosis (complete metamorphosis)

changing from egg, into larva, into nymph

(or pupa), and finally into adult form

incomplete metamorphosis

the process of going from egg to a nymph and adult - no larval stage

insect pests

species that cause harm to humans, crops, homes, animals or products. Some examples are termites, aphids, and ants, among others.

IPM

a method to control insect pests that attempts to consider environmental protection in addition to pest control.

IPM (integrated pest management) tools

biological (predators, pheromones, hormones); non-toxic (lime on plants); chemical (only as necessary); agricultural (rotate crops, polyculture, vary planting and harvest time); mechanical (traps, screens, nets, physical removal)

beneficial insects

The insects that help man

mist important crop pollinators

insects (honeybees, moths, butterflies)

Bioindicators

species that provide insight to the

health of an ecosystem by their presence (or absence) and health.

biodiversity (biological diversity)

A term used to represent the variety of organisms in a given area

Macroinvertebrates

arthropods, primarily insects,

whose presence or absence in a body of water can help to better understand the quality or health

of that aquatic system.

genetic (bio)diversity

the diversity of genes in a population

entomologists

Scientists who study insects

vertebrate animals

Animals who have backbones

herpetologist

A person who specializes in the study of amphibians and reptiles

exothermic

cold blooded

external fertilization

The process by which the female lays eggs and the male fertilizes them once they are outside of the female

detritus (fallen leaves)

an important food source for aquatic invertebrates.

downed log

a fallen tree or snag that is lying on or near the forest floor.

nictitating membrane

a translucent third eyelid that allows them to protect their eyes when underwater while still maintaining full visibility.

tympanic membrane

specialized ear structures which aid frogs and toads in vocalizing and recognizing mating calls.

terrestrial

animals that live on land

endothermic

"warm blooded", which means that they can produce their own body heat

ovoviviparous

animals that carry their eggs inside their bodies until the eggs hatch and the young are born alive.

oviparous

animals that lay eggs that hatch externally.