Ecology and Factors Affecting Organisms' Habitats

These flashcards cover the key concepts of ecology, focusing on factors affecting organism habitats, energy flow in ecosystems, and symbiotic relationships.

Habitat

The environment in which an organism lives.

Terrestrial Organisms

Organisms that live primarily on land.

Climate

The long-term weather conditions in a specific area, significantly influencing where organisms live.

Biomes

Large ecological areas on the Earth's surface, with distinct plant and animal groups adapted to their environment.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water.

Photic Zone

The layer of water in aquatic environments that receives sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis.

Aphotic Zone

The layer of water in aquatic environments that lacks sufficient light for photosynthesis.

Benthic Zone

The ecological zone at the lowest level of a body of water, including the sediment surface.

Pelagic Zone

The open water column of a body of water, beyond the shore.

Biotic Factors

Living components of an ecosystem that affect the organization and distribution of organisms.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit.

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other is not significantly affected.

Predation

The act of one organism consuming another for food.

Energy Transfer

The flow of energy from one organism to another in an ecosystem, often losing energy at each trophic level.

Food Chain

A linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.

Trophic Levels

Levels in an ecosystem, defined by the position an organism occupies in the food chain.