Science - Ecology (test)

Ecology.

Study of interactions between organisms and their environment.

Biodiversity.

Variety of living organisms in an area.

Interaction.

Relationship between organisms or between organisms and their environment.

Organism.

A living thing.

Environment.

Surroundings and conditions where organisms live.

Ecosystem.

Community of organisms interacting with biotic and abiotic factors.

Biotic.

Living parts of an ecosystem.

Abiotic.

Non-living parts of an ecosystem.

Biosphere.

All regions of Earth where life exists.

Hydrosphere.

All water on Earth.

Atmosphere.

Layer of gases surrounding Earth.

Lithosphere.

Earth’s crust and upper mantle.

Induvidual.

One organism.

Population.

Group of the same species living in one area.

Species.

Organisms that can reproduce together.

Community.

All populations in an area.

Biome.

Large region with specific climate and organisms.

Adaptation.

Trait that helps survival.

Habitat.

Place where an organism lives.

Range.

Area where a species is found.

Migration.

Seasonal movement of organisms.

Hibernation.

Dormant state during cold periods.

Niche.

Role of an organism in its ecosystem.

Competition.

Organisms fighting for the same resources.

Competitive exclusion principle.

Two species cannot occupy the same niche indefinitely.

Predation.

One organism hunts another.

Predator.

Organism that hunts.

Prey.

Organism being hunted.

Symbiosis.

Close relationship between species.

Mutualism.

Both species benefit.

Commensalism.

One benefits, other unaffected.

Parasitism.

One benefits, other harmed.

Carrying capacity.

Largest population an environment can support.

Sustainability.

Using resources without depleting them.

Energy.

Ability to do work.

Autotroph.

Organism that makes its own food.

Heterotroph.

Organism that gets food from others.

Producer.

Organism that produces its own food.

Consumer.

Organism that eats others.

Photosynthesis.

Process plants to make glucose using sunlight.

Chloroplast.

Organelle where photosynthesis occurs.

Chlorophyll

Green pigment that absorbs light.

Chemosynthesis.

Making food using chemical energy.

Cellular respiration.

Process cells use to release energy from glucose.

Carbon dioxide.

Gas used in photosynthesis and released in respiration.

Oxygen.

Gas released in photosynthesis and used in respiration.

Glucose.

Sugar used for energy.

Herbivore.

Eats plants.

Carnivore.

Eats animals.

Omnivore.

Eats plants and animals.

Detritivore.

Eats dead organic matter.

Decompser.

Breaks down dead organisms.

Food chain.

Sequence showing energy transfer.

Food web.

Connected food chains.

Trophic level.

Feeding level in a food chain.

Energy pyramid.

Diagram showing energy loss between trophic levels.

Biomass pyramid.

Diagram showing total mass of organisms.

Pyramid of Numbers.

Diagram showing number of organisms.

Nutrient.

Substance needed for growth.

Biogeochemical cycle.

Movement of nutrients through Earth systems.

Water cycle.

Movement of water through the environment.

Condensation.

Water vapor cooling into liquid.

Transpiration.

Water released from plants.

Evaporation.

Liquid water changing to vapor.

Precipitation.

Water falling from clouds.

Surface runoff.

Water flowing over land.

Ground water.

Water stored underground.

Combustion.

Burning of substances.

Deforestation.

Removal of forests/

Compaction.

Soil being packed tightly.

Fossil fuel.

Fuel formed from ancient organisms.

Limestone.

Rock containing carbon compounds.

Carbon sink.

Place where carbon is stored.

Nitrogen fixation.

Converting nitrogen gas into usable forms.

Nitrification.

Conversion of ammonia into nitrates.

Denitrification.

Conversion of nitrates into nitrogen gas.

Ammonia.

Nitrogen compound produced from waste/decomposition.

Nitrate/Nitrite.

Nitrogen compounds plants can absorb.

Insecticide.

Chemical used to kill insects.

DDT.

Harmful insecticide known for biomagnification.

Bioaccumulation.

Build-up of toxins in one organism.

Biomagnification.

Increase of toxins in one organism.

Biological control.

Using organisms to control pests.

Invasive species.

Non-native species harming ecosystem.

Toxic contamination.

Harmful chemical in environment.

Eutrophication.

Excess nutrients causing algae growth in water.

Habitat loss.

Destruction of natural living areas.

Pathogen.

Disease-causing organism.

Overfishing.

Catching fish faster than populations recover.

Climate change.

Long-term change in Earth’s climate.

What are the 3 main types of symbiosis?

Mutualism, commensalism, parasitism.

What happens in predation?

A predator hunts and eats prey.

Example of mutualism?

Bees and flowers.

Example of commensalism?

Barnacles on whales.

Examples of parasitism?

Tick feeding on a dog.

Give 3 biotic factors.

Plants, animals bacteria.

Give 3 abiotic factors.

Temperature, sunlight, water.

Which sphere contains water?

Hydrosphere.

Which sphere contains air?

Atmosphere.

Which sphere contains rocks and soil?

Lithosphere.