Ecology Concepts and Terminology

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to ecology, ecosystems, and biogeochemical cycles.

Ecology

The study of interactions among organisms and their environment.

Biosphere

The portion of the planet where life resides, approximately 8 km above to 11 km below the ocean surface.

Ecosystem

All the organisms that live in a particular place and their environment.

Biome

A group of ecosystems that have similar climate and dominant communities.

Species

Groups of similar organisms that can breed and produce offspring.

Population

Groups of organisms that belong to the same species and live in the same area.

Community

Different populations that live in the same area.

Habitat

The place where an organism lives.

Niche

The role or job of an organism within its habitat.

Competitive exclusion principle

No two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time.

Abiotic factors

Non-living physical factors that shape an ecosystem, such as sunlight and temperature.

Biotic factors

Living biological factors that influence an organism in an ecosystem.

Trophic level

Each step in a food chain that illustrates energy transfer.

Producers

Autotrophs that convert light or chemical energy into food energy.

Consumers

Heterotrophs that acquire energy by ingesting other organisms.

Primary consumer

An organism that feeds on producers.

Secondary consumer

An organism that feeds on primary consumers.

Tertiary consumer

An organism that feeds on secondary and primary consumers.

Quaternary consumer

An organism that feeds on tertiary consumers.

Energy Pyramid

A diagram representing the energy available at each trophic level, with only 10% transferred to the next level.

Biomass Pyramid

A diagram showing the total amount of living tissue at each trophic level.

Pyramid of Numbers

A diagram representing the number of individual organisms at each trophic level.

Water Cycle

The process of condensation, precipitation, run-off, seepage, root uptake, evaporation, and transpiration.

Nitrogen Cycle

The process that recycles nitrogen needed by organisms to make proteins and nucleic acids.

Carbon Cycle

The movement of carbon through photosynthesis, respiration, and combustion.

Phosphorus Cycle

The process of phosphorus moving through plant and animal tissues, decomposition, and geological processes.