The Living World - Ecosystems Study Guide

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to ecosystems, biodiversity, and environmental science, ideal for review before the exam.

Competition

Organisms fight over limited resources, which can lead to resource partitioning.

Resource Partitioning

The process whereby competing species divide the resources they use in common by specializing in different ways.

Competitive Exclusion Principle

Two species competing for the exact same resource cannot coexist; one will outcompete the other.

Interspecific Competition

Competition between different species.

Intraspecific Competition

Competition within the same species.

Predation

A relationship in which one organism eats another.

Herbivory

An interaction in which an animal consumes a plant.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where both species benefit.

Commensalism

A relationship where one species benefits and the other is unaffected.

Parasitism

A relationship where one species benefits at the expense of another.

Native Species

Species that originate and naturally occur in a specific area.

Invasive Species

Species that are introduced to an area and outcompete native species.

Taiga

A cold biome located in the north, characterized by evergreen trees.

Temperate Rainforest

A coastal biome with high rainfall and moderate temperatures.

Tropical Rainforest

A warm and very wet biome located near the equator.

Desert

A very dry biome with little precipitation.

Tundra

A cold biome characterized by frozen soil.

Littoral Zone

The shallow area near the shore of a lake.

Limnetic Zone

The sunlit open water area of a lake.

Profundal Zone

The area of a lake where sunlight does not reach.

Benthic Zone

The bottom layer of a lake.

Intertidal Zone

The area between high tide and low tide.

Photic Zone

The upper layer of the ocean where sunlight can penetrate.

Aphotic Zone

The deeper layer of the ocean where sunlight does not reach.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants convert CO₂ into O₂ using sunlight.

Respiration

The process whereby organisms convert O₂ into CO₂.

Nitrogen Fixation

The process of converting nitrogen gas from the atmosphere into usable nitrogen for plants.

Denitrification

The process of converting nitrates back into nitrogen gas.

Biomass

The total mass of organisms in a given area.

Standing Crop

The current mass or amount of biomass present at a specific time.

Trophic Levels

The hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, comprising producers and consumers.

10% Rule

The principle that only about 10% of energy is passed on to the next trophic level.

K-selected Species

Species that produce few offspring but invest a lot of resources into nurturing them.

r-selected Species

Species that produce many offspring but invest little in their upbringing.

Survivorship Curve

A graphical representation showing the number of individuals surviving at each age.

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

The total amount of energy captured by photosynthesis.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

The energy left after accounting for the energy used by producers for respiration.

Ecological Tolerance

The range of conditions that a species can tolerate.

Resistance

The ability of an ecosystem to remain stable despite disturbances.

Resilience

The ability of an ecosystem to recover after a disturbance.

Keystone Species

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.

Ecosystem Services

The benefits that humans receive from ecosystems.

Demographic Transition

The model that describes the transition from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as a country develops.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size that an environment can sustainably support.

Aquifer

An underground layer of water-bearing rock.

Salinization

The process by which water evaporates, leaving salt behind, which can be harmful to plants.

Sustainable Agriculture

Farming practices that focus on producing food while minimizing environmental impact.