10 IB: Ecology- Unit 8

IB ecology- grade 10

1. : Ecology

The branch of biology that deals with the study of the interactions among organisms and with their environment.

2. : Ecologists

Scientists who study ecology.

3. : Ecosystems

Consist of the physical environment and all the living things within that environment.

4. : Abiotic Factors

Non-living things that make up the physical environment (e.g., water, atmosphere, soil, temperature).

5. : Biotic Factors

Living things within the physical environment (e.g., plants, animals, fungi, bacteria).

6. : Terrestrial Ecosystem

An ecosystem contained on land (e.g., continents, islands where water is a limiting factor).

7. : Aquatic or Marine Ecosystem

An ecosystem contained in water (e.g., freshwater – lakes and rivers, saltwater/marine – oceans).

8. : Trophic Levels

Define the roles of organisms in an ecosystem based on the energy and nutrients they contribute, consume, or recycle.

9. : Autotrophs

Organisms that create their own carbon compounds from carbon dioxide and other simple substances (e.g., plants, algae).

10. : Heterotrophs

Organisms that obtain carbon compounds from other organisms (e.g., animals, fungi, bacteria).

11. : Producers

Autotrophs that trap energy in sunlight and convert it to carbohydrates (e.g., plants, algae).

12. : Primary Consumers

Heterotrophs that obtain energy from producers.

13. : Secondary Consumers

Heterotrophs that obtain energy from primary consumers.

14. : Tertiary Consumers

Heterotrophs that obtain energy from secondary consumers.

15. : Omnivores

Organisms that feed on both producers and consumers.

16. : Detritivores

Heterotrophs that obtain nutrients from detritus by internal digestion (e.g., earthworms).

17. : Decomposers

Organisms that consume dead plant and animal remains and convert them into reusable substances (e.g., bacteria, fungi).

18. : Scavengers

Organisms that eat dead animal remains to obtain energy (e.g., vultures, hyenas).

19. : Saprotrophs

Heterotrophs that obtain nutrients from dead organic matter by external digestion (e.g., bacteria, fungi).

20. : Energy in Ecosystems

Most ecosystems rely on the sun to supply energy, which is harvested by living organisms through photosynthesis.

21. : Photosynthesis

Process performed by autotrophs such as plants, eukaryotic algae, and cyanobacteria to convert light energy into chemical energy.

22. : Heterotrophs

Organisms that do not use light energy directly but are indirectly dependent on it by using carbon compounds from producers.

23. : Producers

Organisms that absorb sunlight using chlorophyll and other photosynthetic pigments to produce carbohydrates and other carbon compounds.

24. : Cellular Respiration

Process by which producers use energy for their cellular activities, resulting in energy loss as heat.

25. : Food Chain

Sequence of organisms through which energy is passed, usually between 2-5 organisms.

26. : ATP

Compound that supplies energy for cellular activities, created by breaking down carbon compounds.

27. : Energy Losses in Ecosystems

Only 10% of the energy consumed or created by an organism gets passed on to the next trophic level, with the rest lost as heat.

28. : Ecological Pyramids

Visual representations of the populations involved in a feeding relationship, including pyramids of numbers, biomass, and energy.

29. : Pyramid of Numbers

Diagram showing the relative number of organisms decreases as we move up trophic levels.

30. : Pyramid of Biomass

Diagram showing the mass of organisms in a given area, with producers generally having greater biomass than consumers.

31. : Pyramid of Energy

Diagram representing the amount of energy converted to new biomass by each trophic level, measured in units of energy per unit area per unit time.

32. : Food Webs

Models summarizing all possible food chains in a community, showing complex feeding relationships.

33. : Top Carnivores

Organisms at the top of a food web with no predators, not including humans.

34. : Symbiosis

Relationships between organisms that do not involve one species eating another.

35. : Mutualism

Symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit.

36. : Commensalism

Symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected.

37. : Parasitism

Symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits while harming the other.

38. : Species

A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

39. : Population

A group of organisms of the same species living in a given area at the same time.

40. : Community

Populations living together and interacting with each other.

41. : Niche

The unique combination of spatial habitat and interactions with other species in an ecosystem.

42. : Population Growth

Exponential growth occurs under ideal conditions, producing a “J” shaped curve.

43. : Carrying Capacity

The number of individuals of a population that can survive in a given area.

44. : Limiting Factors

Factors that influence the size of a population, including materials and energy, food chains, competition, and density.

45. : Population Growth Curve

Shows how population growth is affected by environmental resistance, with stages of exponential growth, transitional phase, and plateau phase.

46. : Intraspecific Competition

Competition between members of the same species.

47. : Interspecific Competition

Competition between members of different species.

48. : Competitive Exclusion Principle

Two species cannot indefinitely occupy the same habitat if their niches are identical.

49. : Fundamental Niche

The potential mode of existence given the adaptations of a species.

50. : Realized Niche

The actual mode of existence, resulting from both adaptations and competition.

51. : Density Dependent Limiting Factors

Factors that affect populations as the population size increases (e.g., disease, aggression, stress).

52. : Density Independent Limiting Factors

Factors that affect populations regardless of size (e.g., flood, fire, tornado, hurricane).

53. : Species

A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

54. : Population

A group of organisms of the same species living in a given area at the same time.

55. : Community

Populations living together and interacting with each other.

56. : Niche

The unique combination of spatial habitat and interactions with other species in an ecosystem.

57. : Population Growth

Exponential growth occurs under ideal conditions, producing a “J” shaped curve.

58. : Carrying Capacity

The number of individuals of a population that can survive in a given area.

59. : Limiting Factors

Factors that influence the size of a population, including materials and energy, food chains, competition, and density.

60. : Population Growth Curve

Shows how population growth is affected by environmental resistance, with stages of exponential growth, transitional phase, and plateau phase.

61. : Intraspecific Competition

Competition between members of the same species.

62. : Interspecific Competition

Competition between members of different species.

63. : Competitive Exclusion Principle

Two species cannot indefinitely occupy the same habitat if their niches are identical.

64. : Fundamental Niche

The potential mode of existence given the adaptations of a species.

65. : Realized Niche

The actual mode of existence, resulting from both adaptations and competition.

66. : Density Dependent Limiting Factors

Factors that affect populations as the population size increases (e.g., disease, aggression, stress).

67. : Density Independent Limiting Factors

Factors that affect populations regardless of size (e.g., flood, fire, tornado, hurricane).

68. : Nitrogen in Atmosphere

Almost 80% of our atmosphere is composed of Nitrogen gas (N2).

69. : Importance of Nitrogen

Nitrogen is necessary for the composition of all amino acids and genetic material.

70. : Nitrogen Cycle

The process by which nitrogen is converted between its various chemical forms, making it available to living organisms.

71. : Nitrogen Fixation

The conversion of unusable nitrogen gas in the atmosphere to ammonia (NH3).

72. : Methods of Nitrogen Fixation

Lightning strike, bacteria in root nodules (e.g., beans, peas, clover), and free-living bacteria in the soil.

73. : Diazotrophs

Bacteria that have the ability to fix nitrogen.

74. : Rhizobia

Bacteria found in root nodules that fix nitrogen.

75. : Azotobacteraceae

Free-living bacteria in the soil that fix nitrogen.

76. : Ammonification

The conversion of dead organic matter and animal waste into ammonia by decomposers such as bacteria and fungi.

77. : Nitrification

The process of converting ammonia into nitrates (NO3-) and nitrites (NO2-) by free-living bacteria in the soil.

78. : Nitrosomonas

Bacteria that convert ammonia into nitrites (NO2-).

79. : Nitrobacter

Bacteria that convert ammonia into nitrates (NO3-).

80. : Denitrification

The conversion of nitrates back into nitrogen gas under anaerobic conditions in the soil.

81. : Denitrifying Bacteria

Bacteria such as Clostridium and Pseudomonas that perform denitrification.

82. : Phosphorus in Living Things

Required to produce molecules such as DNA and ATP, and maintain vertebrate skeletons and cell membranes.

83. : Phosphorus Cycle

The process by which phosphorus moves through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.

84. : Terrestrial Phosphate

Weathering of rocks adds inorganic phosphate (PO43-) to the soil, which plants assimilate.

85. : Aquatic Phosphate

Phosphate from terrestrial ecosystems drains into bodies of water, where it may settle and become part of new rock.

86. : Phosphate in Ecosystems

Phosphate transfers from terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems faster than it is replaced, diminishing terrestrial phosphate over time.

87. : Waste

The large population of humans creates increasing amounts of waste and chemicals to control pests.

88. : Biodegradable Waste

Waste that can be decomposed naturally by the ecosystem

89. : Non-Biodegradable Waste

Waste that cannot be decomposed naturally by the ecosystem, such as plastics, styrofoam, metal, and glass.

90. : The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

A large area in the North Pacific Gyre made up of small plastics, not a floating island of garbage.

91. : Bioaccumulation

The build-up of chemicals in the body of an organism.

92. : Biomagnification

The increasing concentration of toxic substances within living organisms as you move up the food chain.

93. : DDT Example

DDT introduced into an environment through spraying for mosquitoes, building up in organisms as you move up the food chain.

94. : Eutrophication

The build-up of nutrients in an aquatic ecosystem, often caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorus from human activities.

95. : Algal Bloom

Aggressive growth of algae on the surface of water, blocking sunlight and reducing oxygen levels.

96. : Hypoxia

A condition where there is not enough oxygen in the water to sustain life.

97. : Endemic Species

Species native to a specific area.

98. : Alien Species

Species introduced to an area by humans.

99. : Invasive Species

Alien species that spread rapidly and cause harm to the environment.

100. : Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)

Gases like CO2 and methane that trap heat in the atmosphere.