Unit 14 & 15 Ecology Vocabulary Flashcards

These flashcards contain key vocabulary terms and their definitions related to ecology, biomes, and environmental science from Units 14 and 15.

Ecology

The study of the relationships between living things and their environment.

Ecologist

A scientist who studies ecology and the interactions between organisms and their environment.

Population

A group of the same species living in the same area.

Community

Populations of different species living in the same area.

Ecosystem

All the biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) parts in an area.

Biome

Major regional or global distribution of organisms adapted to living in a particular environment.

Biotic

A living factor (thing) in an environment, such as animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria.

Abiotic

A nonliving factor (thing) in an environment, such as moisture, temperature, wind, sunlight, and soil.

Biodiversity

A measure of the number of different species found within a specific area.

Keystone Species

A species that has an unusually large effect on its ecosystem.

Producer (Autotroph)

An organism that produces (makes) its own food, e.g., plants and algae.

Consumer (Heterotroph)

An organism that gets its food by consuming (eating) other living things.

Herbivore

A consumer that eats plants.

Carnivore

A consumer that eats animals.

Omnivore

A consumer that eats both plants and animals.

Detritivore

An organism that eats dead organic matter.

Decomposer

An organism that breaks down organic matter into simpler compounds.

Energy Pyramid

A diagram that compares the energy used within a food chain.

10% Energy Rule

States that only 10% of energy is passed from one trophic level to the next.

Biogeochemical Cycle

A model that shows the movement of a particular chemical through the biotic and abiotic parts of the ecosystem.

Pollution

Anything added to the environment that has a negative effect.

Greenhouse Gases

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

Sustainable Development

Using and managing natural resources in a way that meets current needs without harming future generations.

Invasive Species

Any organism that was brought to an ecosystem as a result of human actions and that causes harm to that ecosystem.

Succession

The sequence of biotic changes that regenerate a damaged community or create a new community.