Biology - Chapter 7: Sustaining Ecosystems

Flashcards for key vocabulary related to ecosystems

Environment

All living and non-living things on Earth and their interactions.

Ecology

The study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment. A person who studies this is called an Ecologist.

Ecosystem

A complex, self-regulating system where living things interact with each other and with non-living things, resulting in a healthy and sustainable environment.

Habitat

The place where an organism lives.

Terrestrial Habitat

Land-based habitats like deserts, rainforests, and the Arctic.

Aquatic Habitat

Water-based habitats like coral reefs, ocean depths, lakes, and ponds.

Biosphere

The part of the planet (water, land, air) where life exists.

Atmosphere

The layer of gases surrounding Earth, composed of ~78% nitrogen, ~21% oxygen, and <1% other gases.

Lithosphere

Earth’s solid outer layer, including the crust and uppermost mantle, making up mountains, ocean floors, and solid landscapes.

Hydrosphere

All of Earth’s water on, above, or below the surface, existing in solid, liquid, and gas form.

Gaia Hypothesis

The idea that Earth behaves like a living organism through interactions among the four spheres, capable of responding to environmental changes.

Ecosystem

All living organisms that share a region and interact with each other and their non-living environment.

Biotic Factors

Living things, their remains, and features associated with their activities within an ecosystem.

Abiotic Factors

Non-living physical and chemical components of an ecosystem.

Organism

A single individual within a species.

Population

All the individuals of a species that live in the same area.

Community

Populations of different species living in the same area.

Species

A group of similar organisms in an ecosystem (e.g., grey squirrel).

Niche

All the interactions of a given species with its ecosystems.

Biome

Large geographical region that contains similar ecosystems, defined by types of plants, animals, and weather.

Terrestrial Biome

A land-based biome, such as a deciduous forest, boreal forest, tundra, grassland, or temperate coniferous forest.

Aquatic Biome

A water-based biome, either marine (high salt content) or freshwater (low salt content).

Sustainability

The ability to maintain natural ecological conditions without interruption, weakening, or loss of value (ecological balance).

Artificial Ecosystem

An ecosystem created by people and maintained by human actions, not sustainable on its own (e.g., urban park, farm).

Stewardship

Taking personal responsibility for the management and care of something, such as planetary stewardship for the Earth.