ecology

bioshpere

the part of Earth where life exists; includes all of the living organisms on Earth

ecosystem

a community of organisms and their abiotic environment

population

a group of organisms of the same species that live in a specific geographical area

biotic

an environmental factor that is associated with or results from the activities of living organisms

abiotic factor

an environmental factor that is not associated with the activities of living organisms

producer

an organism that can make organic molecules from inorganic molecules; a photosynthetic or chemosynthetic autotroph that serves as the basic food source in an ecosystem

biomass

plant material, manure, or any other organic matter that is used as an energy source

consumer

an organism that eats other organisms or organic matter instead of producing its own nutrients or obtaining nutrients from inorganic sources

herbivore

an organism that eats only plants

carnivore

an organism that eats animals

omnivore

an organism that eats both plants and animals

decomposer

an organism that feeds by breaking down organic matter from dead organisms. Returns nutrients back to the soil for producers; examples include bacteria and fungi

trophic level

one of the steps in a food chain or food pyramid; examples include producers and primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers

Detritivore

Organism that feed on dead animal/plant remains. Ex) Scavenger

Chemosysnthesis

Process by which inorganic molecules are used to create organic molecules. Performed by autotrophs in many deep sea communities

Biomagnification

Increasing concentrations of a chemical in organisms at higher trophic levels due to reduced biomass

food chain

the pathway of energy transfer through various stages as a result of the feeding patterns of a series of organisms

food web

a diagram that shows the feeding relationships between organisms in an ecosystem

population density

the number of individuals of the same species that live in a given unit of area

geographic distribution/dispersion

in ecology, the pattern of distribution of organisms in a population (uniform, ranbon, clumped)

exponential growth

a model of population growth with a constant and unlimited growth rate. Occurs when unlimited resources are present in the population

limiting factor

an environmental factor that prevents an organism or population from reaching its full potential of distribution or activity (density independent and dependent)

logistic growth

a model of population growth in which population growth rate slows due to limiting factors/lack of resources. Often shows a carrying capacity

carrying capacity

the largest population that an environment can support at any given time. Represented by "K" on a graph

density independent factor

a variable that affects a population regardless of the population density, such as climate

density dependent factor

a variable affected by the number of organisms present in a given area. Ex) Competition, Predation, Disease

symbiosis

a relationship in which two different organisms live in close association with each other

parasitism

a relationship between two species in which one species, the parasite, benefits from the other species, the host, which is harmed

mutualism

a relationship between two species in which both species benefit

commensalism

a relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected

biodiversity

the variety of organisms in a given area, the genetic variation within a population, the variety of species in a community, or the variety of communities in an ecosystem

Respiration

The process by which living things break down food molecules and release CO2 into the atmosphere

Photosynthesis

Process that allows plants to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and use light energy to convert it into carbohydrates (sugars)

Decomposition

Process by which dead organic matter is turned into nutrients such as carbon and nitrogen and returned to the soil

Ways carbon enters the atmosphere

• Respiration (exhaling products of cellular respiration)

• Burning of fossil fuels

• Death and decomposition

niche

An organism's particular role in an ecosystem, or how it makes its living.

Chemosynthesis

Process by which some organisms, such as certain bacteria, use chemical energy to produce organic molecules