AP Bio Knowt

Ecology

Study of interactions of living organisms with one another and with their physical environment.

Habitat

Place where a particular population of a species lives.

Species

A group of organisms that are able to reproduce and produce fertile offspring.

Population

All the organisms of the same species that live in a specific area and are capable of breeding among themselves.

Community

The many different species that live together in a habitat.

Ecosystem

A community and all of the physical aspects of its habitat (soil, air, water, weather).

Biome

Major biological community that occurs over a large area of land.

Abiotic

The physical, or non-living aspects of a habitat.

Biotic

The living organisms of a habitat.

Biodiversity

Number of species living within an ecosystem.

Pioneer Species

The first organisms to colonize barren or disrupted environments.

Succession

Regular progression of species replacement.

Primary Succession

Succession that occurs when organisms first colonize a barren, lifeless habitat.

Secondary Succession

Succession that occurs in areas where there has been previous growth.

Primary Productivity

The rate at which organic material is produced by photosynthetic organisms in an ecosystem.

Climax Community

The final stage of succession, remaining relatively unchanged until destroyed by an event.

Autotroph

Organisms that make their own food, producers.

Heterotroph

Organisms that consume others for food, consumers.

Producer

Organisms that first capture energy and make their own food.

Consumer

Organisms that consume producers for food.

Trophic Level

A specific level in an ecosystem based on the organism’s source of energy.

Food Chain

The path of energy through the trophic levels of an ecosystem.

Herbivores

Animals that eat plants or other primary producers.

Carnivores

Animals that eat herbivores.

Omnivores

Organisms that eat both plants and animals.

Detritivores

Organisms that obtain energy from organic waste and dead bodies.

Carcass

Dead body of an animal.

Scavenger

An organism that consumes decaying biomass.

Food Web

A complicated, interconnected group of food chains.

Biomass

The dry weight of tissue and other organic matter found in a specific ecosystem.

Predation

The act of one organism feeding on another.

Symbiosis

Two or more different species live together in a close, long-term association.

Parasitism

One organism feeds on another and lives on or in the other.

Predator

An animal that lives by killing and eating other animals.

Apex

Top.

Prey

Animals that are killed and eaten by other animals.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit.

Commensalism

One species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped.

Cooperation

When organisms work together for mutual benefit.

Warning Coloration

Bright color patterns on an animal that serve to warn predators.

Camouflage

A defense strategy that organisms use to hide their appearance.

Opportunistic

Organisms that take advantage of favorable conditions to thrive.

Monogamy

A mating system in which a single male and female mate.

Silage

Fodder made from green foliage crops preserved by fermentation.

Toxin

A poisonous substance.

Exotoxin

Toxic substance secreted by bacteria that enter host cells.

Endotoxin

Toxic substance bound to the bacterial cell wall.

Pesticides

Chemicals used to kill or control forms of life considered nuisances.

Metabolism

All of the chemical reactions that occur in a living organism.

Biological Magnification

The accumulation of certain chemicals in living organisms.

Concentration

The relative amount of a given substance in a solution.

Thermal Stratification

Change in temperature at different depths in a lake.

Terrestrial

Relating to land.

Aquatic

Relating to water.

Aqueous

Relating to water.

Fresh Water

Water that is not salty.

Marine

Relating to salt water.

Salinity

How salty the water is.

Thermodynamics

The relationship between forms of energy.

Niche

An organism’s job in a community.

Fundamental Niche

The entire range of conditions an organism can occupy.

Realized Niche

The part of its fundamental niche that a species occupies.

Gross Primary Productivity

The rate of photosynthesis in an area.

Net Primary Productivity

The biomass left over after photos