Honors Biology - Unit 14: Ecology

abiotic

the non-living factors within an ecosystem

ammonification

a process where decomposers convert organic nitrogenous compounds, like proteins and amino acids, into ammonia or ammonium

biological diversity

the variety of organisms within an ecosystem

biomass

the organic material in an ecosystem

biomes

large geographic areas with similar climates and ecosystems

biotic

the living factors within an ecosystem

camouflage

an adaptation in which an organism uses its color, pattern, or appearance to blend in with the environment

carnivore

organisms which eat meats

carrying capacity

the amount of individuals an area can sustain without harming the environment

chemoautotroph

convert chemicals into the energy they need

climax community

the later or current stage in succession; the stable end point of succession

combustion

a chemical process where a substance reacts rapidly with oxygen and gives off heat; a fire

commensalism

a type of symbiosis where one organism benefits and there is no harm/benefit to the other organism

competition

the interaction between organisms or species that rely on a limited resource

primary consumer

a consumer which eats producers

secondary consumer

a consumer which eats primary consumers

deciduous forest

trees that lose all of their leaves in the fall. Warmer winters and longer summers with more precipitation

decomposer

consumers that obtain energy by breaking down organic matter

denitrification

a process where microorganisms process nitrogen compounds, such as nitrate, into gaseous forms such as nitrogen oxides and nitrogen gas

desert

areas which receive an average of less that 25 cm of rainfall per year. Dry, usually sandy, and nutrient-poor soil

detritus

the “trash” or dead organisms

detritivore

consumers that obtain energy by feeding on wastes

ecosystem

a smaller unit of a biosphere which includes all the organisms and nonliving factors of an environment found in a specific place

endangered species

a plant or animal that is at risk of being extinct and have low population numbers

energy/trophic pyramid

a model that shows the flow of energy from one level to the next in an ecosystem. Only 10% of the energy is transferred to the next level Usually starts at the bottom and makes its way to the top, and has five levels

food web

a map which shows all food chains within an ecosystem; all of the predator and prey relationships

environment

the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates

equilibrium

a state of balance or stability of the internal and external factors of an ecosystem

evaporation

a process in which heat turns liquid water into gas, adding water to the atmosphere

food chain

a single pathway of feeding relationships among organisms

fossil fuel

the remains of organisms that have been transformed by decay, heat, and pressure into energy-rich organic molecules

grassland

an area dominated by grasses. Have rich, fertile soil

habitat

the place where an organism obtains the food, shelter, and moisture and temperature levels it needs

herbivore

an organism which consumes plants

density dependent factors

limiting factors that influence the size and growth of population based on the density of a population

density independent factors

limiting factors that influence the size and growth of population regardless of the population density

mimicry

when a harmless species resembles a poisonous or distasteful species

mutualism

a type of symbiosis when both species benefit each other

niche

the unique role or “job” of an organism(s) in an ecosystem

nitrification

when bacteria in the soil take up ammonia and oxidize it into nitrates

nitrogen fixation

the process of converting nitrogen gas to ammonia

omnivore

an organism which consumes both plants and other animals

parasitism

a type of symbiosis where one organism benefits at the expense of another organism, harming them

pioneer species

organisms which dominate early in succession

precipitation

when water leaves the atmosphere in the form of rain, sleet, snow, hail, or fog due to temperature or air pressure

predator

an organism which consumes another organism. Inflicts immediate death

prey

an organism which is consumed by another organism

primary succession

when life develops in an area that living organisms have not ever inhabited; starts with bare rock

photoautotroph

convert solar energy into chemical energy that can be consumed

saprophyte

an organism that feeds on dead organic material

scavenger

an organism that consumes on mostly decaying biomass

secondary succession

when living organisms replace the preexisting organisms in an area with soil

species richness

the number of different species in a community

species diversity

an index combining the number and relative abundance of different species in a community

species evenness

the number of individual organisms that belong to each species in a given area

resource partitioning

among similar species, a pattern of resource use in which species reduce their use of shared resources

succession

the process of how species compositions change in an ecological community over time; the gradual, sequential development of a species in an area

symbiosis

organisms have a close relationships with other organisms within an ecosystem

transpiration

the evaporation of water through the stomata

trophic levels

the feeding levels of an ecosystem

extinction

a process in which a species is wiped out and no longer exists

greenhouse effect

a mechanism caused by carbon dioxide and water vapor in the atmosphere which reflects and directs heat towards Earth

ground water

water found in the soil or in underground formations of porous rock

endoparasite

a type of parasites that live inside the body of the host

ectoparasite

a type of parasite which lives on the host’s body

physical defense

anatomical or physiological mechanisms that physically protect organisms from predators

secondary compound

a chemical substance which can be used to defend against predators

competitive exclusion

the local extinction of a species due to competition

character displacement

evolution of anatomical differences that reduce competition between similar species

ozone layer

a layer found in the upper atmosphere that is composed of ozone and shields the Earth from ultraviolet radiation

invasive species

a non-native species whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic harm, environmental harm, or harm human health. Invasive species grow and reproduce rapidly due to not having a true predator, causing major disturbances in the area they are present

introduced species

an animal or plant species that is not naturally occurring in the area where it is growing and has been moved by humans across a geographic boundary to a new environment. Some benefit, do nothing, or harm the environment