Studied by 3 people
Abiotic Factors
Non-living components of an ecosystem
Ecology
Study of interactions between organisms and their environment
Interdependence
The interconnectedness of organisms and their environment
Holistic Approach
Studying systems as a whole rather than in isolated parts
Individual
Single organism in an ecosystem
Population
Group of individuals of the same species in a specific area
Community
All populations of different species in an area
Producers/Autotrophs
Organisms that make their own food.
Ecosystem
Community of organisms and their non-living environment.
Biosphere
Global sum of all ecosystems where life exists.
Biotic Factors
Living components of an ecosystem
Primary Consumers
Herbivores that eat producers
Secondary Consumers
Carnivores that eat primary consumers
Tertiary Consumers
Top predators that eat secondary consumers
Decomposers
Organisms that break down dead matter and recycle nutrients
Competition
When organisms vie for the same resources
Predation
Interaction where one organism hunts and eats another
Symbiosis
Long-term interaction between different species
Herbivory
Consumption of plants by herbivores
Climate
Long-term patterns of temperature and precipitation in an area
Soil
Upper layer of Earth’s surface where plants grow
Water
Essential liquid for life processes and ecosystem functioning
Sunlight
Primary energy source for photosynthesis
Nutrients
Chemical elements required for organism growth and survival
Topography
Physical features of Earth’s surface, like elevation and slope
Exponential Growth
Rapid increase in population size with abundant resources
Logistic Growth
Population growth that slows as it reaches carrying capacity
Carrying Capacity (K)
Maximum population size an environment can support.
10% Rule
Only 10% of energy is transferred to the next trophic level.
Food Web
Network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem.
Food Chain
Linear sequence of organisms where each is consumed by the next.
Photosynthesis
Process by which producers convert light energy into chemical energy in glucose.
Decomposers/Saprotrophs
Organisms that break down dead organic matter to recycle nutrients.
Nitrogen Fixation
Conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia by bacteria.
Assimilation (Nitrogen Cycle)
Plants absorb nitrates from the soil and use them to build proteins.
Ammonification
Decomposition of organic nitrogen into ammonia by decomposers.
Denitrification
Conversion of nitrates back into nitrogen gas by denitrifying bacteria.
Biogeochemical Cycles
Processes that recycle nutrients through ecosystems (e.g., water, carbon, nitrogen).
Pyramid of Energy
Graphical representation showing energy available at each trophic level.
Nitrification
Conversion of ammonia into nitrate by nitrifying bacteria.
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Flashcard (29)