Ecology Test Revision

Photosynthesis

the process by which green plants, algae, and certain bacteria convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy

Predator

an organism such as a lion, wolf, or spider that survives by hunting, killing, and eating other animals.

Aerobic Respiration

the highly efficient process where cells use oxygen to break down glucose, converting it into usable chemical energy (ATP) while releasing carbon dioxide and water as by products.

Prey

any animal that is hunted and killed by another animal for food

Anaerobic Respiration

a metabolic process cells use to generate energy (ATP) in the absence of oxygen

Mitochondria

membrane bound organelles found in almost all eukaryotic cells

Chloroplast

a specialised organelle found in plant cells and certain algae that drives photosynthesis

Reactants

the starting materials in a chemical reaction that are consumed to form new substances, known as products

Products

a new substance formed as the result of a chemical reaction

Fermentation

the starting materials in a chemical reaction that are consumed to form new substances, known as products

Ecosystem

a community of living organisms (plants, animals and microbes) in a particular area

Ecology

the scientific study of how living organisms interact with each other and their physical environment

Abiotic

Non-living factor

Biotic

Living factor

Secondary consumer

an organism that feeds on primary consumers (herbivores)

Tertiary consumer

an animal that obtains its nutrition by eating primary and secondary consumers

Herbivore

an organism that subsists primarily on plants, algae, and photosynthesizing bacteria

Symbosis

any close, long-term biological interaction between two different species

Commensalism

a biological relationship between two species where one organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed

Parasitism

a symbiotic relationship between two species where one organism (the parasite) benefits at the expense of the other (the host)

Competition

a biological interaction between organisms or species vying for the same limited resources in an ecosystem

Food Chain

a linear sequence of organisms in an ecosystem through which matter and energy are transferred as one organism eats another

Food Web

a complex, interconnected network of multiple food chains within a single ecosystem

Producer

an organism that creates its own food and energy from inorganic substances

Consumer

an organism that cannot make its own food and must obtain energy by eating other living organisms

Primary Consumer

an organism that feeds directly on primary producers (like plants and algae) to obtain energy

Carnivore

an organism that meets its nutritional and energy requirements primarily or exclusively by consuming animal tissue

Matter

as anything that has mass and occupies space

Energy

he capacity to do work or cause change

Energy Transformation

the process of changing energy from one form to another

Mutualism

a type of symbiotic ecological interaction where two or more different species exist in a relationship where all participating organisms benefit.