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Ecology
interactions among organisms and their environment
Food webs
Show feeding relationships in ecosystems
the arrows show the direction of the energy flow
the arrows point towards the mouth of the organism that is eating.
Energy pyramid
The sun is the original source of all the energy on Earth.
Producer
The bottom of the pyramid is always a producer
Primary consumer
2nd trophic level is a primary consumer - eats producer.
Secondary consumer
3rd trophic level is a secondary consumer - eats primary consumer.
Tertiary consumer
4th trophic level is a tertiary (3rd) consumer - eats secondary consumer.
Energy usage
All organisms (including plants) use up 90% of the energy that they take in to survive
10% of the energy that an organism takes in builds up the organism's structure.
Predation
predator kills and eats the prey.
Competition
organisms fight over limited resources.
Parasitism
one organism benefits (parasite) and the other organism is harmed (host).
Mutualism
both organisms benefit from the relationship.
Commensalism
one organism benefits and the other is not affected.
Population
group of organisms of the same species that live in the same area.
Immigration
new individuals join a population
Emigration
individuals leave a population
Carrying capacity
Maximum number of individuals that an environment can support before resources run out.
Biotic limiting factors
predators
Abiotic limiting factors
climate and weather conditions
Biodiversity
all of the different species on Earth.
Autotrophs
producers = organisms that make their own food using photosynthesis.
Heterotrophs
consumers = organism that eat food.
Herbivores
eat only plants.
Carnivores
eat only meat.
Omnivores
eat plants and meat.
Decomposers
breakdown dead organisms (bacteria and fungi (mushrooms & mold)) - decomposition fertilizes the soil.
Water cycle
Transpiration: water evaporates from the leaves of plants into the atmosphere.
Carbon cycle
Factors that release CO2 into atmosphere: respiration
Photosynthesis
Only one factor removes CO2 from atmosphere
Nitrogen cycle
Bacteria on the roots of plants make unusable atmospheric nitrogen usable to plants.
Human population growth
Human population is rising exponentially.
Invasive species
humans bring organisms from one country to another
the invasive species don't belong where they end up
they have no natural predator
SPONCH
The most common elements in living things are Sulfur
Carbohydrates
Organic molecules that provide energy.
Monosaccharide
The building block of carbohydrates
Polysaccharide
A polymer of carbohydrates
Lipids
Organic molecules that store energy.
Fatty acid
The building block of lipids.
Protein
Organic molecules that build body and muscles.
Amino acid
The building block of proteins.
Nucleic acids
Organic molecules that carry genetic code.
Nucleotide
The building block of nucleic acids.
Enzymes
Catalysts that speed up chemical reactions
made of protein.
Homeostasis
Maintaining an internal balance
Organelles
Specialized structures in cells that carry out specific functions.
Prokaryotic cells
Small and simple cells
Eukaryotic cells
Larger and more complex cells that have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
Chloroplast
Site of photosynthesis in plant cells
Cell wall
Gives the plant cell structure and support.
Large central vacuole
Stores a lot of water needed for photosynthesis.
Nucleus
Controls cell activities and holds the DNA.
Mitochondria
Makes usable energy (ATP) through cellular respiration.
Vacuole
Stores food
Cell membrane
Made up of a phospholipid bilayer and protein channels/pumps
Passive transport
Movement of molecules from high to low concentration
Osmosis
Diffusion of water molecules from high to low concentration through the phospholipid bilayer.
Active transport
Movement of molecules from low to high concentrations through protein pumps
Photosynthesis
Process by which plants make their own food (glucose) using energy from sunlight.
Cellular Respiration
Process that breaks down food (glucose) into usable energy (ATP) and occurs in all eukaryotes.
