APES Unit 1

APES

Predation

One organism kills and eats another organism.

Intraspecific competition

Competition among individuals of the same species.

Interspecific competition

Competition between individuals of different species.

Competitive exclusion

One species outcompetes another for resources.

Niche

Role and position of a species in its environment.

Resource partitioning

Species divide resources to reduce competition.

Mutualism

Both species benefit from the interaction.

Commensalism

One species benefits, the other is unaffected.

Parasitism

One organism benefits at the expense of another.

Symbiosis

Close interaction between two different species.

Biotic factors

Living components affecting ecosystems.

Abiotic factors

Non-living components affecting ecosystems.

Producers

Organisms that produce their own food (e.g., plants).

Primary consumer

Herbivores that eat producers.

Secondary consumer

Carnivores that eat primary consumers.

Tertiary consumer

Top predators that eat secondary consumers.

Decomposers

Organisms that break down dead matter.

Detritivores

Organisms that consume detritus (dead organic matter).

Detritus

Organic matter from dead organisms.

Food webs

Complex network of feeding relationships.

Trophic levels

Levels in a food chain or web.

Ecological pyramids

Graphical representation of energy or biomass.

Energy transfer in ecosystems

Flow of energy through trophic levels.

10% rule

Only 10% of energy transfers between levels.

Acidity

Concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution.

Turbidity

Cloudiness of water due to suspended particles.

Hardness

Concentration of calcium and magnesium in water.

Dissolved oxygen

Oxygen available in water for organisms.

Salinity

Concentration of salts in water.

Heat flow

Transfer of thermal energy in ecosystems.

Kinetic energy

Energy of motion.

Potential energy

Stored energy based on position.

Open systems

Systems exchanging energy and matter with surroundings.

Closed systems

Systems that do not exchange matter with surroundings.

1st Law of Thermodynamics

Energy cannot be created or destroyed.

2nd Law of Thermodynamics

Energy transfer increases entropy; impacts food chains.

Gross Primary Productivity

Total energy produced by photosynthesis.

Respiration

Process of converting glucose into energy.

Net Primary Productivity

Energy available after respiration losses.

Wolves introduction to Yellowstone

Restored ecosystem balance through top predator reintroduction.

Biogeochemical Cycles

Movement of elements through living and non-living systems.

Carbon cycle

Movement of carbon among atmosphere, biosphere, and geosphere.

Photosynthesis

Process converting sunlight into chemical energy.

Decomposition

Breakdown of organic matter into simpler substances.

Combustion

Burning of organic material, releasing carbon dioxide.

Phosphorus cycle

Movement of phosphorus through ecosystems.

Major reservoir of phosphorus

Sedimentary rocks and ocean sediments.

Limiting factor of phosphorus

Essential for growth but often scarce.

Nitrogen cycle

Movement of nitrogen through atmosphere and ecosystems.

Nitrification

Conversion of ammonia to nitrates.

Nitrogen fixation

Conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to usable forms.

Assimilation

Incorporation of nutrients into living organisms.

Ammonification

Conversion of organic nitrogen to ammonia.

Denitrification

Conversion of nitrates back to atmospheric nitrogen.

Major reservoir of nitrogen

Atmosphere, primarily as N2 gas.

Water cycle

Movement of water through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

Evaporation

Conversion of liquid water to vapor.

Transpiration

Release of water vapor from plants.

Condensation

Conversion of vapor to liquid water.

Precipitation

Water falling from the atmosphere as rain or snow.

Infiltration

Water soaking into the ground.

Percolation

Movement of water through soil layers.

Importance of trees to water cycle

Trees enhance transpiration and water retention.

Major reservoir of water

Oceans, covering 71% of Earth's surface.