Ch 4+5 Ecology Definitions

Ecology

Ecology

The study of the interactions between organisms and between organisms and their environment

Biosphere

The region of earth where life can exist

Ecosystem

Community of organisms and their interactions with their environment

Habitat

Area where an organism lives and to which it is adapted

Population

All of the same species living in a habitat

Community

All the different species living in a habitat

Biotic factors

Living factors which influence an organism

Competition

Organisms struggle for resources in short supply

Predation

Catching, killing and eating of other animals

Parasitism

2 organisms of different species living in close association. The parasite lives in/on the other organism from which it obtains its food causing harm.

Abiotic factors

non living factors that influence an organism

Climatic factors

Factor relating to temp, rain, humidity, light

Edaphic factors

Factors relating to soil

Producers

organisms that carry out photosynthesis

Consumers

Organisms that get food by eating other organisms

Herbivore

Animal only eating plants

Decomposer

Organisms that feed on dead organic matter and convert it to inorganic matter

Detritus feeders

Organisms feeding on dead organic matter and breaking it into smaller fragments

secondary consumers

Organisms feeding on primary consumers

Carnivores

Animal only eating other animals

Scavenger

Organisms only feeding on animals killed by other sources

Tertiary consumers

Animals feeding on secondary consumers

Omnivore

An animal that eats both plant and animals

Food chain

A sequence of organisms where each one is eaten by the next in the chain showing the transfer of energy from one trophic level to the next

Trophic level

Feeding stage in food chain

Food web

2+ interconnected food chains

Pyramid of numbers

Represents no. of organisms at each trophic level in a food chain

Niche

Functional role of an organism in the community

Nutrient recycling

The way elements are exchanged between the biotic and abiotic factors of an ecosystem, allowing elements to be reused by organisms.

Assimilation

Movement of digested food into cells where they are used.

Symbiosis

Relationship between 2 organisms of different species that live in close association with each other where at least one benefits.

Mutualism

Symbiosis but where both benefit

Eutrophication

Addition of nutrients to aquatic environments

Slurry

Liquified waste produced by animals with high nitrogen phosphorous.

Conservation

Protection an wise management of natural resources to prevent organisms from becoming extinct

Waste management

Wise management of waste to protect the environment

Contest competition

Active physical struggle between two individual organisms where only one wins the resource

Scramble competiton

All competing individuals get some of the resource

Adaptation

Any change in behaviour/structure of an organism that makes it better suited to its environment and increases its chance of survival

Biological control

Use of one living thing to control/reduce the number of a second living thing.