Unit 9: Ecology Vocab Squares

Ecology

study of interactions between organisms and their environment

related to: Biotic and abiotic factors, ecosystems

roots: Eco-environment

ecosystem

all the living and non-living things in an environment

related to: the Scale: Biosphere, ecosystem, community, population, and organism!

Roots: eco' environment

Food Chain

Food Chain- Simple model of energy flow.

Related to: Trophic levels. producers, consumers (herbivore, carnivore, onmivore)

Roots: ENERGY FLOW

food web

Food Web: A complex model with MANY food chains interconnected.

Related to: Trophic levels. producers, consumers (herbivore, carnivore, onmivore)

Roots: ENERGY FLOW

Trophic Level

Feeding Levels....Each step in a food chain or food web

Related to: Consumers, food chains and webs

Roots: Troph- Feeding

10% Rule

Only 10% of available energy will transfer to next trophic level

Related to: Food Webs/Chains, Energy, trophic levels

Rotos: None.

Heterotroph

Heterotroph- Feed on different organisms, CONSUMERS

Related to: Herbivore, Carnivore, Omnivore, Food Chains/Webs

Roots: Hetero-Different, Troph- Feeding level

Autotroph

Autotroph- Self Feeder, PRODUCER, plants

Related to: Photosynthesis, Food Chains/Webs

Roots: Auto- Self, Troph- Feeding level

Energy Pyramid

Shows how much energy at each trophic level in a food chain or food web

Related to: Energy/10% Rule, Trophic levels

Roots: None

Biomass Pyramid

Diagram representing the biomass in each trophic level of an ecosystem

Significance: Greater amount of producers then top consumers

Roots: Bio- Life Mass- Grams

Mutualism, Parasitism, Commensalism

Symbiotic relationships between 2 species

Mutualism (+, +)

Parasitism (+, -)

Commensalism (+, 0)

Related to: Symbiosis

Roots: Bi- two, two species

Exponential Growth

Exponential- J Curve, rapid growth without limits

Related to: population growth, ideal conditions

Logistical Growth

Logistic- S Curve, steady growth with limits

Related To: Carrying Capacity, limiting factors

Limiting Factors

Any factor that stops population growth

Related To:

Independent: Natural disasters, weather, flood

Dependent: disease, parasites, competition for food

Roots: Limits= Stops

Carrying Capacity

The max # of a population a environment can support, the LIMIT of an environment

Related to: Logistic, S-Curve, Population Growth

Roots: Capacity=MAX

Carbon Cycle

Plants remove Carbon with photosynthesis, Animals d add carbon through respiration, HUMANS SUCK and add EXTRA carbon by burning fossil fuels and more.

Related to: Fossil fuels, Ozone depletion, CFC's

Roots: None

Nitrogen Cycle

How nitrogen cycles through the environment, bacteria needed for nitrogen fixation

Related to: nitrogen fixation, bacteria,

Roots: Nitrogen

nitrogen fixation

Process of bacteria converting nitrogen gas into ammonia

Related to: BACTERIA roles, Biogeochemical Cycles

Roots: Fixation- Making Nitrogen usable for organisms

Predator Prey Cycles

populations of the predators and prey fluctuate in size according to one another

Significance: Maintains ecosystem stability, type of limiting factor

Biodiversity

the variety of life in an ecosystem

Significance: human impacts threaten biodiversity

Non-Native Species

species that enter a ecosystem that DO NOT BELONG and they harm the native species and environment

Related to: AKA Invasive Species, KUDZU Vine in NC

Roots: Non- No, Native- Local

Ecological Succession

gradual recovery in an ecosystem that follows a major disturbance which harmed the environment

2 Types: Primary (barren soil) vs Secondary (soil in tact)

Human impacts

As human population increases, its damaging/depleting earths resources

Example: greenhouse effect, ozone depletion, acid rain, desertification, deforestation, pollution, reduction in biodiversity