Biology Review: Scientific Method, Ecosystems, Population Dynamics, and Earth Cycles

Vocabulary flashcards created from the review guide covering scientific graphing, ecological relationships, food webs, population dynamics, and the carbon cycle.

Independent Variable and Dependent Variable

Variables plotted on a graph to describe patterns, make claims, and support claims with given evidence.

Ecology

The study of ecosystems, food webs, ecological relationships, biotic factors, abiotic factors, and levels of organization.

Biotic Factors and Abiotic Factors

Living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components within an ecosystem.

Producer

An autotrophic organism that makes its own food, forming the foundation of a food web or chain.

1st Consumer

A consumer that directly feeds on producers in a food web or energy pyramid.

2nd Consumer

A consumer that feeds on primary (1st) consumers in a food web or chain.

3rd Consumer

A high-level consumer that feeds on secondary (2nd) consumers in a food web.

Decomposer / Detritivore

Organisms that break down or feed on decaying organic material within an ecosystem.

Scavenger

An organism that feeds on dead animal or plant matter in an ecosystem.

Arrows in a Food Web/Chain

Symbols in a food web or chain that represent how energy is passed on from one organism to another.

10% Rule

The rule stating that only a fraction of energy is passed on to the next level, while 90% of energy is lost in an energy pyramid.

Autotrophs

Organisms, such as producers, that make their own food.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms, including carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores.

Carnivores

Heterotrophic organisms that feed exclusively or primarily on other animals.

Omnivores

Heterotrophic organisms that consume both producers (plants) and animals.

Herbivores

Heterotrophic organisms that feed on producers (plants).

Limiting Factor

An environmental factor that restricts or affects population growth.

Density Dependent Factors

Population-limiting factors whose impact depends on the density of the population.

Density Independent Factors

Population-limiting factors that affect a population regardless of its density.

Logistic Growth

A population growth pattern affected by limiting factors that features carrying capacity and forms an S-shaped curve.

Exponential Growth

A population growth pattern characterized by rapid, unrestricted growth forming a J-shaped curve.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size an environment can sustain, depicted on graphs with limiting factors.

Carbon Cycle

An Earth cycle tracking the movement and numerical quantities of carbon, including processes that take Carbon Dioxide out of and release it into the atmosphere.