Ecosystem Dynamics, Biodiversity, and Feeding Relationships

Flashcards about Ecosystem Dynamics, Biodiversity, and Feeding Relationships

Ecosystem

All the living organisms in a given area, along with the abiotic factors that influence them.

Ecosystem Dynamics

Ecosystems are dynamic and continually changing as their organisms interact along with an ever-changing environment.

Biodiversity

A measure of how varied an ecosystem is, and can be measured in terms of genes, species, or habitats.

Genetic Diversity

A measure of how many variations there are in the genetic code between individuals of a particular species, or between different species.

Species Diversity

A measure of how many different species are present in an area, and how many individuals of these species there are.

Habitat Diversity

A measure of how many different habitats are present in an area.

Habitat

The range of physical, biological, and environmental factors within which a species can survive.

Community

All the populations of all the species within a particular habitat.

Abiotic Factors Influence

The impact of abiotic factors.

Biotic Factors Influence

The impact of Biotic factors, including predation, competition and symbiotic relationships.

Biotic Factors

Living things in an environment.

Abiotic Factors

Non-living things in an environment.

Examples of Abiotic Factors

Light intensity, rainfall, temperature, substrate, wind, humidity, pH, salinity, availability of ions or gases, soil type, and landforms

Symbiotic / Mutualism

An interaction where it is beneficial to both organisms (+ +)

Competition, Predation, Parasitism

An interaction where it is Beneficial to one organism while adversely affecting the other (+ -)

Commensalism

an interaction that benefits one organism while not affecting the other (+ o)

Predation

One animal species kills and feeds on another animal

Producers

Organisms that produce their own food

Consumers

Organisms that cannot make their own food, and need to consume other organisms

Herbivores

Consumers that eat producers.

Carnivores

Consumers that eat other consumers.

Omnivores

Consumers that eat other consumers and producers.

Predators

Hunters that are skilled at locating and killing their food.

Prey

Animals on which the predator feeds.

Food Chain

A sequence that shows how each individual feeds on the organism below it in the chain.

Food Web

Shows how food chains are connected.

Extinction

When the last individual of a species dies.

Endangered

When a species is at risk of extinction

Deforestation

Destruction of natural habitats.

Environmental effects of climate change

Higher global temperatures, a different geographical distribution of rainfall, and sea level rising.