chapter 13 biology

study of the interactions between organisms and their environment

ecology

single member of a specific specie

organism

 group of organisms able to successfully interbreed and 

create fertile offspring

species

all members of a species within a specific location

population

a specific location in which both biotic and abiotic (non-living) factors interact

ecosystem

large geographic area characterized by specific kinds of plants, animals and climate

biome

struggle for limited resources

Competition

what are the 2 types of competition

interspecific and intraspecific

 a close interaction between 2 organisms in which at 

least one benefits

symbiosis

what are the 3 types of symbiosis

mutualism, commensalism, parasitism

both organisms benefit in the relationship

mutualism

 one organism benefits, the other is unharmed

commensalism

one organism benefits and the other loses energy/harmed

parasitism

Non-living parts of the ecosystem, including: soil, water, air, nutrients

abiotic factors

the extreme range of a factor that prevents population growth; the population will go extinct

zone of intolerance

the range of a factor where population growth equals death; the population is at risk of eradication

zone of stress

spatial distribution of individuals in a population

population dispersion

dispersion is commonly seen in agriculture; sometimes seen due to behavior of animals;

uniform dispersion

dispersion is commonly seen in animals;

random dispersion

dispersion is commonly seen in plants due to light/soil requirements; also seen in migrating herds of animals

clumped dispersion

Environmental factors that control the size of a population

limiting factors

 the role of an organism within an ecosystem determined by its environment, biotic and abiotic factors.  Like the positions on a team, the role is filled by an organism

niche

the location where an organism lives;

habitat

species who occupy a very narrow niche

specialists

Species who can occupy a very broad niche

generalists

autotrophs, manufacture their own food using photosynthesis

producers

heterotrophs; cannot manufacture their own food, must ingest other

consumers

organisms that eat only producers

primary consumers

organisms that eat other consumer

secondary consumer

must be a carnivore

tertiary consumer

 organisms that break down dead organic tissues and organic matter  Ex. fungi, worms, bacteri

decopmposer

sequence of energy transfer within an ecosystem beginning with a producer.  Single pathway of energy flow, arrows indicate direction of flow

food chain

interlinked food chains; complex energy pathway

food web

position of an organism within a food web; arrows show movement of nutrients/energy UP from producers to consumers

trophic level

the process where organisms, convert carbon (like CO2) into organic compounds, forming the foundation of the food chain and regulating the global carbon cycl

carbon fixation

the burning of organic matter, particularly fossil fuels, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

combustion

the process of converting nitrogen into forms that plants can use, primarily ammonium

nitrogen fixation