Biology: Ecology, Symbiosis, and Characteristics of Life

Vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental biology concepts including the characteristics of life, ecological interactions, nutrient cycling, trophic structures, and levels of biological organisation.

Characteristics of life

The key features shared by all living entities, including cellular structure, metabolism, homeostasis, growth, reproduction, response to stimuli, and adaptation.

Ecosystems

Biological communities of interacting living organisms along with the non-living (abiotic) components of their physical environment.

Habits

The characteristic physical environments, modes of living, or growth patterns associated with an organism's survival.

Carbon cycle

The biogeochemical cycle by which carbon moves through the biosphere, atmosphere, oceans, and geosphere via processes like photosynthesis, cellular respiration, and decomposition.

Oxygen

An essential element cycled through ecosystems that is produced by autotrophs during photosynthesis and consumed by organisms during cellular respiration.

Mutualism

A symbiotic ecological relationship between two different species where both participating organisms benefit from the interaction.

Commensalsim

A symbiotic relationship between two organisms where one benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Paratisim

A symbiotic relationship in which one organism lives on or inside a host organism, deriving nutrients at the host's expense and causing it harm.

Trophic levels

The hierarchical feeding steps or positions occupied by organisms in a food chain or ecological pyramid.

Autotrophs

Organisms that synthesize their own organic food from inorganic substances using sunlight or chemical energy.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that cannot produce their own nutrients and must obtain energy by consuming other living or dead organisms.

Organisation

The hierarchical structuring of living systems, spanning from cells and tissues to organs, organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, and the biosphere.