Studied by 11 people
systems
a set of interacting components or parts
inputs
what goes into a system
Outputs
what comes out a system
opened system
both energy and matter move freely across subsytem boundaries as inputs and outputs. (i.e. stream)
closed system
the flow of input and output is limited. only energy is exchanged
isolated system
A system that exchanges neither matter nor energy with its surroundings.
controls
gives feedback and keeps it functioning. can be automatic, manual, or both. If the feedback repeats its a feedback loop.
components
individual cells
emergent properties
the larger unit
5 spheres
geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, anthrosphere
biotic factors
living or once living parts of an ecosystem
abiotic factors
Nonliving components of environment.
habitat
Place where an organism lives
ecological niche
an environment that includes everything that the organism needs to survive and reproduce
Predation
An interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism
comptetition
when organisms compete for limited resources
symbosis
relationships between different organisms
mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism
biodiversity
the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
biodiversity hotspots
an area with high levels of biodiversity
keystone species
A single species that is vital to ecosystem stability
Density
How much matter in a given space
Population density
how many individuals per unit area
Population dispersion
Refers to how organisms separate themselves within a population.
Population dispersal patterns
clumped, random, uniform
emigration
movement of individuals out of an area
birth rate
the number of births in a population in a certain amount of time
death rate
The number of deaths in a population in a certain amount of time
exponential growth
population size increases drastically over a short period of time, has an ideal amount of resources
logistic growth
the growth of a population levels off to the size that the environment can support
Carrying Capacity
Max number of individuals that the environment can sustain and support
Limiting factors
Factors that affect the carrying Capacity
Density-Dependent Limiting Factors
competition, predation, parasitism
Density-independent limiting factors
weather, natural disasters, human activity
Disturbance
Anything that causes changes to the environment- physical, chemical, biological agent
Natural Disturbances
disturbances caused by nature
human-caused disturbances
disturbances caused by humans
Ecosystem stability
all ecosystems are in a state of flux, a stable ecosystem can bounce back from “normal disturbances”
Ecosystem Resilience
the ability of an ecosystem to bounce back after a disturbance
Ecosystem Resistance
ability of an ecosystem to resist change caused by disturbances
ecological succession
a series of biotic changes that occurs on bare land to create a community
primary succession
when an ecosystem is created from bare rock
secondary succession
when an ecosystem is developed on bare soil
primary pioneer species
the species that breaks up the soil/rock
criteria
a principle/standard which something is judged by
homeostasis
maintain internal conditions
Note 
Flashcard (60)