Biology Topic 5 Key Words

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Biosphere

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part of the earth that is inhibited by living organisms

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ecosystem

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An ecosystem is a community of living and non-living things that work together.

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abiotic

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physical and chemical factors like climate and soil type

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biotic

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factors determined by organisms such as predation and competition

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photosynthesis

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process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy that can be later released to fuel the organisms' activities.

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Habitat

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an area that is inhabited by a particular species of animal, plant, or other type of organism.

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population

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group of individuals of the same species found in an area

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community

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various populations sharing a habitat or ecosystem together

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Niche

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the role of an organism in the ecosystem

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What are the abiotic factors?

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- solar energy input

- climate

- topography

- oxygen availability

- edaphic

- pollution

- catastrophes

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What are the biotic factors?

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- competition

- grazing, predation and parasitism

- mutualism

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mutualism

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relationship in which both partners benefit

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interspecific

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between species

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intraspecific

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within species

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density dependent

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biotic factors effects are related to the size of the population relative to area available

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herbivores

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an animal that gets its energy from eating plants, and only plants.

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succession

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community that changes over time

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primary succession

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starts in newly formed habitats where there has never been a community before

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pioneer species

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first organisms to colonise

species that can cope with the extremes of temperature and lack of soil

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climax community

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community usually dominated by trees is reached

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secondary succession

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where an existing community has been cleared

e.g ploughed field or forest fire

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deflected succession

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community remains stable only because human activity prevents succession

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primary productivity of ecosystem

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the rate at which energy is incorporated into organic molecules in an ecosystem

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producers

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organisms that can make their own organic compounds from inorganic compounds

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what are producers also called?

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autotrophs

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chemosynthetic autotrophs

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make organic molecules using energy released from chemical reactions

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photolysis

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photosynthesis uses energy from sunlight to split water

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Light-dependent reaction

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use energy from light and hydrogen from photolysis of water to produce reduced NADP, ATP and oxygen

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Light-independent reaction

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uses the reduced NADP and ATP from light-dependent reaction to reduce carbon dioxide into carbohydrates

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co-enzyme NADP

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reduced when electrons are added during photosynthesis

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palisade mesophyll

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cell in leaf which can contain up to 50 chloroplasts

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electron transport chain

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electrins leave the excited chlorophyll molecules andpass along a series of electron carrier molecules embedded in thylakoid membrane

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phosphorylation

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electrons pass along in a series of oxidation and reduction reactions - losing energy

energy used in the synthesis of ATP

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ATP

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energy transfer molecule within cells

moves energy around cell

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ADP

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third phosphate comes off ATP

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ATPase

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catalyses the breakdown of ATP to ADP

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calvin cycle

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cycle of metabolic reactions

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Heterotrophs

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obtain energy as 'ready made' organic matter by ingesting material from other organisms

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primary consumers

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heterotrophs that eat plant material

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secondary consumers

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feed on primary consumers

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tertiary consumers

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eat other consumers

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omnivores

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animals that eat plants and other animals

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Detritivores

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primary consumers that feed on dead organic material called detritus

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Decomposers

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species of bacteria and fungi that feed on the dead remains of organisms and organisms faeces

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gross primary productivity (GPP)

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the rate at which energy is incorporated into organic molecules by an ecosystem

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Net primary productivity (NPP)

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rate at which energy is transferred into the organic molecules that make up new plant biomass

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anecdotal

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not necessarily true or reliable, because based on personal accounts rather than facts or research

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anaerobic

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without air

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Peat

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turf made up of partially decayed material and organic matter

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dendrochronology

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study of tree rings

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greenhouse gases

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gases in the atmosphere that stop infrared radiation from escaping

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greenhouse effect

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keeps earth warm

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extrapolation

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extending a line on graph to predict the future

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parasitic

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infested with parasites

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phenology

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study of seasonal events in the lives of animals and plants

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photoperiod

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the interval in a 24-hour period during which a plant or animal is exposed to light

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struggle for existence

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competition for survival between members of the same species

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survival of the fittest

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individuals with advantageous adaptations are more likely to survive and reproduce

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genomics

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study of DNA

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proteomics

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study of proteins

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speciation

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formation of new species

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reproductive isolation

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groups unable to breed and produce fertile offspring

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ecological isolation

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species occupy different parts of habitat

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temporal isolation

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species exist in same area but reproduce at different times

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behavioural isolation

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species exist in same area but do not respond to eachother

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physical incompatibility

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species co-exist but there are physical reasons that prevent reproduction

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hybrid inviability

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hybrids are produced but do not survive long enough to breed

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hybrid sterility

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hybrids survive but cannot reproduce

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carbon cycle

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circulation of carbon

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carbon sink

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carbon remains locked in substance in stead of being returned to the air

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biogas

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gases produced by the breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen.