Ecology 10 Unit 2

Front 1

Ecology

Back 1

The study of how organisms interact with each other and with their physical environment,

Front 2

Organism

Back 2

The first level of organization in the biosphere which ecologists study.
One organism

Front 3

Habitat

Back 3

Region in which the organism lives

Front 4

Population

Back 4

Second level of organization in the biosphere
All the organisms of the same species that share a habitat

Front 5

Community

Back 5

All the different species in a particular area interacting with each other

Front 6

Ecosystem

Back 6

The living community as well as the physical environment in which organisms live

Front 7

Biosphere

Back 7

Total area of Earth where living things are found, including the soil, atmosphere and ocean.

Front 8

Biotic Factors

Back 8

Living component of the ecosystem

Front 9

Abiotic Factors

Back 9

Physical and chemical components in the environment

Front 10

Dynamic equilibrium

Back 10

The continuous change in the environment which is stable.
(Ex: water cycle, recycling matter in an ecosystem)

Front 11

Limiting Factor

Back 11

The factor that determines the type and numbers that can live in a certain ecosystem

Front 12

Nutrients

Back 12

Elements and compounds that organisms must have in order to live and grow
(EX: Minerals, fats, proteins, vitamins, and water)

Front 13

Producer,
Autotroph

Back 13

Organisms that make their own food using photosynthesis and chemosynthesis

Front 14

Phytoplankton

Back 14

Microscopic algae
Producer

Front 15

Consumer
Heterotrophs

Back 15

Organisms that consumes other organisms or biotic waste in order to survive

Front 16

Herbivore

Back 16

Consumers that only eat producers

Front 17

Primary Consumer

Back 17

The second trophic level consumer
Herbivore

Front 18

Zooplankton

Back 18

Microscopic herbivores that eat phytoplankton

Front 19

Carnivore

Back 19

Consumers that eat other consumers

Front 20

Omnivore

Back 20

Organisms which eat both producers and consumers

Front 21

Detrivore

Back 21

Consumer organisms that feed on the waste material in an ecosystem , including the body or other organisms that have recently died and feces.

Front 22

Decomposer

Back 22

Special type of consumer that break down the complex molecules found in dead stuff and feces into simpler molecules,
Nature's recyclers

Front 23

Biodegradation

Back 23

Process in which decomposers make the nutrients contained in waste and dead matter available one again to producers

Front 24

Predation

Back 24

When a consumer captures and eats other organism

Front 25

Predator

Back 25

Consumes prey
Is a consumer

Front 26

Prey

Back 26

Is eaten by a predator
Can be consumer

Front 27

Predator Prey cycle

Back 27

Relationship between prey and predator
Prey population rising = Predator population increases
Prey decreases = Predator decreases
Predator decreases = Prey increases

Front 28

Symbiosis

Back 28

Any close relationship between two different species

Front 29

Mutualism

Back 29

A relationship between 2 different species which results in them both benefitting
(+/+)

Front 30

Commensalism

Back 30

A relationship between 2 different species which results in one benefitting and one not being effected
(+/ 0)

Front 31

Parasitism

Back 31

A relationship between 2 different species which results in one benefitting and one being harmed
(+/-)

Front 32

Host

Back 32

The organism which is harmed in a parasitic relationship (-)

Front 33

Parasite

Back 33

The organism which benefits in a parasitic relationship (+)

Front 34

Trophic Level

Back 34

The position of the organism in relation to the order of nutrient and energy transfer in an ecosystem

Front 35

Food chain

Back 35

A pathway taken by nutrients and energy through the trophic levels of an ecosystem

Front 36

Food Web

Back 36

Represents many cross linked food chains

Front 37

Ecological Pyramid
Food Pyramid

Back 37

A way in which the pathway of energy through an ecosystem is illustrated

Front 38

Pyramid of Energy

Back 38

An ecological pyramid that use blocks of different lengths to represent how much energy is available in each trophic level

Front 39

Pyramid of Numers

Back 39

The actual number of organisms present in each trophic level

Front 40

Pyramid of Biomass

Back 40

Snapshot in time of the mass at each trophic level in a community