Ecosystems

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Abiotic

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Non-living things (physical environment)

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Aeration

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is the process by which air is circulated through, mixed with or dissolved in a liquid or substance.

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adaptation

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Is any genetic trait that improves an organism’s chance of survival (and to reproduce)

Adaptations:

Camouflage

Mimicry-prey species ( have colourings/markings that look like other predators)

Opposable thumbs

Sonar

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biodegration

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the decay process that makes the nutrients contained in waste and dead matter available to producers once again

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biome

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Distribution of organisms. Basically-the distribution of life in biosphere is largely determined by 2 factors: Average temperature, Average precipitation *called climate. Climate depends on Latitude and elevation

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biotic

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Living things (organisms

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community

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all of the different populations in a particular area that interact with one another; the third level of organization

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carbon cycle

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the cycling of carbon through ecosystems

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commensalism

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one organism benefits and the other is unaffected. Eg: fish on shark, barnacles on whales

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denitrification

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the process that converts ammonia and nitrate back to nitrogen gas

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ecological succession

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a gradual change in the types of plants that represent the structure of a community

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ecosystem

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includes the living community as well as the physical environment in which the organisms live;the fourth and most complex level of organization

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food chain

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a representation of the pathway taken by nutrients and energy through the trophic levels of ecosystems

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food pyramids

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Animals at the top of food chain/web require the least amount of prey because of how energy flows through food chains. *The blocks represent amount of energy available at each level. Often only 10% of energy is transferred from one level to the next.

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keystone species

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A species whose presence plays a vital role in sustaining the health of an ecosystem. If these keystone species are eliminated the whole ecosystem collapses.

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mutualism

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both organisms benefit. Eg: bird and hippo, human and bacteria

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nitrification

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the process that produces nitrate from ammonium

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natural selection

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Is a process that favours the survival of organisms with traits that make them better adapted to the environment.

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parasitism

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one organism benefits at the other’s expense: tape worm and animal

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phosphorus cycle

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the path of phosphorus through ecosystems

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photosynthesis

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the process whereby plants use the suns energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and oxygen

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predation

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hunts/captures its food-consumer

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symbiosis

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a specialized form of integration between 2 different species; often, each species develops very specialized behaviours, life cycles, or structures; includes mutualism, commensalism and parasitism

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trophic levels

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a category of living things thatt describes the position of and organism in relation to the order of nutrient and energy transfers in an ecosystem; the first trophic level contains autotrophs and each higher level contains heterotrophs.

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Biodiversity

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The variety of organisms in a given ecosystem. A large biodiversity indicates a healthy ecosystem-complex and diverse. These healthy ecosystems have high primary productivity (amount of available energy by producers)

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extirpation

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Local extinction of a species in an area. They still exist elsewhere.

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bioaccumulation

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This is the process in which substances ( toxic,organic chemicals) accumulate (increase in concentration) moving up a food chain.Eg: Organic mercury in Minamata, Japan

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niche

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an overall role of an organism in a community-taking account of biotic and abiotic factors. Organisms cannot share the same niche. They can be in the same habitat.

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Competition

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when niches overlap and organisms compete for resources

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adaptive radiation

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when species adapt differently to changes in the environment. They become ultra specialized, so have a very specific niche. Become ultra-specialized , so they have a very specific niche. Eg: finches in the Galapagos

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foreign species

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Often out-compete native species. Often they have no natural predators): Eg american bullfrogs, scotch broom.

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climax community

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final habitat. It is the most complex and stable ecosystem

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primary succession

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Primary succession starts from barren/bare rock-no soil

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secondary succession

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starts when a climax community has been devastated (eg volcanic eruptions, forest fires

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detrivore

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(eg: worms): organisms that feed on waste products/materials (feces, dead plants etc). Aka decomposers because they break complex molecules into more simple molecules.

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levels of organizations

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1st Level: organism-how does one particular organism survive in its habitat (behaviour, adaptations, functions etc..)

2nd Level: population-how does a group of same organisms survive in a habitat

3rd Level: community- how different populations interact

4th Level- ecosystems- includes living community and physical environment5th Level- biosphere- total area of Earth where living things are found