Prentice Hall Biology

Front 1

Ecology

Back 1

the scientific study of interactions among organisms and b/w organisms and their environments.

Front 2

Biosphere

Back 2

Contains the combined portions of the planet in which all life exists, including land, water and air.

Front 3

Levels from smallest to largest

Back 3

1. species

2. population

3. community

4. ecosystem

5 Biome

6. Biosphere

Front 4

Species

Back 4

a group of organisms so similar to one another that they can breed and produce fertile offspring.

Front 5

Population

Back 5

groups of inidividuals that belong to the same species

Front 6

Community

Back 6

defined populations that live together in a defined area.

Front 7

ecosystem

Back 7

collection of all organisms that live in a particular place together with their nonliving or physical environment.

Front 8

biome

Back 8

group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant communities.

Front 9

3 basic methods used for ecological research

Back 9

1. observation

2. experimenting

3. modeling

Front 10

observing

Back 10

1st step in research, asking questions

Front 11

experimenting

Back 11

used to test hypothesis

Front 12

modeling

Back 12

when phenomena occurs over long period of time, or large spatial scale scientists use models. examples are global warming.

mathematic formulas based on data collected through observation and experimentation.

Front 13

autotrophs

Back 13

use energy from the environment to fuel the assembly of simple inorganic compounds into complex organic molecules

Front 14

producers

Back 14

some capture energy from sunlight others capture chemical energy.

Front 15

photosynthesis

Back 15

energy from the sun

Front 16

chemosynthesis

Back 16

used by some types of bacteria, organisms use chemical energy to produce charohydrates

Front 17

consumers

Back 17

heterotrophs

herbivores

carnivores

omnivores

detritivores

decomposers

Front 18

heterotrophs

Back 18

organisms that rely on other organisms for their energy and food supply.

Front 19

herbivores

Back 19

only eat plants

Front 20

carnivores

Back 20

only eats meat

Front 21

omnivores

Back 21

eats both plants and animals

Front 22

detritivores

Back 22

feed on plant and animal remains and other dead matter.

Front 23

decomposers

Back 23

break down organic matter such as bacteria and fungi

Front 24

food chain

Back 24

energy passed through and ecosystem

algae- zooplanton- small fish - squid - shark

Front 25

food web

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more complex feeding relationship and links all food chains in an ecosystem and has trophic levels

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trophics

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step 1 - producers

step 2 and 3 are consumers.

Front 27

ecological pyramids

Back 27

diagram that show the relative amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level.

energy pyramid

biomass pyramid

pyramid of numbers

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energy pyramid

Back 28

only 10% of the energy available within one trophic level is transferred to organisms at the next trophic level.

Front 29

biomass pyramid

Back 29

total amount of living tissues per trophic level

Front 30

pyramid of numbers

Back 30

number of individual organisms at each trophic level

Front 31

cycles of matter

Back 31

unlike the one way flow of energy, matter is recycled within and between ecosystems.

Front 32

biogeochemical cycles

Back 32

matter passed from one organism to another and one biosphere to another.

Front 33

THE WATER CYCLE

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water moves b/w the ocean, atmosphere and land.

evaporation to condensation to precipation to run off and seepage and transpiration

Front 34

evaporation

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water changes from liquid form to atmospheric gas

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transpiration

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water enters the atmosphere from the evaporation of water from the leaves of plants

Front 36

the Nutrient cycles

Back 36

carbon cycle

nitrogen cycle

phosphorus cycle

Front 37

the carbon cycle

Back 37

carbon is a key ingredient in living tissue

biological processes

geochemical processes

mixed biogeochemical processes

human activities

Front 38

biological processes

Back 38

photosynthesis, respiration and decomposition take up and release carbon and oxygen

Front 39

geochemical processes

Back 39

erosion and volcanic activity release co2

Front 40

mixed biogeochemical

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such as burial and decomposition of dead organisms and conversion under pressure into coal and petroleum

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human activities

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mining, burning forest and fossil fuels release co2

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nitrogen fixation

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plants called legumes convert nitrogen gas into ammonia

Front 43

denitrification

Back 43

soil bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen

Front 44

nutrient limatation

Back 44

when an ecosystem is limited by a single nutrient that is scarce or cycles slowly

Front 45

primary productivity

Back 45

rate at which organic matter is created by producers.