Science 10 Exam Review Chapter 2

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Ecology

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

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Organism

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A single living thing; the first and simplest level of organization that ecologist study

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Habitat

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The region in which an organism lives

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Population

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All of the organisms of the same species that share a habitat; the second level of organization that ecologist study

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Biosphere

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The total area of Earth where living things are found; the narrow zone around Earth that supports life

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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 that ecologist study

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Ecosystem

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Includes the living community as well as the physical environment in which organisms live; the fourth and most complex level of organization that ecologist study

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Biotic Factor

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Any of the living components of an ecosystem; such factors include organisms like bacteria, plants, and animals, as well as the interactions between them

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Abiotic Factor

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Any of the non living components of an ecosystem; a non living environmental factor; such factors include the physical and chemical components in the environment

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Dynamic Equilibrium

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Any system with constant change in which the components can adjust to the changes without disturbing the entire system

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Limiting Factor

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The factor that is the most critical in determining the types of organisms that can exist in an ecosystem, an environmental factor that limits the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population of organisms in an ecosystem

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Nutrients

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The elements and compounds that organisms must have in order to grow and live ; includes water, oxygen, vitamins, and minerals, as well as foods that provide fats, proteins, and carbohydrates

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Producers

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An organism that makes its own food, usually using energy from the sun in a process called photosynthesis, also called autotroph

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Phytoplankton

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Microscopic algae that obtain energy through photosynthesis, they are found at the surface of oceans, seas, and freshwater bodies

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Consumers

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An organism that consumes other organisms or biotic waste in order to survive; also called heterotrophy

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Herbivores

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An organism(consumer) that eats plants(producers); also called a primary consumer

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Zooplankton

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A type of microscopic plankton that can be found in oceans, seas, and fresh water bodies; feed on phytoplankton

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Carnivores

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An organism that eats other animals

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Omnivores

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An organism that eats both plants and animals

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Detrivores

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A decomposer that feeds on the waste material in an ecosystem including the bodies of other dead organisms that have died, plant debris and animal feces

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Decomposers

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A consumer that breaks down the complex molecules found in dead organisms and waste matter into simpler molecules

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Biodegradation

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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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Predation

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An ecological interaction that occurs when a predator captures and comes prey

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Predator

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An organism that lives by preying on other organisms

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Prey

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An animal consumed for food by a predator

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Predator-Prey Cycle

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Describes the predator-prey relationship in terms of the effects on the size of both populations

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Symbiosis

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A specialized form of interaction between two different species; often, each species develops very specialized behaviors, life cycles, or structures; includes mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism

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Mutualism

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A symbiotic interaction in which both species obtain some benefit from the interaction

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Commensalism

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A symbiotic interaction in which one organism benefits while the other is unaffected

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Parasitism

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A symbiotic interaction where one organism( the parasite) benefits at the expense of another organism( host) which is often harmed but usually not killed

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Host

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The organism that is harmed in a symbiotic parasitic relationship; the other organism(parasites) benefits

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Parasite

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The organism that benefits in a symbiotic parasitic relationships; the other organism(host) is harmed

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Trophic Level

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A category of living that describes the position of an organism in relation to the order of nutrient and energy transfers in an ecosystem; the first trophic level contains autotrophs and each high level contains heterotrophs

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Food Chain

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

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Food Web

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A representation of the nutrient energy pathways in an ecosystem showing many cross-linked food chains.

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Ecological pyramid

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A representation of energy flow in food chains and webs; also called a food pyramid.

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Pyramid of energy

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An ecological pyramid that represents how much energy is available to each trophic level; the size of each level represents the amount of energy present in that trophic level.

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Pyramid of numbers

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An ecological pyramid that represents the actual number of organisms present in each trophic level; the shape of pyramid of numbers varies widely depending on the physical size of the producers.

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Pyramid of biomass

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An ecological pyramid that represents a snapshot of the total mass of the living things at each trophic level in a community; for most communities, the pyramid of the biomass has the standard pyramid shape.