Biology Definitions Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is an ecosystem?

A community of living organisms and their environment (correct)

Only the living organisms

Only the nonliving components of the environment

None of the above

What are producers?

Organisms that make their own food, also known as autotrophs.

What is a herbivore?

An animal that feeds on plants.

What is a carnivore?

An organism that primarily eats meat. Signup and view all the answers

What is an omnivore?

An animal that eats both plants and animals. Signup and view all the answers

What is a food web?

A system of interlocking and interdependent food chains. Signup and view all the answers

What is a food chain?

A series of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food. Signup and view all the answers

What is a tropic level?

Each of several hierarchical levels in an ecosystem. Signup and view all the answers

What is energy in biological terms?

The strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity. Signup and view all the answers

What is abiotic?

Physical rather than biological; not derived from living organisms. Signup and view all the answers

What is biotic?

Relating to or resulting from living organisms. Signup and view all the answers

What is biomagnification?

The concentration of a substance in an organism exceeds the background concentration in its diet. Signup and view all the answers

What is a consumer?

A person or organism that purchases or consumes goods and services. Signup and view all the answers

What is a population?

All the inhabitants of a particular place. Signup and view all the answers

What is a community?

A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. Signup and view all the answers

What is a decomposer?

Organisms that break down dead or decaying organisms. Signup and view all the answers

What is a species?

A group of living organisms capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding. Signup and view all the answers

What is photosynthesis?

The process by which green plants use sunlight to synthesize nutrients from carbon dioxide and water. Signup and view all the answers

What is cellular respiration?

The process of converting biochemical energy from nutrients into ATP. Signup and view all the answers

What is an autotroph?

An organism that can form nutritional organic substances from inorganic substances. Signup and view all the answers

What is a heterotroph?

An organism deriving its nutritional requirements from complex organic substances. Signup and view all the answers

What is transect sampling?

A sampling method measuring the distribution of organisms along a line. Signup and view all the answers

What is quadrat sampling?

A method for studying biodiversity using squares of a set size. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ecosystem and Components

Ecosystem refers to the interaction between living organisms and nonliving elements like air, water, and soil.
These elements function together as a system, affecting each other’s survival and well-being.

Producers

Producers, or autotrophs, create their food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.
Plants are the most common examples of producers.

Consumers

Herbivores exclusively consume plant matter.
Carnivores, also known as meat-eaters, derive energy from consuming animal tissue through predation or scavenging.
Omnivores have a varied diet, consuming both plants and animals, and may hunt or scavenge for food.

Food Systems

Food chains represent a linear sequence of organisms, each serving as a food source for the next.
A food web is a complex interlinking of multiple food chains demonstrating the interconnectedness of species in an ecosystem.

Trophic Levels and Energy

Trophic levels categorize the role of organisms in an ecosystem's food chain based on their source of energy.
Energy is critical for physical and mental activities, emanating from the food consumed.

Biotic and Abiotic Factors

Biotic factors are related to living organisms, affecting ecological interactions.
Abiotic factors are nonliving components, impacting habitat and ecosystem structure.

Biomagnification

Biomagnification occurs when the concentration of toxic substances in organisms increases up the food chain, often impacting top predators.

Population and Community

Population refers to all the organisms of a specific species in a given area.
Community encompasses various populations living and interacting in a shared environment.

Decomposers

Decomposers break down dead matter, facilitating nutrient cycling and energy flow in ecosystems.
They are heterotrophic, obtaining nutrients from organic substrates.

Species and Taxonomy

A species is a group of similar organisms capable of interbreeding, classified within a taxonomic hierarchy.
The formal name of a species follows the binomial nomenclature (e.g., Homo sapiens).

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

Photosynthesis enables plants to convert sunlight into chemical energy, producing oxygen as a byproduct.
Cellular respiration is the process where organisms convert nutrients into ATP, releasing waste.

Autotrophs and Heterotrophs

Autotrophs synthesize organic substances from inorganic materials.
Heterotrophs, in contrast, derive nutrition from complex organic substances.

Sampling Methods in Ecology

Transect sampling employs a line to guide the measurement of organism distribution along a straight path.
Quadrat sampling involves placing defined areas to study biodiversity, recording species within each square for analysis.

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Description

Test your knowledge of key biology terms with these flashcards. Each card defines essential concepts such as ecosystems and producers, helping you understand the interactions within biological systems. Perfect for students and biology enthusiasts alike!