Biology Ecology Review Flashcards

Ecology Overview

• Ecology is the scientific study of interactions among organisms and their physical environment.

Levels of Organization

• Organization levels range from smallest (organism) to largest (biosphere) including:
  • Organism
  • Population
  • Community
  • Ecosystem
  • Biome
  • Biosphere

Population

• A population consists of individuals of the same species living in a specific area.

Community

• A community is made up of different populations occupying the same area.

Ecosystem

• An ecosystem comprises a community of organisms interacting with their environment.

Biome

• A biome is defined by a group of ecosystems sharing similar climates and organisms.

Biosphere

• The biosphere encompasses the entire planet along with all its organisms and environments.

Food Chains and Food Webs

• A food chain details steps where energy transfers through eating and being eaten.
• A food web connects all food chains in an ecosystem, showing energy interactions among animals.

Primary Producers

• Primary producers are the first energy-rich compound producers; known as autotrophs.
• Land primary producers are primarily plants.
• Aquatic primary producers are mainly algae.

Consumers

• Consumers are organisms that rely on others for energy and nutrients; known as heterotrophs.
• Types include:
  • Carnivores: kill and eat other animals.
  • Scavengers: consume carcasses of dead animals.
  • Herbivores: feed on plants.
  • Omnivores: eat both plants and animals.
  • Decomposers: break down organic matter (e.g., bacteria, fungi).
  • Detritivores: consume decomposers in detritus.

Decomposers

• Decomposers are critical for nutrient recycling, breaking down dead matter into usable nutrients for ecosystems.

Energy Transfer

• Energy transfer between trophic levels in a food chain is approximately 10%.

Greenhouse Effect

• The greenhouse effect involves gases like carbon dioxide and methane trapping sunlight energy as heat in the atmosphere.

Abiotic and Biotic Factors

• Abiotic factors are nonliving environmental components (e.g., sunlight, soil type).
• Biotic factors include all living things in an ecosystem (e.g., animals, plants).

Predator/Prey Relationships

• Predation occurs when one organism (predator) captures another (prey).
• An increase in predator populations leads to diminished prey availability.
• A decrease in predator populations results in a surplus of prey.

Symbiosis

• Symbiosis refers to a close relationship between two species, which can include mutualism, commensalism, or parasitism.

Test your knowledge of ecology with these flashcards covering key definitions and levels of organization. Perfect for students looking to review essential concepts in biology. Challenge yourself to remember important terms and their meanings related to ecological interactions.