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Questions and Answers
What is the study of the relationship between an organism and its environment called?
What is the term for the sum of the surfaces, atmosphere, and hydrosphere of the Earth occupied by living organisms?
Biosphere
What do we call the gasses surrounding the Earth from the surface to space?
Atmosphere
What term refers to all the bodies of water on Earth?
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What are large, naturally occurring ecological levels occupying major habitats called?
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What does 'parts per thousand' (ppt) refer to?
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What is defined as a smaller community where biotic and abiotic elements interact within a biome?
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What do we call any living organism?
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What term refers to non-living factors in an ecosystem?
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What is an assemblage of different populations of flora and fauna species in a specific area called?
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What term describes the plants found in a particular area?
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What is the term for the animals found in a specific area?
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What do we call a group of organisms of the same species occupying a particular space at the same time?
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What is defined as individual members of a population?
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What term refers to organisms that produce food or biomass through the process of photosynthesis?
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What do we call organisms that obtain food and energy through the consumption of other organisms?
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What term describes herbivores that only consume plants?
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What do we call omnivores that consume both plants and animals, as well as carnivores that consume only animals?
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What term refers to organisms that consume decayed plants and animals?
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What do we call any part of the Earth suitable to support a species permanently or temporarily?
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What term describes how organisms match specific needs for their environment?
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What is the ecological interaction called when two species benefit from their relationship?
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What term refers to when one species benefits while another is unaffected?
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What do we call the struggle between two organisms for the same resources?
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What is the term for when one species kills another for food?
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What term describes the exchange or conversion of nutrients from one form to another?
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What is defined as a chemical substance required by an organism for growth and reproduction?
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What is the linear representation that shows the flow of energy from one organism to another called?
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What do we call the process by which ecosystems advance toward a climax community?
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What term refers to physical change through time?
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What is the term for the development of vegetation in a community to a steady stage over time?
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What is defined as the effort by humans to manage organisms and their environments?
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What term refers to using and conserving resources in a way that supports long-term ecological balance?
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Study Notes
Ecology and Its Components
- Ecology: Focuses on the interactions between organisms and their environments.
- Biosphere: The global sum of all ecosystems, encompassing land surfaces, the atmosphere, and bodies of water.
- Atmosphere: The layer of gases enveloping Earth, extending from the surface into space.
- Hydrosphere: Encompasses all water bodies, including oceans, lakes, rivers, and ground water.
Ecosystems and Biomes
- Biomes: Major ecological areas characterized by specific climate conditions and life forms, including aquatic, forest, grassland, and wetland environments.
- Ecosystem: A smaller, localized community within a biome where biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components interact.
Living and Non-Living Factors
- Biotic Factors: Living organisms such as plants (flora) and animals (fauna) within an ecosystem.
- Abiotic Factors: Non-living components affecting ecosystems, including temperature, water, and soil nutrients.
Population Dynamics
- Community: A collection of different species populations inhabiting a shared area.
- Population: A group of individuals of the same species living in a defined space.
- Organism: An individual entity capable of living and reproducing as part of its population.
Trophic Levels and Energy Flow
- Producers: Organisms, primarily plants, that create food through photosynthesis, forming the base of food chains.
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Consumers: Organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms, categorized into:
- Primary Consumers: Herbivores that feed solely on plants.
- Secondary Consumers: Omnivores and carnivores that eat both plants and animals.
- Detritivores: Organisms that feed on decaying organic matter.
Ecological Interactions
- Habitat: The natural environment that supports a species either permanently or temporarily.
- Niche: The role or function of an organism within its habitat, including its interactions and behaviors.
- Mutualism: A type of symbiosis where both species benefit from the relationship.
- Commensalism: A relationship in which one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.
- Competition: When organisms vie for limited resources such as food, space, or mates.
- Predation: The act of one species hunting and killing another for sustenance.
Nutrient Cycling and Ecosystem Changes
- Nutrient Cycling: The movement and transformation of nutrients within ecosystems, crucial for sustaining life.
- Nutrient: Essential chemical substances necessary for growth, reproduction, and survival.
- Food Chain: A linear model illustrating the transfer of energy between organisms.
- Ecological Succession: A gradual change in ecosystem composition leading to a stable climax community over time.
- Climax Community: A stable ecological community that has reached a predictable state following succession.
Environmental Management and Sustainability
- Ecosystem Management: Human efforts to oversee and balance organism interactions with their environments.
- Sustainability: The responsible use and conservation of resources to maintain ecological equilibrium long-term.
Studying That Suits You
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Description
Test your understanding of key ecological terms with this set of vocabulary flashcards. Each card presents an important concept related to ecology, including definitions and significance. Perfect for students looking to enhance their knowledge in environmental science.
