Ecology and Classification Flashcards

Ecology

• Study of interactions among organisms and their environment.

Species

• Group of organisms that share similarities and can breed.

Population

• Individuals of the same species living in a specific area.

Communities

• Different species of organisms living together in a shared area.

Ecosystem

• Combination of organisms and their physical environment in a specific location.

Niche

• Unique role an organism plays within its ecosystem.

Symbiosis

• Various relationships between organisms beyond neutral interactions.
  • Commensalism: One species benefits, the other is unaffected.
  • Mutualism: Both species benefit from the interaction.
  • Parasitism: One species benefits at the expense of the other.
  • Predation: One species kills another for food.

Coevolution

• Long-term evolutionary changes in species due to interactions with others.

Sunlight

• Primary energy source for life, facilitating the conversion of simple compounds by producers (autotrophs) into complex organic molecules, which is then passed to consumers (heterotrophs).

Energy Pyramid

• Visual representation of energy transfer between trophic levels, with only 10% of energy moving to the next level.

Biomass Pyramid

• Illustrates total amount of living tissue available at each trophic level in an ecosystem.

Producers

• Autotrophic organisms that generate their own food through processes like photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.

Consumers

• Heterotrophic organisms that depend on producers or other consumers for food and energy.

Decomposers

• Organisms that break down organic matter, recycling nutrients in the ecosystem.

Herbivores

• Animals that exclusively consume plant material.

Carnivores

• Animals that primarily eat meat.

Detritivores

• Organisms that feed on decomposing plants and animals.

Food Chain

• Sequential feeding relationships where energy transfers through consumption.

Food Web

• Complex network of food chains illustrating interactions in an ecosystem; each step represents a trophic level.

Classification

• Process of grouping organisms based on shared characteristics.

Taxonomy

• Science dedicated to classifying living organisms.

Binomial Nomenclature

• Two-part naming system for species, comprised of:
  • Genus (first word, capitalized)
  • Species (second word, lowercase)
  • Both words italicized or underlined.

Taxa or Taxon

• Categories for grouping related organisms.

Levels of Classification

• Hierarchical system of grouping organisms:
  • Kingdom
  • Phylum
  • Class
  • Order
  • Family
  • Genus
  • Species

Kingdom System

• Major classifications include:
  • Monera
  • Protista
  • Fungi
  • Plantae
  • Animalia