Ecology Definitions Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the study of all the interrelationships between organisms and their environment called?

Biome

Ecology (correct)

Ecosystem

Biosphere

What term refers to the parts of the Earth that can support life?

Biosphere

Define a biotic factor.

Any living thing in an organism's environment.

Define an abiotic factor.

Any non-living thing in an organism's environment. Signup and view all the answers

What is a population?

A group of the same species that live in the same area at the same time. Signup and view all the answers

What is a community in ecology?

A group of interacting populations living in the same area at the same time. Signup and view all the answers

Define an ecosystem.

A community and all the nonliving factors that affect it. Signup and view all the answers

What is a biome?

A large group of ecosystems that share the same climate. Signup and view all the answers

What is a habitat?

The physical area or place where an organism lives. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term niche refer to?

The role or job an organism has within its environment. Signup and view all the answers

What is competition in ecological terms?

The condition where more than one organism uses the same resource at the same time. Signup and view all the answers

Define predation.

The act of one organism feeding upon another. Signup and view all the answers

What is a predator?

An organism that hunts other organisms. Signup and view all the answers

What does prey refer to?

An organism that is food for another. Signup and view all the answers

Define symbiosis.

A relationship in which two different organisms live in close association with each other. Signup and view all the answers

What is mutualism?

A symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit. Signup and view all the answers

Define commensalism.

A symbiotic relationship in which one member benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed. Signup and view all the answers

What is parasitism?

A relationship between two organisms of different species where one benefits and the other is harmed. Signup and view all the answers

What is an autotroph?

An organism that takes energy from the sun or inorganic substances to produce food. Signup and view all the answers

Define heterotroph.

An organism that cannot make its own food and must feed off of other organisms. Signup and view all the answers

What is a detritivore?

An organism that feeds on dead material that is not very broken down. Signup and view all the answers

What is a decomposer?

An organism that breaks down dead material into nutrients that get returned to the environment. Signup and view all the answers

What does trophic level refer to?

Each step in a food chain or web. Signup and view all the answers

Define food chain.

A model that shows a single path for energy flow through an ecosystem. Signup and view all the answers

What is a food web?

Many interconnected food chains within an ecosystem. Signup and view all the answers

What is a host in ecological terms?

The organism on which or within a parasite lives. Signup and view all the answers

Define environment.

All of the surrounding things, conditions, and influences affecting the growth or development of living things. Signup and view all the answers

What does biomass refer to?

The amount of organisms at each trophic level. Signup and view all the answers

What is a producer?

Another name for autotroph, something that makes its own food. Signup and view all the answers

Define consumer.

Another name for heterotroph, something that must feed off of other organisms. Signup and view all the answers

What is a carnivore?

A consumer that eats only animals. Signup and view all the answers

Define herbivore.

A consumer that eats only plants. Signup and view all the answers

What is an omnivore?

A consumer that eats both plants and animals. Signup and view all the answers

Define eutrophication.

A process by which nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, become highly concentrated in a body of water, leading to increased growth of organisms such as algae or cyanobacteria. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ecology Concepts

Ecology: The study of interrelationships between organisms and their environment.
Biosphere: Regions of Earth capable of supporting life.
Biotic Factors: Living elements within an organism's environment.
Abiotic Factors: Non-living components affecting organisms in their environment.

Populations and Communities

Population: A group of individuals of the same species residing in a specific area simultaneously.
Community: An assemblage of interacting populations within a shared environment.

Ecosystems and Biomes

Ecosystem: A community combined with all nonliving factors influencing it.
Biome: A broad category consisting of multiple ecosystems that share similar climate characteristics.

Organismal Roles and Relationships

Habitat: The specific area where an organism lives.
Niche: The unique role or function an organism fulfills within its habitat.

Ecological Interactions

Competition: Occurs when multiple organisms vie for the same resource.
Predation: The process by which one organism consumes another.
Predator: An organism that actively hunts other organisms for food.
Prey: The organism that is hunted and consumed by a predator.

Symbiotic Relationships

Symbiosis: Close relationships between different organisms.
Mutualism: A symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit.
Commensalism: A type of symbiosis benefiting one organism while leaving the other unaffected.
Parasitism: A relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another.

Energy Sources and Consumer Types

Autotroph: Organisms that generate food energy from sunlight or inorganic sources.
Heterotroph: Organisms that cannot produce their food and rely on others for energy.
Detritivore: Organisms that consume decomposing organic matter.
Decomposer: Organisms that break down dead material into nutrients for the environment.

Food Dynamics

Trophic Level: Each rank in a food chain or web reflecting energy transfer.
Food Chain: A linear representation of energy flow within an ecosystem.
Food Web: A complex network of interconnected food chains representing ecosystem energy flow.

Other Essential Terms

Host: The organism that a parasite inhabits or feeds on.
Environment: All surrounding conditions affecting the growth and development of living organisms.
Biomass: The total mass of organisms at specific trophic levels.
Producer: Another term for autotroph, referring to organisms that create their own food.
Consumer: Another term for heterotroph, indicating organisms dependent on others for food.
Carnivore: Consumers that exclusively eat animal matter.
Herbivore: Consumers exclusively feeding on plant matter.
Omnivore: Consumers that intake both plant and animal sources.
Eutrophication: An increase in nutrient concentration, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, in aquatic environments, leading to excessive plant growth, like algae.

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Description

Test your knowledge of key terms in ecology with these flashcards. Each card features a crucial definition that explains the relationship between organisms and their environments. Perfect for students and enthusiasts alike!