Ecosystem Flashcards (Biology)

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Questions and Answers

What is an ecosystem?

All the organisms that live in an area together with the nonliving factors of the environment (correct)

Only the living organisms in an area

Only the nonliving factors of an environment

A system of overlapping food chains

What are biotic factors?

Living parts of an ecosystem

What are abiotic factors?

Nonliving parts of the ecosystem

What is succession?

The natural processes by which one community of organisms slowly replaces another in a certain area Signup and view all the answers

What is primary succession?

The series of changes that occur in an area where no ecosystem previously existed Signup and view all the answers

What is secondary succession?

The series of changes that occur after a disturbance in an existing ecosystem Signup and view all the answers

What are producers?

Organisms that make their own food using energy from the sun Signup and view all the answers

What are consumers?

Organisms that get food by eating other organisms Signup and view all the answers

What are herbivores?

Plant eaters Signup and view all the answers

What are carnivores?

Meat eaters Signup and view all the answers

What are omnivores?

Organisms that eat both producers and consumers Signup and view all the answers

What are scavengers?

Organisms that eat dead things Signup and view all the answers

What are decomposers?

Organisms that feed on the remains or wastes of other organisms Signup and view all the answers

What is a food chain?

Traces the energy as it moves from one organism to the next in an ecosystem Signup and view all the answers

What is a food web?

A system of several overlapping food chains Signup and view all the answers

What is mutualism?

When both organisms benefit from their interaction Signup and view all the answers

What is commensalism?

When one organism benefits from the interaction and the other doesn't benefit or get harmed Signup and view all the answers

What is parasitism?

One organism benefits from the interaction, while the other suffers Signup and view all the answers

What are the properties of life?

Cellular organization, homeostasis, metabolism, responsiveness, reproduction, heredity, growth, and evolution Signup and view all the answers

What is cellular organization?

A cell is the smallest unit capable of all life processes Signup and view all the answers

What is homeostasis?

The maintenance of a stable internal environment in spite of changes in the external environment Signup and view all the answers

What is metabolism?

The sum of all of the chemical reactions carried out in an organism Signup and view all the answers

What is reproduction?

The process by which organisms make one or more of their own kind from one generation to the next Signup and view all the answers

What is heredity?

When an organism reproduces, it passes on its own traits to its offspring Signup and view all the answers

What is growth?

Development that differs from evolution because development refers to change in a single individual during that individual's life Signup and view all the answers

What is evolution?

The process of change by which new species develop from preexisting species over time Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ecosystem Overview

An ecosystem comprises all organisms in a specific area and the abiotic components of their environment.
Includes biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) factors that interact with each other.

Biotic Factors

Refers to the living components of an ecosystem, such as plants and animals.
Plays a significant role in shaping the ecosystem dynamics.

Abiotic Factors

Involves nonliving elements like water, sunlight, and rocks that influence living organisms.
Essential for supporting life and sustaining ecosystems.

Succession

Describes the gradual process of change in community structure, leading to one organism community replacing another.
Two types include primary succession (occurring where no ecosystem exists) and secondary succession (following a disturbance in an existing ecosystem).

Producers

Organisms capable of creating their own food, primarily through photosynthesis.
Examples include plants and algae, which serve as foundational energy sources in ecosystems.

Consumers

Organisms that obtain food by consuming other living beings.
Categories include herbivores (plant eaters), carnivores (meat eaters), and omnivores (eating both plants and animals).

Scavengers and Decomposers

Scavengers consume dead organisms and play a role in nutrient recycling.
Decomposers like bacteria and fungi break down waste and decaying matter, returning nutrients to the soil.

Food Chains and Food Webs

A food chain illustrates the linear flow of energy through a single pathway between organisms.
A food web represents a complex network of overlapping food chains, showcasing multiple feeding relationships in an ecosystem.

Symbiotic Relationships

Mutualism involves interactions where both species benefit.
Commensalism describes a relationship benefiting one organism while the other remains unaffected.
Parasitism entails one organism benefiting at the expense of another.

Properties of Life

Key characteristics include cellular organization, homeostasis, metabolism, responsiveness, reproduction, heredity, growth, and evolution.
Each property contributes to defining what constitutes living organisms.

Cellular Organization

Cells serve as the basic unit of life, necessary for all biological processes.

Homeostasis

The ability of an organism to maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes, critical for survival.

Metabolism

Refers to all biochemical reactions in an organism that convert energy and matter for growth and maintenance.

Reproduction and Heredity

Organisms reproduce to create offspring, with reproduction involving the transfer of genetic traits from parents to their offspring.

Growth and Evolution

Growth pertains to changes occurring in an individual over its lifetime, while evolution represents the long-term change leading to the emergence of new species from ancestral forms.

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Description

Test your knowledge of ecosystems with these flashcards. Each card focuses on key terms such as biotic and abiotic factors, as well as the concept of succession. Perfect for students looking to enhance their biology vocabulary.