Ecosystem Relationships Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is a predator?

An animal that hunts other animals for food (correct)

A relationship where both species benefit

An animal that eats plants only

An organism that produces its own food

What is a consumer?

An organism that eats other organisms.

Define symbiosis.

A close, long-term relationship between two species in which at least one organism benefits.

What is a herbivore?

An animal that eats only plants. Signup and view all the answers

What is prey?

An organism that is hunted, killed, and eaten by another organism. Signup and view all the answers

What is commensalism?

A relationship where one species benefits and the other is unaffected. Signup and view all the answers

Define omnivore.

An animal that eats both plants and animals. Signup and view all the answers

What is mutualism?

A relationship where both species benefit. Signup and view all the answers

Define parasitism.

A relationship where one species benefits while the other is harmed. Signup and view all the answers

What is a food chain?

The path by which energy is passed from one organism to another. Signup and view all the answers

Define producer.

An organism that can make its own food through the process of photosynthesis. Signup and view all the answers

What is an ecosystem?

Living and nonliving things interacting together. Signup and view all the answers

Define community.

All populations living in an area. Signup and view all the answers

What is a population?

All of one species living in an area. Signup and view all the answers

Define individual.

One organism. Signup and view all the answers

What does biotic mean?

Living, dead, and products of living things; contain carbon. Signup and view all the answers

Define abiotic.

Nonliving or processed. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary consumer?

An organism that eats producers. These can be omnivores or herbivores. Signup and view all the answers

Define secondary consumer.

An organism that eats primary consumers or other animals. These can be omnivores or carnivores. Signup and view all the answers

What are tertiary and quaternary consumers?

These are organisms that eat secondary and tertiary consumers respectively. Signup and view all the answers

Define energy pyramid.

A graphical model of the energy flow in an ecosystem showing the efficiency of energy transfer from the bottom level of the pyramid up to the top consumer. Signup and view all the answers

What are oppositional relationships?

A relationship that is negative for both organisms involved. Signup and view all the answers

Define predation.

Where one organism hunts, kills, and eats another organism. Signup and view all the answers

What is competition?

When organisms are competing for the same resources. Signup and view all the answers

Define intraspecies competition.

Organisms competing from within the same species. Signup and view all the answers

What is interspecies competition?

Competition found in two different species. Signup and view all the answers

Define scavengers.

Consumers that eat dead animals. Signup and view all the answers

What are decomposers?

Consumers that eat and/or break down waste products. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ecosystem Relationships

Predator: Hunts other animals for food, playing a crucial role in controlling prey populations.
Consumer: Organisms that rely on other organisms for energy, essential for ecosystem balance.
Symbiosis/Symbiotic Relationships: Involve long-term interactions between two species with at least one benefiting; essential for ecological dynamics.
Herbivore: Animals that exclusively consume plants, forming the primary consumers in food chains.
Prey: Organisms hunted, killed, and consumed by predators; vital for predator survival.
Commensalism: A type of symbiotic relationship where one species benefits and the other remains unaffected, exemplifying ecological interdependence.
Omnivore: Organisms that consume both plants and animals, playing a versatile role in food webs.
Mutualism: Interaction where both species benefit, such as bees pollinating flowers, promoting biodiversity.
Parasitism: Relationship where one species benefits at the expense of the other, often harming the host species.
Food Chain: Illustrates the flow of energy through various organisms; fundamental for understanding ecosystem interactions.
Producer: Organisms like plants that produce their food through photosynthesis, forming the base of food chains.
Ecosystem: Comprises living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) components interacting in a specific environment.
Community: Encompasses all populations of different species living in a shared environment, contributing to ecosystem dynamics.
Population: Refers to all individuals of a single species in a given area, important for studying species distribution and health.
Individual: Defines a single organism, representing the basic unit of ecological studies.
Biotic: Includes all living organisms, dead matters, and organic products within an ecosystem.
Abiotic: Pertains to non-living factors such as climate, soil, water, and minerals that influence ecosystems.
Primary Consumer: Organisms that consume producers; can be herbivores or omnivores, serving as a crucial link in energy transfer.
Secondary Consumer: Organisms that eat primary consumers; may include carnivores and omnivores, impacting population dynamics.
Tertiary and Quaternary Consumers: Higher-level consumers, with tertiary eating secondary consumers and quaternary feeding on tertiary, illustrating complex food webs.
Energy Pyramid: Graphical representation that demonstrates energy transfer efficiency through trophic levels, highlighting energy loss at each stage.
Oppositional Relationships: Negative interactions impacting both organisms involved, even if one appears to "win" due to resource acquisition, as it consumes energy and risks injury.
Predation: A straightforward form of interaction where one organism hunts and consumes another, shaping population dynamics.
Competition: Occurs when organisms vie for the same resources, leading to resource depletion and detrimental effects on both.
Intraspecies Competition: Competition within the same species, often for mates or territory, influencing evolutionary traits and behaviors.
Interspecies Competition: Competition between different species for shared resources, affecting biodiversity and niche differentiation.
Scavengers: Organisms that feed on dead animals, such as vultures, aiding in ecosystem nutrient cycling.
Decomposers: Microorganisms that break down waste and dead organisms, crucial for recycling nutrients and maintaining soil health.

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Description

Test your knowledge of key terms and definitions related to ecosystem relationships with these flashcards. Learn about predators, consumers, symbiosis, and more, to enhance your understanding of ecological dynamics.