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40 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Ecology |
Ecology is the study of organisms and their interactions with each other and the environment. |
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Organism |
An animal, plant or single celled life form. |
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Environment |
All living and non-living things that exist on Earth. |
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Environmental Stewardship |
A way of acting that involves taking personal responsibility for the management and care of something. |
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Sustainability |
The ability of populations of organisms to continue to live, interact and to reproduce indefinitely in an environment. |
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Biodiversity |
A number of different types of organisms in an area. |
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Biotic Factor |
Living factor Ex: Trees, frogs and insects |
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Abiotic factor |
Non-living factor Ex: sunlight, rocks and soil |
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Ecological system: individual |
A member of a species. |
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Ecological system: Population |
Members of the same species that live in the same area. |
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Ecological system: community |
Populations of different species that live and interact in the same area. |
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Ecological system: Ecosystem |
Self-regulating system in which living things interact with each other and with non-living things. |
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Ecological system: Biome |
A large geographical region that contains similar ecosystems |
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Ecological system: Biosphere |
Part of the planet where life exists. |
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What makes a successful ecosystem? |
It relies on interactions between organisms and the environment. |
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How do ecosystems survive? |
Organisms survive by consuming biotic and abiotic factors -water (abiotic) -food (nutrients) (biotic) -light (abiotic) -oxygen (abiotic) |
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Producers |
Use sunlight to make their own food via photosynthesis. Ex: Plants, algae |
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Consumers |
Must eat other organisms for nutrients. Ex: Deers, wolves, lions |
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Herbivores |
Consume only producers (plants) Ex: Deers, vegans |
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Carnivores |
Consume only other consumers (meat) Ex: Lions |
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Omnivores |
Consume both producers and consumers (plants and animals) Ex: Bears, humans |
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Predators |
Organisms which hunt for their live food (their prey). Ex: Hawks |
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Scavengers |
Consume the remains of dead animals. Ex: Vultures, raccoons |
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Parasites |
An organism that lives on/in another organism (the host) and steals nutrients. Ex: Ticks, hookworms |
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Detrivores |
Consumers that feed on organic matter (remains of dead animals and animal waste-aka poop) Ex: Maggots, earthworms |
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Decomposers |
Special group of consumers that do not consume matter DIRECTLY. Instead they release a chemical into the soil which breaks down the matter and absorbs the nutrients, and release it back into the soil. Important because they complete a full cycle. Ex: Fungi, bacteria |
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Mutualism |
Both species benefit from the partnership +/+ Ex: Flowers and bees |
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Commensalism |
One species benefits, but the other is neutral - there is no harm and benefit to them +/0 Ex: golden jackets and tigers |
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Parasitism |
One species benefits, the other is harmed +/- Ex; Lice and humans |
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Species |
Group of similar organisms that can reproduce with each other and that offspring can also reproduce |
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Habitat |
- area where organisms live - the physical environment of an organisms |
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Niche |
All interactions of a given species with its ecosystems. |
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Competition |
Interaction between two or more organisms competing for the same resources in a given habitat. |
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Mimicry |
Copying the appearance of another species to avoid predators ; for example, the victory butterfly looks very much like the foul tasting miracle butterfly. |
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Symbiosis |
Close interaction between two different species in which members or one species live in, on, or near members of another species. +/+ +/0 +/- |
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Biosphere |
The part of the planet where life exists (includes water, land and air). It is composed of the atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere. Very thin relative to the whole earth |
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Biosphere |
The part of the planet where life exists (includes water, land and air). It is composed of the atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere. Very thin relative to the whole earth. |
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Atmosphere |
The layer of gasses that surround the earth. Water vapour and carbon dioxide absorbs sunlight and retain the sun’s heat. Includes many other layers. |
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Lithosphere |
The earth solid, rigid, outer layer that includes the crust, upper mantle, and the soil. |
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Hydrosphere |
All the water on Earth, including water on the surface, underground, and in the air. |