Biology Chapter 2: Principles of Ecology (2.1-2.2) – Flashcards

Unlock all answers in this set

Unlock answers
question
species
answer
group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring in nature
question
ecology
answer
scientific study of all the interrelationships between organisms and their environment
question
biosphere
answer
relatively thin layer of Earth and its atmosphere that supports life
question
biotic factor
answer
any living factor in an organism's environment
question
abiotic factor
answer
any nonliving factor in an organism's environment
question
population
answer
group of organisms of the same species that occupy the same geographic place at the same time
question
biological community
answer
all the interacting populations of different species that live in the same geographic location at the same time
question
ecosystem
answer
biological community and all the nonliving factors that affect it
question
biome
answer
large group of ecosystems that share the same climate and have similar types of communities
question
habitat
answer
physical area in which an organism lives
question
niche
answer
role, or position, of an organism in its environment
question
predation
answer
act of one organism feeding on another organism
question
symbiosis
answer
close mutualistic, parasitic, or commensal association between two or more species that live together
question
mutualism
answer
symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit
question
commensalism
answer
symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other organism is neither helped nor harmed
question
parasitism
answer
symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits at the expense of another organism
question
energy
answer
the ability to cause change; cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred
question
autotroph
answer
organism that captures energy from sunlight or inorganic substances to produce its own food; provides the foundation of the food supply for other organisms; also called a producer
question
heterotroph
answer
organism that cannot make its own food and gets nutrients and energy requirements by feeding on other organisms; also called a consumer
question
herbivore
answer
heterotroph that eats only plants
question
carnivore
answer
heterotroph that preys on other heterotroph
question
omnivore
answer
heterotroph that consumes both plants and animals
question
detritivore
answer
heterotroph that decomposes organic material and returns the nutrients to soil, air, and water, making the nutrients available to other organisms
question
trophic level
answer
each step in a food chain or food web
question
food chain
answer
simplified model that shows a single path for energy flow through an ecosystem
question
food web
answer
model that shows many interconnected food chains and pathways in which energy and matter flow through an ecosystem
question
biomass
answer
total mass of living matter at each trophic level
Get an explanation on any task
Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
New