Ecology - Part 1 (Definitions)

Question 1

Ecology

Answer 1

study of the interactions between living organisms and their environment

Question 2

Biosphere

Answer 2

Region of the earth where living organisms are found

Question 3

Ecosystem

Answer 3

Group of living organisms and the environment they share

Question 4

Community

Answer 4

Group of living organisms of different species living in the same environment

Question 5

Population

Answer 5

Number of organisms of a particular species living in an area

Question 6

Habitat

Answer 6

Place where an organism lives (and to which it is adapted)

Question 7

Abiotic factors

Answer 7

Non living factors that affect living organisms in an ecosystem
Examples: Temperature, humidity, Light intensity

Question 8

Biotic factors

Answer 8

Living organisms and how they affect other living organisms in an ecosystem
Examples: Competition, Parasitism, Predation

Question 9

Edaphic factors

Answer 9

soil conditions and how it effects living orgainisms

Question 10

Producer

Answer 10

(Autotroph) organism that makes its own food

Example: Oak tree

Question 11

Consumer

Answer 11

Heterotroph organism that eats other living organisms to obtain food
Example: Badger

Question 12

Detrivore

Answer 12

(Detritus) Organism that eats dead organic matter

Example: Earth worm

Question 13

Decomposer

Answer 13

Organism that breaks down dead matter releasing minerals back into the atmosphere
Examples: Bacteria and fungi

Question 14

Food chain

Answer 14

A list of organisms where each organism consumes the organism before it in the chain
Example: Oak tree —> Aphid —> Ladybird —> Thrush

Question 15

Trophic level

Answer 15

Organisms position in a food chain

Question 16

Pyramid of numbers

Answer 16

A bar chart showing the relative number of organisms at each trophic level of a food chain

Question 17

Competition

Answer 17

Organisms struggle for resources in scarce supply

Question 18

Scramble competition

Answer 18

Competition between organisms of same species

Example: Ladybird and aphids

Question 19

Contest competition

Answer 19

Direct fight between two organisms for a resource that is in short supply
Example: Two Stags fighting

Question 20

Predation

Answer 20

The catching, killing and eating of another organism

Question 21

Predator

Answer 21

Animal that catches and kills another animal for food

Example: Ladybird

Question 22

Prey

Answer 22

Animal killed and eaten by a predator

Example: Aphid

Question 23

Food web

Answer 23

Series of interconnected food chains
Example:
Oak tree —Aphid—Ladybird—Thrush
—Caterpillar—

Question 24

Symbiosis

Answer 24

One organism benefits by living on or in another organism

Question 25

Mutualism

Answer 25

The host benefits

Example: Nitrogen fixing bacteria in legumes

Question 26

Lichen

Answer 26

Mutualistic relationship between an alga and a fungus

Question 27

Parasitism

Answer 27

The host is harmed
Example: Pathogenic bacteria in humans
Ectoparasites - Lives on host
Endoparasites - Lives in host

Question 28

Commensalism

Answer 28

The host is unaffected

Example: Lichen on oak trees

Question 29

Nutrient recycling

Answer 29

The continuous exchange of essential elements between the abiotic and biotic elements of an ecosystem
Example: Decomposers

Question 30

Nitrification

Answer 30

Changing of ammonia —-> Nitrate

Question 31

Nitrogen fixation

Answer 31

Changing of non-reactive nitrogen into nitrate or ammonia

Question 32

Denitrification

Answer 32

Changing of ammonia or nitrate back into nitrogen

Question 33

Pollutant

Answer 33

A substance produced by humans which is harmful to the environment

Question 34

Eutrophication

Answer 34

Addition of nutrients to an ecosystem - usually water

Example: Slurry

Question 35

Conservation

Answer 35

Wise management of our existing natural resources