Flashcards in biology chapter 14 Deck (74)
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1
ecology
is the study of the interactions between organisms and their environment
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abiotic
physical environment which includes climate, temperature, availability of ight and water and the local topology
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biotic
all living things which directly or indirectly influence the life of the organism including the relationships that exist between organisms
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organism
is the individual unit of an ecological system, but the organism itself is composed of smaller units.
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population
is a group of organisms of the same species living together in a given location
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species
is any group of similar organisms that are capable of reproducing
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community
consists of populations of different plants and animal species interacting with each other in a given environment
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ecosystem
encompasses the interaction between living biotic communities and the non living environment
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biosphere
includes all portions of the planet which support life-- the atmosphere, the lithosphere (rock and soil surface) and the hydrosphere (the oceans)
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water
is the major component of the internal environment of all living things. May be readily available or the organism may possess adaptations for storage and conservation of water
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temperature
must be maintained at an optimal level
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sunlight
is the ultimate source of energy for all organisms
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photic zone
the top layer through which light can penetrate & where all aquatic photosynthetic activity takes place
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aphotic zone
only animal life and other life that does not require photosynthesis exist
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substratum
determines the nature of plant and animal life in the soil. Soil is affected by acidity, texture, minerals, and humus
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texture
determine the water holding capacity of the soil
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loams
contain high percentages of each type of soil
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minerals
affect the type of vegetation that can be supported
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humus quantity
determined by the amount of decaying plant and animal life in the soil
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niche
defines the functional role of an organism in its ecosystem
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habitat
is the physical place where an organism lives
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extinction
one species may be competitively superior to the other and drive the second
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autotrophs
are organisms that manufacture their own food
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heterotrophs
cannot synthesize their own food and must depend upon autotrophs or other heterotrophs in the ecosystem to obtain food and energy
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herbivores
are animals that consume only plants or plant foods
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symbiotic bacteria
capable of digesting cellulose inhabit the digestive tracts of herbivores and allow the breakdown and utilization of cellulose
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carnivores
are animals which only eat other animals. Possess pointed teeth and fang like canine teeth for tearing flesh. They have shorter digestive tracts due to the easier digestibility of animal food
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omnivores
are animals which eat both plants and animals
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integrated system
which are dependent upon one another for survival
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