Ecology Flashcards
(22 cards)
Explain ecosystem
A community of living organisms interacting with one another and their non living environment within a particular area
Explain habitat
Is the place within the ecosystem where an organism lives and to which it is adapted
explain niche
The functional role of an organism in an ecosystem.
What is ecology
Is the study of how living things relate to each other and their environment
What is a biosphere
Part of earth where life exists.
What is a habitat
The place within the ecosystem where an organism lives and to which it is adapted
What is the difference between communities and population.
Communities- population of different species in an area
Population-all members of the same species living in an area.
Name the environmental factors and what they mean
Abiotic- these are non living factors
Biotic- living factors
Climatic- the average weather conditions that affect the community in an ecosystem
Edaphic- these refer to the soil
What is meant by tropic level
Feeding stage in a food chain.
What is meant by grazing
One where the initial plant is living
What is meant by detritus
One where the chain begins with dead organic matter.
What is a food web
Consists of two or more food chains interconnected in an ecostystem.
What is the difference betweeen climate and weather
Climate- weather conditions over a long period of time
Weather- prevailing conditions over a short period of time.
What are producers
Are organisms that can make their own food
What are primary producers
The first members of a food chain.
What are secondary consumers
Feed on primary consumers
Define tertiary consumers
Feed on secondary consumers
What is the pyramid of numbers
Diagram that represents number of organisms at each tropic level in a food chain.
What are the limitations off the pyramid of numbers
Very difficult to draw pyramid to scale
Does not take into consideration the size of the organism.
What is the inverted pyramid of numbers
Very large producer
Parasitic food chains
What is nutrient recycling
The way elements are exchanged between living and non-living parts f the ecosystem
Why is nutrient recycling important
To ensure there is n long term drain on earths nutrients
