Ecology Flashcards
(42 cards)
Ecology
How organisms interact with their environment
Biotic
Living things
Population
One species in one place
Community
Many species in one place
Ecosystem
Interaction of the community with the environment
Biosphere
Portion of the earth where life exists
Lithosphere
Earth’s surface
Hydrosphere
Water
Atmosphere
Air
Abiotic
Non-living
Limiting factors
Biotic or abiotic factors in the environment that limit the size of a population
Carrying capacity
The maximum number of organisms of a particular species that an ecosystem can support
Heterotrophs
Organisms that obtain performed food - ingest, digest, absorb, egest
Herbivore
Eats only plants
Carnivore
Eats only animals
Predator
Hunts, attacks and eats prey
Scavenger
Feeds on dead
Omnivore
Eats both plants and meat
Saprophyte
Decomposers that get their nutrition by breaking down dead remains
Autotroph
Organisms that produce their own food
Photosynthetic
Using sunlight to produce organic glucose
Chemosynthetic
Making food using chemicals
Symbiotic relationships
At least one organisms benefits by the relationship
Mutualism
Both benefit