Ecology And The Environment Flashcards
(22 cards)
What is a population
All the organisms of one species living in the same area.
What is a community
All the different species living and interacting in the same area.
What is an ecosystem?
A community of organisms and the non-living parts of their environment interacting together.
What is a habitat?
The natural environment where an organism lives.
What is a biotic factor
A living part of the environment, like predators, food sources, or competition.
What is an abiotic factor?
A non-living part of the environment, like temperature, light, or water.
What is a food chain?
A food system showing what eats in an ecosystem
What is a food chain?
A network of interconnected food chains showing feeding relationships.
What is a producer?
An organism (usually a plant) that makes its own food using sunlight.
What is a consumer?
An organism that eats other organisms.
What is a primary consumer?
An organism that eats producers (usually herbivores).
What is a secondary consumer?
An organism that eats primary consumers (usually carnivores).
What is a tertiary consumer?
An organism that eats secondary consumers.
What is a decomposer?
An organism that breaks down dead or decaying matter (e.g. fungi, bacteria).
What are trophic levels?
The different levels in a food chain (e.g., producer, primary consumer, etc.).
Why is energy lost at each trophic level?
Energy is lost through heat, movement, respiration, and undigested waste.
How can you calculate the efficiency of energy transfer?
(energy in next level ÷ energy in previous level) × 100
What is the carbon cycle?
It shows how carbon is recycled between the atmosphere, organisms, and environment.
How does photosynthesis affect the carbon cycle?
Removes carbon dioxide from the air and stores it in plants.
How does respiration affect the carbon cycle?
Releases carbon dioxide back into the air from organisms.
How does combustion affect the carbon cycle?
Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
How does decomposition affect the carbon cycle?
Decomposers break down dead organisms, releasing carbon dioxide.
