planet earth Flashcards
(41 cards)
what is biotic
living things in the environment like plants and animals
what is abiotic
non-living things like air, water and soil
what is symbiosis
interaction between organisms of different species that lasts over time
what are three types of symbiosis?
mutualism, parasitism and commensalism
what is mutualism
symbiotic relationship that benefits both organisms
what is parasitism
symbiotic relationship where one organism is harmed and one benefits
what is commensalism
symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and one neither benefits nor is harmed
what is an ecologist?
scientist who studies interactions between biotic and abiotic parts of the environment
what is ecology?
study of how organisms interact with each other and the environment
what is an ecosystem?
all the interacting parts of a biological community and its environment
what is succession?
the process by which new species gradually replace old species in an ecosystem
DDT and its effect
pesticide used in canada led to near extinction of peregrine falcon because made egg shells thin
bioaccumulation
movement of pollutants through levels of food chain. increasing up the food chain
ecological footprint
a calculation of the total are of land and water needed to supply all of the materials and energy a human uses as well as absorb the waste produced
conservation
reduce, reuse, recycle.
Sustainability
resources of nature are being at renewed at least as quickly as they are used and all waste is completely absorbed
food pyramid
a model of an ecosystem that represents the number of organisms consumed at each level. producers are the base
food web
the network of feeding relationships among organisms
food chain
a sequence of feeding relationships among living organisms, as they pass on food energy
scavengers
an organism that eats dead or decaying plant or animal matter. ex beetle
decomposers
organisms that breakdown cells of dead or waste materials and absorb there nutrients ex bacteria, fungi
pollution
different types of harmful materials that are released into the environment through human activities
food chain roles
producers, consumers, hebivore, omnivore
energy transfer between organisms
natural resources
the materials and products found in nature