Unit A Flashcards
(53 cards)
Definition of Dynamic Equilibrium?
Describes any system with constant change in which the components can adjust to the changes without disturbing the entire system
Definition of Biosphere?
The narrow zone around Earth that harbours life
Definition of Biotic Components?
The biological or living components of the Biosphere
Definition of Abiotic Components?
The non-living components of the biopshere. They include chemical and physical factors
Definition of Population?
A group of individuals of the same species occupying a given area at a certain time
Definition of Community?
The populations of all species that occupy a habitat
Definition of Ecosystem?
A community and its physical and chemical enviroment
Definition of Biodiversity?
The number of species in an ecosystem
Definition of Food Chain?
A sequence linking organisms that feed on each other, starting with a food source and continuing in order with each consumer
Definition of Producer
An Autotroph; an organism that makes its own food
Definition of Consumer?
A Heterotroph; an organism that must eat producers or other consumers to survive
Definition of Indicator Species?
A species sensitive to small changes in enviromental conditions
Definition of Herbivore?
An animal that eats only plants
Definiton of Carnivore?
An animal that feeds only on other animals
Definition of Omnivore?
An animal that eats both plants and other animals
Definition of Detritus?
Waste from plants and animals, inluding their dead remains
Definition of Decomposer?
An organism that feeds on detritus
Definition of Habitat?
A place or type of environment with conditions suitable for the survival of an organism or population of organisms
Definition of Ultraviolet Radiation?
Electromagnetic radiation from the Sun that can cause burning of the skin and other cellular mutations
Definition of Ozone?
An inorganic molecule. A layer of ozone found in the stratosphere helps to screen out UV Radiation
Definition of Trophic Level?
A category of living things defined by how it gains its energy; the first trophic level contains Autotrophs, and each higher levep contains Heterotrophs
Definition of Autotroph
An organism that uses the Sun’s energy and raw materials to make its own food; A producer
Definition of Primary Consumer?
In a food chain or food web, an organism that relies directly on autotrophs for its sourced of energy; organisms at the second trophic level
Definition of Secondary Consumer?
in a food
chain or food web, an organism that
relies on primary consumers for its
principal source of energy;
organisms at the third trophic level
