vocab
study of the relationship between an organism and its environment
Ecology
sum of the surfaces, atmosphere and hydrosphere of the earth which is occupied by living organisms
Biosphere
gasses surrounding the earth from surface to space
Atmosphere
all the bodies of water on the earth
Hydrosphere
large, naturally occurring ecological levels occupying a major habitat; include aquatic, forest, grassland and wetland
Biomes
unit expressing a ratio of a solute in a solutionu
Parts Per Thousand (ppt)
smaller community where biotic and abiotic elements interact within a biome
Ecosystem
any living organism
Biotic
non-living factors
Abiotic
assemblage of different populations of flora and fauna species in an area
Community
plants found in an area
Flora
animals found in an area
Fauna
group of organisms of the same species occupying a particular space at the same time
Population
individual members of a population
Organism
organisms which produce food or biomass through the process of photosynthesis
Producer
organisms which obtain food and energy through the consumption of other organisms
Consumers
herbivores which consume only plants
Primary Consumers
omnivores which consume plants and animals; carnivores which consume only animals
Secondary Consumers
consume decayed plants and animals
Detritovores
any part of the earth suitable to support a species permanently or temporarily for migratory species
Habitat
describes how organisms match specific environmental conditions and respond to distribution of resources and competitors
Niche
when two species benefit from ecological interaction
Mutualism
when one species benefits while another is unaffected
Commensalism
struggle between two organisms for the same resources, such as food, space or mates
Competition
when one species kills another for food
Predation
exchange or conversion of nutrients from one form to another through biological and chemical processes
Nutrient Cycling
chemical substance required by an organism for growth, reproduction and maintenance
Nutrient
linear representation which shows the flow of energy from one organism to another
Food Chain
process by which ecosystems advance toward a climax community through development of stages over time
Ecological Succession
physical change through time
Temporal Change
development of vegetation in a community to a steady state over a period of time
physical change through time
effort by humans to manage organism and their environments
Ecosystem Management
responsibly using and conserving resources in a way which supports long-term ecological balance
Sustainability