Ecology Flashcards

Front

Ecology

Back

The study of how living organisms interact with each other and their environment.

Front

Niche

Back

The role of a species in its ecosystem, including interactions with abiotic and biotic factors.

Front

Competitive Exclusion Principle

Back

The idea that two species cannot occupy the same niche in the same place for a long period of time.

Front

Biomass

Back

The total mass of organisms at a specific trophic level.

Front

Consumer (or heterotroph)

Back

An organism that consumes other organisms for energy, can be classified as herbivore, carnivore, or omnivore.

Front

Abiotic Factors Examples

Back

Light intensity, temperature range, mineral availability, soil/rock type, and relative acidity (pH).

Front

Biotic Factors

Back

Include other organisms in the environment, affecting growth and survival.

Front

Energy in Ecosystems

Back

Ecosystems need a constant input of energy to maintain their chemical and physical organizations.

Front

Energy enters ecosystems as sunlight or chemical compounds.

Back

Producers (autotrophs) use this energy to produce food for themselves and other organisms.

Front

Chemoautotrophs

Back

Producers that use energy from chemical compounds to make food by chemosynthesis.