4.1 Species, communities and ecosystems

the study of the relationship between living organisms, or between living organisms and their environment

living factors in an ecosystem, such as the plants and animals

non-living factors such as pH, water, wind, soil, etc.

the interaction between biotic components (e.g. communities) and its abiotic environment (e.g. habitat)

the abiotic environment, a location where a species/organism lives

a group of populations living and interacting in a particular area

a group of organisms of the same species that live in a particular area at the same time

a group of organisms that can potentially interbreed and produce fertile offspring

liger (lion + tiger), mule (donkey + horse), zorse (zebra + horse)

how an organism obtains organic molecules and energy

Producers in the food chain, "Auto" means self, "trophic" means nutrition Organisms which synthesize its own organic molecules from simple inorganic substances, derived from the abiotic environment

an autotrophic organism which makes organic compounds using energy from the sun

an autotrophic organism which makes organic compounds using energy from the oxidation of chemicals

Consumers in the food chain, "Hetereo" means different, "trophic" means nutrition Organisms which obtain organic molecules from other organisms instead of producing their own

organisms which uses both autotrophic and heterotrophic modes of nutrition example: euglena gracilis

consumers that feed principally on plant matter example: cows, sheep, rabbits

consumers that feed principally on animal matter example: wolves, tigers

consumers that have feed on both plant and animal matter example: pandas, humans

opportunistic animal, consumer that principally feed on dead and decaying carcasses rather than hunting living pray example: hyenas, vultures, crows

a type of heterotrophic feeding, organism which live in/on inorganic matter and ingests it through external digestion by secreting digestive enzymes and absorbing the products example: bacteria, fungi, mold

dead, particulate organic matter (e.g. decaying organic material and fecal matter)

a specific form of detritus, decaying leaf litter intermixed with the topsoil

a type of heterotrophic feeding, organism which ingests non-living organic matter through internal digestion example: dung beetles, earthworms, snails, crabs, millipede

a type of heterotrophic feeding, organism which ingests organic matter which is living or recently killed

herbivores, feed only on autotrophs (producers)

carnivores, feed on primary consumers

carnivores, feed on secondary consumers

symbiosis means "living together", close interaction between species in which one species lives in or on the other

a symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit example: spider crab and algae

a symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected example: a bird nest in a tree

a symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other is harmed example: mosquito and human

interaction between two organisms in a community where one organism hunts and feeds on the other example: wolf and elk/deer (Yellowstone National Park example)

material required by an organisms, include elements such as carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus

minerals, water, etc. finite supply on Earth

The circulation of chemicals necessary for life, from the environment (mostly from soil and water) through organisms (consumers and producers) and back to the environment.

one of the three main components in a sustainable ecosystem, light from the sun which provides an initial energy source

one of the three main components in a sustainable ecosystem, saprotrophic decomposers cycle inorganic nutrients through the environment

one of the three main components in a sustainable ecosystem, certain bacteria detoxify harmful waste byproducts

enclosed environments that allow a small part of a natural environment to be observed under controlled conditions

populations whose members do not mate with each other or who cannot produce fertile offspring