Ecology Key Terms

all the interacting parts of a biological community and its environment

an ecosystem that is capable of withstanding pressure and giving support to a variety of organisms

Living things in an ecosystem

Abiotic factors are the non-living parts of an organism's habitat.

the solid, outer layer of the earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle

all the waters on the earth's surface, such as lakes and seas, and sometimes including water over the earth's surface, such as clouds.

the envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet.

Consists of all life on Earth and all parts of the Earth in which life exists, including land, water, and the atmosphere.

a substance that provides nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life.

An ecosystem that is located in bodies of water.

An ecosystem that is found on land

A process by which nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, become highly concentrated in a body of water, leading to increased growth of organisms such as algae or cyanobacteria.

process by which plants and some other organisms use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and high-energy carbohydrates such as sugars and starches

Each step in a food chain or food web

the build up of a substance (usually a toxin) as it passes through a food chain

Process that releases energy by breaking down glucose and other food molecules in the presence of oxygen

Process by which cells release energy in the absence of oxygen

Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and ozone in the atmosphere which are involved in the greenhouse effect.

warming that results when solar radiation is trapped by the atmosphere

precipitation, such as rain, sleet, or snow, that contains a high concentration of acids, often because of the pollution of the atmosphere

The process of moving matter or nutrients through the biotic and Abiotic environment. Essential elements like Hydrogen. Oxygen, Nitrogen, and carbon is consumed, rearranged, stored, and used.

The law of conservation of mass

Carbon reservoirs

Releases more carbon than it absorbs like Volcanic activity, Fires, Decomposition, and Cellular respiration.

Absorb more co2 than they give off - Forests, Oceans fossil fuels and Carbonate rocks like limestone.

Bacteria convert nitrogengas into nitrogen containing compounds that can be used.

Producer (1st trophic level)

Primary consumer (2nd trophic level)

Secondary Consumer (3rd trophic level)

Tertiary Consumer (4th trophic level)

Consumers that feecd on Detritus (the remains of dead organisims and animal wastes)

Detrivores

Carnivores that eat the remains of dead animals

Scavengers

Special consumers that break down organic matter ad release nutrients into the soil.

Decomposers

When individuals are trying to get enough of the same reasource

One individual feeds on another

2 individuals benefiting each other

One individual benefits the other is not harmed but not benifited

One individual lives on in a host organism & feeds on them

l limiting factors such as temperature, wind, climate, sunlight, rainfall, soil composition, natural disasters, and pollution.

limiting factors are those things in an ecosystem that restrict the size, growth, and/or distribution of a population. limiting factors such as things like food, availability of mates, disease, and predators.