ECOSYSTEMS

Question	Answer
Ecology is...	the study of organisms and the environments they live in
Abiotic factors	are the physical and chemical elements in an ecosystem, which affects living organisms.
Biotic factors	are the effects which other organisms have on a living being in its environment.
Biosphere	is the live zone of the Earth. It includes all living organisms and all organic matter
An individual	is any living thing or organism.
Population	Is a group of individuals of a given species that live in a specific geographic area at a given time.
Community	It includes all the populations in a specific area at a given time.
Ecosystem	includes more than a community of living organisms (biotic) interacting with the environment (abiotic).
Biome	It is a set of ecosystems sharing similar characteristics with their abiotic factors adapted to their environments.
Food chain	It is the order in which animals and plants eat each other in order to survive
Tertiary consumers	They feed on primary and secondary consumers. Some of them are omnivores that eat both plants and animals.
Secondary consumers	Usually eat animal material - they are carnivores.
Primary consumers	Usually eat plant material - they are herbivores
Producers	Organisms that make their own food by photosynthesis.
FOOD WEBS	They show how plants and animals are connected in many ways to help them all survive.
Decomposers	They release nutrients, that return to the soil, when they break down dead organisms.
In the cycle of energy	the energy has a unidirectional flow.
In the cycle of matter	Matter has a cyclical flow, it is recycled.
Interspecific relations	are interactions among organisms of different species.
Mutualism	both species benefit from their relationship.
Depredation	A predator is an organism that eats another organism. The prey is the organism which the predator eats.
Parasitism...	is a relationship in which one organism (the parasite) benefits while the other (the host) is harmed.
Commensalism	is a symbiotic relationship between two organisms of different species in which one derives some benefit while the other is unaffected.
Inquilinism	is a specific form of commensalism in which one organism uses another organism for housing.
An adaptation ...	is a special feature or behavior that helps an organism survive in its environment.
Say 3 examples of adapations to humidity in a terrestrial ecosystem	stomata, spines, exoskeleton, substances, scales
Say 3 examples of adapations to light in a terrestrial ecosystem	height, large leaves, nocturnal activity
Say 2 examples of adapations to TEMPERATURE in a terrestrial ecosystem	poikilotherms homeotherms
Say 3 examples of adapations to light in an aquatic ecosystem	pigments, shape, bioluminiscense
Say 3 examples of adapations to water movement in an aquatic ecosystem	fixed to surfaces, shelter, round shape, ways fish swim
Say 3 examples of adapations to pressure in an aquatic ecosystem	flat body shape, swim bladder, hydrodynamic shape
Freshwater ecosystems	• Relatively small in area ~ 1.8% of earth's surface. • Support many species of life including fish, amphibians, insects and plants. • Examples: rivers and lagoons.
Terrestrial Ecosystems	• Many & diverse types of ecosystems. There are seven major types. • Location usually dependent on the latitude of the area, and amount of precipitation • Examples: forest and grassland.
Ocean Ecosystems	• Very large amount of Earth is covered by ocean (~75%) • 40% of all photosynthesis occurs in oceans. • No photosynthesis can occur in deep ocean because light cannot penetrate deeply into water.
Biodiversity	is a word that is used to describe the differences between individuals, species and environments

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	Created by Marian Ruiz about 9 years ago