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Unit 1 Ecology
Ecology - energy transfer via food webs/chains and biochemical cycles
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Ecology | scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment |
| food web | network of complex interactions formed by the feeding relationships among the various organisms in an ecosystem |
| food chain | a series of organisms in an ecosystem steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten |
| producer | organism that is able to capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from inorganic compounds; also called an autotroph |
| consumer | organism that relies on other organisms for its energy and food supply; also called a heterotroph |
| decomposer | feed by "chemically" breaking down organic matter |
| primary producer | first producer of energy-rich compounds that are later used by other organisms |
| secondary producer | a herbivore, an animal that eats plant matter and, in turn, is food for a predator. |
| tertiary consumer | a carnivore at the topmost level in a food chain that feeds on other carnivores - 3rd trophic level on the Energy Pyramid - organisms will receive 0.1 (1/10th) of the energy from the original amount of energy taken in |
| quandary consumer | 4th trophic level on the Energy Pyramid - organisms will receive 0.01 (1/100th) of the energy from the original amount of energy taken in |
| trophic levels | each step in a food chain or food web |
| carbon cycle | nature's way of reusing carbon atoms, which travel from the atmosphere into organisms in the Earth and then back into the atmosphere over and over again - the 4 steps are: Photosynthesis, Decomposition, Respiration and Combustion |
| water cycle | the continuous movement of water within the Earth and atmosphere. It includes many different processes. Liquid water evaporates into water vapor, condenses to form clouds, precipitates back to earth in the form of rain and snow, and collects as runoff. |
| biogeochemical cycle | process in which elements, chemical compounds, and other forms of matter are passed from one organism to another and from one |
| autotroph | organism that is able to capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from inorganic compounds; also cal led a producer |
| heterotroph | organism that obtains food by consuming other living things; also cal led a consumer |
| energy pyramid | illustration of the relative amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a food chain or food web |
| herbivore | obtain energy and nutrients by eating plant leaves, roots, seeds or fruits |
| carnivore | kill and eat other animals |
| omnivore | animals that eat both plants and other animals |
| detritus | small pieces of dead or decaying plant or animal remain |
| detritivores | chew or grind detritus particles into smaller pieces |
| biochemical | the study of substances and processes occurring in living things |
| emigration | movement of individuals out of a population |
| immigration | movement of individuals into a population |
| limiting factors | An environmental factor that prevents a population from increasing |
| carrying capacity | Largest number of individuals of a population that a environment can support |
| aquatic | A term that describes an organism associated with a water environment. |
| salinity | A measure of the amount of dissolved salts in a given amount of liquid |
| climate change | a change in global or regional climate patterns |
| seasonal patterns | characterized by repeatable periods of ups and downs over short periods of time |
| biodiversity | the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. |
| non-native | A species that is not naturally found in an area. These organisms come from a different country or part of the world. |
| desalination | A process of removing salt from ocean water |
| renewable resource | A natural resource that can be replaced at the same rate at which the resource is consumed |
| non-renewable resource | a resource of economic value that cannot be readily replaced by natural means on a level equal to its consumption |
| fossil fuels | Coal, oil, natural gas, and other fuels that are ancient remains of plants and animals. |
| sustainability | meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs |
| ecological footprint | the impact of a person or community on the environment, expressed as the amount of land required to sustain their use of natural resources |
| primary succession | succession that occurs in an area in which no trace of a previous community is present |
| secondary succession | Succession following a disturbance that destroys a community without destroying the soil |
Created by:
KellyKirvin
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