Help
Options
Didn't know it?
click below
click below
Knew it?
click below
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
retry
shuffle
restart
0:00
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Ecology Vocabulary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| species | similar organisms capable of reproduction |
| speciation | genetic development of new species |
| population | a group of species living in a specific area |
| community | a group of species found together |
| ecosystem | a geographic area which sustains life |
| biome | a unique geographic area which contains life; determined by many factors such as temperature |
| habitat | a small geographic location where organisms live |
| niche | the role played by an organism in its community |
| mutualism | relationship between host and symbiote where neither are harmed |
| parasitism | relationship between host and symbiote where the symbiote benefits at the expense of the host |
| symbiosis | long term interaction between two seperate species |
| courtship | the behaviors made in an attempt to attract a mate for reproduction |
| competition | the conflict between two species and/or organisms over a certain lacking resource |
| host | an organism infected with a parasite or pathogen |
| predator | an organism which hunts and consumes another organism |
| prey | the organism hunted and/or consumed by the predator |
| pheromones | odorant emitted by an organism to alter another organisms behavior or physiology |
| eggs | the location an animal embryo develops |
| seeds | the location a plant embryo develops |
| spores | used by moss, ferns, and bacteria to reproduce |
| estivation | the dormancy during the summer to avoid harsh, dry conditions |
| pfiesteria | a genus of dinoflagellates, responsible for large algal blooms and skin lesions on fish in the southern US; microscopic |
| exponential growth | a gradual increase in the rate of growth |
| carrying capacity | the maximum number of organisms which can live in an area |
| habituation | repeated exposure to stimuli that results in an organism ceasing its response to said stimuli |
| imprinting | the attachment made by a newborn to its caretaker |
| innate behavior | a behavior that does not have to be learned |
| learned behavior | behavior learned through experiences |
| classical conditioning | the connection between one stimuli to a specific thing or event such as a dog connecting food with a bell |
| trial and error learning | learning through attempting and failing |
| abiotic factor | a non-living factor which shapes its environment |
| biotic factor | a living factor that shapes its environment |
| nitrogen fixation | a process where nitrogen is changed from its molecular stage to a compound stage for plants to utilize for nutrients |
| decomposition | the decay of dead tissue; returns nutrients back to the soil |
| photosynthesis | the process of turning light into glucose |
| cellular respiration | the process of using oxygen and glucose to produce water, carbo dioxide, and ATP |
| food chain | linear path of organism where one eats the other in a 'chain' |
| food web | a non-direct map which shows the many possible paths energy could go through |
| radiant energy | energy passed through electromagnetic waves, eg. light |
| producers/autotrophs | organisms that produce their own energy, eg. plants |
| consumers/heterotrophs | organisms that do not produce their own energy, eg. animals |
| decomposer | organisms that carry out decomposition |
| biomass | the weight/total quantity of living organisms within a specific species |
| energy pyramid | a pyramid which depicts the percentage of energy passed to the following trophic level |
| trophic levels | the separate levels found on an energy pyramid, eg. producers, primary consumers, and secondary consumers |
| biodiversity | the variety of species within a specific area |
| active immunity | exposure to a disease activating antibodies to fight against it |
| passive immunity | when antibodies are given and not required by the body to be produced |
| vaccines | biological agents which activate an immune response to produce antibodies |
| acid rain | any form of precipitation which has acidic components, eg. sulfuric acid |
| greenhouse effect | when specific gases trap heat, causing the atmospheric temperature to rise |
| habitat destruction | the destruction or altering of specific necessities for survival, eg. cutting down trees causing a lack of shelter for birds |
| waste lagoons | a natural basin where organic waste is decomposed |
| climate change | the gradual change of a general climate, eg. heating up or cooling down |
| global warming | the gradual rise of global temperatures |
| deforestation | the large removal of forests and trees |
| pesticides | chemical substances designed to kill pests |
| bioaccumulation | an increase in chemical concentration within an organism over time |
| fossil fuels | fuels derived from fossilized plants and animals |
| urbanization | the concentration of large human populations within a certain area |
| ozone layer | a high concentration of ozone found 15-30k in the air within the stratosphere |
| CFC's | chlorofluorocarbons: a chemical which decays ozone; decays the ozone layer |
Created by:
John_P
Popular Biology sets