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 Vocab
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Ecology | The study of interactions between organisms and their environment. |
| Biosphere | All regions of Earth where life exists; the global ecosystem. |
| Biome | A large geographic region defined by climate and characteristic plants and animals. |
| Population | A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area. |
| Biological community | All populations of different species living and interacting in an area. |
| Ecosystem | A biological community plus its abiotic environment. |
| Limiting factor | Any biotic or abiotic factor that restricts population growth. |
| Tolerance | The range of environmental conditions an organism can survive and reproduce in. |
| Habitat | The physical environment where an organism lives. |
| Niche | An organism’s role in its ecosystem, including how it uses resources and interacts with others. |
| Predation | An interaction in which one organism (predator) kills and consumes another (prey). |
| Symbiosis | A close, long-term relationship between two different species. |
| Mutualism | A symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit. |
| Commensalism | A symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits and the other is unaffected. |
| Parasitism | A symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits while the host is harmed. |
| Autotroph | An organism that produces its own food using sunlight or chemical energy (producer). |
| Heterotroph | An organism that must consume other organisms for energy (consumer). |
| Herbivore | A consumer that eats only plants. |
| Carnivore | A consumer that eats other animals. |
| Omnivore | A consumer that eats both plants and animals. |
| Detritivore | An organism that feeds on dead organic matter and waste. |
| Trophic level | A feeding position in a food chain or web. |
| Food chain | A linear pathway showing the transfer of energy through feeding relationships. |
| Food web | A network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem. |
| Biomass | The total mass of living organic matter at a given trophic level. |
| Matter | Anything that has mass and takes up space; recycled in ecosystems. |
| Community | All interacting populations of different species living in the same area. |
| Ecological succession | The gradual change in species composition of a community over time. |
| Primary succession | Succession that occurs on bare rock with no soil (e.g., after a volcanic eruption or glacier retreat). |
| Secondary succession | Succession that occurs after a disturbance where soil remains (e.g., fire, flood). |
| Climax community | A stable, mature community that undergoes little change unless disturbed. |
| Weather | Short-term atmospheric conditions at a specific time and place. |
| Climate | Long-term patterns of temperature and precipitation in a region. |
| Latitude | Distance north or south of the equator that affects climate and biome distribution. |
| Tundra | Very cold temps, low precipitation, permafrost soil. Plants are short with shallow roots. Animals have thick fur, fat layers, and migrate or hibernate. |
| Boreal forest (Taiga) | Cold winters, moderate precipitation, acidic nutrient-poor soil. Coniferous trees with waxy needles. Animals have thick fur and seasonal behaviors. |
| Temperate forest | Moderate temperatures, high precipitation, fertile soil. Deciduous trees shed leaves. Animals use camouflage, hibernation, or food storage. |
| Woodland (Chaparral) | Hot dry summers, mild wet winters, thin soil. Plants have waxy leaves and fire resistance. Animals are nocturnal and water-efficient. |
| Grassland | Warm summers, cold winters, moderate rainfall, rich soil. Grasses with deep roots. Animals are fast runners, grazers, and burrowers. |
| Desert | Extreme temperatures, very low precipitation, sandy or rocky soil. Plants store water and have spines. Animals are nocturnal and conserve water. |
| Tropical savanna | Warm year-round, seasonal rainfall, compact soil. Grasses with scattered trees. Animals migrate and graze; predators are fast. |
| Tropical dry forest | Warm temps, seasonal rain, fertile soil. Trees drop leaves in dry season. Animals adapt to seasonal food availability. |
| Tropical rain forest | Hot, wet year-round, nutrient-poor soil. Tall trees with drip tips and buttress roots. Animals are arboreal and highly specialized. |
| Wetlands | Water-saturated ecosystems that filter pollutants and reduce flooding. |
| Estuary | Where freshwater mixes with saltwater; highly productive and nutrient-rich. |
| Sediment | Loose particles of soil and organic material at the bottom of water bodies. |
| Plankton | Microscopic organisms that drift in water; base of aquatic food webs. |
| Littoral zone | Shallow, near-shore freshwater area with rooted plants. |
| Limnetic zone | Open, well-lit surface water away from shore in lakes. |
| Profundal zone | Deep freshwater zone with little light. |
| Photic zone | Upper ocean layer where sunlight allows photosynthesis. |
| Aphotic zone | Deep water with no sunlight. |
| Intertidal zone | Coastal area alternately exposed and submerged by tides. |
| Pelagic zone | Open ocean away from shore and bottom. |
| Benthic zone | Ocean floor ecosystem. |
| Abyssal zone | Extremely deep ocean with high pressure and low temperature |
| Scavenger | A consumer that specifically eats recently dead organisms (example: vulture) |
| population density | number of individuals per unit area or volume |
| dispersion | how individuals in a population are spaced out (clumped, uniform, random) |
| density‑independent factor | environmental factor that affects populations regardless of size (e.g., weather) |
| density‑dependent factor | factor whose effects increase as population size increases (e.g., competition) |
| population growth rate (PGR) | change in population size over time |
| emigration | movement of individuals out of a population |
| immigration | movement of individuals into a population |
| biological community | all interacting species living in the same area |
| carrying capacity | maximum population size an environment can support long‑term |
| demography | study of human population size, distribution, and trends |
| demographic transition | shift from high birth/death rates to low birth/death rates |
| zero population growth (ZPG) | when birth rate equals death rate |
| age structure | distribution of individuals among different age groups in a population |
| extinction | permanent disappearance of a species |
| biodiversity | variety of life in an area |
| genetic diversity | variation of genes within a species |
| species diversity | number and variety of species in an ecosystem |
| ecosystem diversity | variety of ecosystems within a region |
| background extinction | natural, gradual extinction rate over time |
| mass extinction | sudden, widespread loss of many species |
| natural resource | material or energy source from the environment |
| overexploitation | excessive use of species or resources |
| habitat fragmentation | breaking habitats into smaller, isolated pieces |
| edge effect | different conditions at habitat boundaries |
| biological magnification | increase in toxin concentration up the food chain |
| invasive species | non‑native species that disrupt ecosystems |
| renewable resource | resource that can replenish naturally over time |
| nonrenewable resource | resource that cannot be replaced within a human lifetime |
| sustainable use | using resources at a rate that allows long‑term availability |
| endemic | species found only in a specific geographic area |
| bioremediation | using organisms to clean up pollutants |
| Biogeochemical cycle | Movement of elements and nutrients through living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) parts of the environment via biological, chemical, and geological processes. |
| Biotic factors | Living components of an ecosystem. |
| Abiotic factors | Nonliving physical and chemical components of an environment. |
| Nutrient cycle | The recycling of essential elements needed for life through ecosystems. |
| Solvent | A substance that dissolves other substances. |
| Temperature buffer | Something that helps maintain a stable temperature. |
| Evaporation | Process where liquid water changes into water vapor due to heat energy. |
| Condensation | Process where water vapor cools and changes back into liquid water. |
| Precipitation | Water released from clouds that falls to Earth (rain, snow, sleet, hail). |
| Percolation | Movement of water through soil and porous rock layers. |
| Transpiration | Loss of water vapor from plant leaves through stomata. |
| Stomata | Tiny openings in plant leaves that allow gas exchange and water loss. |
| Groundwater | Water stored beneath Earth’s surface in soil and rock. |
| Aquifer | Underground reservoir that stores groundwater. |
| Surface runoff | Water that flows over land when soil cannot absorb more water. |
| Macromolecule | Large biological molecule such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, or nucleic acids. |
| Photosynthesis | Process where plants and algae use carbon dioxide, water, and light to produce glucose. |
| Aerobic cellular respiration | Process by which cells use oxygen to release energy from glucose. |
| Decomposer | Organism (such as bacteria or fungi) that breaks down dead matter and waste. |
| Fossilization | Long-term process that forms fossils and fossil fuels from dead organisms. |
| Combustion | Burning of a substance in oxygen that releases energy and produces carbon dioxide. |
| Nitrogen fixation | Conversion of nitrogen gas into ammonium ions by bacteria or lightning. |
| Ammonium ion (NH₄⁺) | Form of nitrogen produced during nitrogen fixation and decomposition. |
| Nitrification | Conversion of ammonium ions into nitrites and then nitrates by bacteria. |
| Nitrite (NO₂⁻) | Intermediate nitrogen compound formed during nitrification. |
| Nitrate (NO₃⁻) | Form of nitrogen that plants can absorb from soil. |
| Assimilation | Uptake and use of nutrients by organisms. |
| Ammonification | Conversion of organic nitrogen in waste or dead organisms into ammonium ions. |
| Denitrification | Conversion of nitrates back into nitrogen gas by bacteria in low-oxygen conditions. |
| Symbiotic bacteria | Bacteria living in close association with another organism where both benefit. |
| Limiting nutrient | Nutrient in short supply that restricts growth in an ecosystem. |
| Phosphate ion (PO₄³⁻) | Form of phosphorus that plants absorb from soil or water. |
| Weathering | Breakdown of rocks that releases minerals into soil and water. |
| Sedimentation | Process where particles settle and form layers that can become rock over time. |
| Uplift | Geological process that raises rock layers from beneath Earth’s surface. |
| Detritus | Dead organic material produced by decomposing organisms. |
Created by:
user-1962639