What is Ecology?
Energy, Producers & Consumers
Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Cycles of Matter
MISC
100
The study of interactions among organisms and between organisms & their environment.
ECOLOGY
100
Organisms that capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce "food", such as energy-storing carbohydrates
AUTOTROPHS (PRODUCERS)
100
A series of steps in which organism transfer energy by eating and being eaten
FOOD CHAIN
100
The repeated movement of water between Earth's surface and the atmosphere
HYDROLOGIC CYCLE
100
All life on Earth and the parts of Earth that support life
BIOSPHERE
200
A living part of the environment with which an organism might interact.
BIOTIC FACTOR
200
Process that captures light energy and uses it to produce energy-rich carbohydrates
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
200
The amount of energy available within one trophic level that is transfered to the next trophic level
10%
200
Nutrient cycle that occurs primarily underground with bacteria.
NITROGEN CYCLE
200
Organisms that feed on plant leaves, nuts, seeds, roots or fruits
HERBIVORES
300
A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area.
POPULATION
300
Process that uses chemical energy to produce carbohydrates
CHEMOSYNTHESIS
300
The organisms that make up the beginning of a food chain, and are always at the bottom of Ecological Pyramids
PRODUCERS (AUTOTROPHS)
300
A nutrient whose supply limits productivity
LIMITING NUTRIENT
300
An important nutrient because it helps form DNA and RNA
PHOSPHORUS
400
A group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms
BIOME
400
Organisms that rely on other organisms for energy & nutrients
HETEROTROPHS (CONSUMERS)
400
Shows the relative amount of energy available at each trophic level of a food chain or food web
PYRAMID OF ENERGY
400
Flows in one-direction, unlike matter which is recycled within and between ecosystems
ENERGY
400
Organisms that feed on detritus by chewing or grinding them
DETRITIVORES
500
Used to study ecological events that occur over long periods of time or large distances
MODELING
500
Organisms that "feed" by chemically breaking down organic matter into detritus
DECOMPOSERS
500
The total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level
BIOMASS
500
A part of the hydrologic cycle that is a biological process
TRANSPIRATION
500
The burning of fossil fuels and forests is a human activity that affects this.
CARBON CYCLE
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