Vocab
Study of how organisms interact with each other and the environment....
What is "Ecology"
"feeding level"
What is "trophic level"
Which trophic level has the MOST energy?
What is "the first level" or "the producers"
__________ are important components of an ecosystem because they recycle organic matter
What is "bacteria"
When organisms reach a stable population size which remains steady for some time, this is called the ___________
What is "carrying capacity"
A relationship between two organisms of different species where one benefits and the other is harmed
What is "parasitism"
organism that captures sunlight and converts it into energy
What is "autotroph" or "producer"
All the whitetail deer living in Indiana would be an example of a ____________
What is "population"
Why are bacteria so important to the Nitrogen cycle?
What is "they are the only organisms which can use atmospheric nitrogen"
the process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time
What is "ecological succession"
physical, or nonliving (never living), factor that shapes an ecosystem
What is "abiotic"
diagram shows COMPLEX FEEDING RELATIONSHIPS between organisms as a series of interrelated food chains
What is "food web"
A relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected
What is "commensalism"
If trees are removed from an ecosystem, the first impact in the carbon cycle would be a(n) increase or decrease in the use of atmospheric CO2
What is "decrease"
Invasive species can do so much damage to an environment because they have no natural _________ in their new environment
What is "predators"
organism that obtains energy from the foods it consumes; also called a consumer
What is "heterotroph"
diagram that represents the amount of ENERGY available at each feeding level within an ecosystem
What is "energy pyramid" or "food pyramid"
All the energy in any ecosystem ultimately comes from this.
What is "the sun"
In the carbon cycle, what two processes are the exact opposite chemical reactions of each other?
What is "photosynthesis and cellular respiration"
The nutrient cycle we studied which is being most impacted by modern man and the burning of fossil fuels
What is "carbon cycle"
the first species in a new, developing ecosystem (first species in ecological succession)
What is "pioneer species"
organism in a food web that EFFECTS MANY OTHER SPECIES and if removed from the ecosystem may result in the ecosystem collapsing
What is "keystone species"
Honeybees and flowers are an example of what type of symbiotic relationship?
What is "mutualism"
Contrast how energy moves through and ecosystem versus how nutrients move through an ecosystem....
What is "energy flow is one way, nutrients are recycled"