ecological organization & biomes
what is an abiotic factor
non living factor
define autotrophs
they are producers that make their own food
define symbiosis
is an interaction between individuals of different biological species
what are the three types of biogeochemcial cycles
carbon/oxygen , nitrogen , water
define succession
it is when the population or number of species change over time
what is an organism
one individual ex: lion
what do omnivores eat
plants and meat
what is commensalism
when one organism benefits and the other one is neither hared nor affected
define cellular respiration
consumers take in carbon dioxide and water to make glucose and oxygen
define primary succession
it occurs in an area never colonized. starts with bare rock
what are two types of biomes
terrestrial and aquatic
define heterotrophs
they are consumers that have to consume or eat others for energy
what is mutualism
when both organisms benefit
define nitrogen fixation
bacteria change N2 gas into nitrates and ammonia that can be used in plants
define secondary succession
occurs when an area was disturbed
what are the characteristics of grasslands
warm to hot summer, cold winters, fertile soil, grasses and herbs, farmland and prairie dog
10%
what are carrying capacities
the number of living things an ecosystem can support
define denitrification
bacteria converts nitrates to N2 gas to be released back into the environment
how does agricultural runoff/ eutrophication a danger to biodiversity
it causes algal blooms which eventually lead to a decrease in the oxygen content in water
what are the characteristics of a deciduous forest
4 distinct seasons, moderate precipitation, trees lose leaves, deer, rabbits and squirrels
define food web
it is a group of interconnected food chains
what are limiting factors
are physical or biological factors that can affect the growth or diversity of organisms within an ecosystem
define percolation
when water soaks into the ground and fills spaces in rocks and sand
what is the greenhouse effect
As radiation from the sun passes through the Earth’s atmosphere, some energy is absorbed by the Earth’s surface and converted into heat, while some energy is reflected back. The greenhouse gases trap that heat…keep the earth warm. But as the greenhouse gas layer increases, less heat returns to space, causing too much heat is trapped and the earth warms too much.