Intro to Eco
In what type of ecosystem can populations of plants, animals and other living organisms continue to interact and to reproduce indefinitely?
A sustainable ecosystem.
Which cycle does the combustion of fossil fuels most directly affect?
Carbon Cycle
_______________________ make their own food from photosynthesis or some other non-living energy source. They are always in the _____ trophic level.
autotrophs, 1st trophic level
This process occurs through a food pyramid. Toxins are passed up through the trophic levels, concentrating as they move into less and less organisms.
Biomagnification
This type of unsustainable growth occurs when reproduction is unlimited
Exponential growth
What term refers to the number of different types of organisms in an area?
Biodiversity
What cycle do bacteria and fungi (decomposers) play a major role in?
Nitrogen Cycle
These consumers rely on autotrophs directly for their source of energy and are always in the 2nd trophic level.
Primary consumers
This is the type of symbiotic relationship where one species benefits and the other has no harm or benefit.
commensalism
What kind of factors in the environment prevent a population from achieving its biotic potential.
Limiting Factors
These are the non-living factors in an ecosystem.
Abiotic Factors
The process by which atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is converted into organic nitrates by bacteria in the soil
Nitrogen fixation
These organisms do not consume organic matter directly, but secrete enzymes in the organic matter to break it down. Then they absorb the nutrients that are released.
Decomposers
Process in which one organism eats another organism to obtain food
Predation
List two types of biotic limiting factors
amount of food available
# and effectiveness of predators
# and strength of diseases
ability to compete for resources
A _______________________ is made up of populations of different species that live and interact in the same are area
community
The following equation represents what process of the carbon cycle:
Water + carbon dioxide + energy → oxygen gas + glucose
Organisms further up along the food pyramid have ________________ (larger/smaller) populations
smaller
This type of species is not native to a specific location (an introduced species) and has a tendency to damage the environment, human economy or human health.
Invasive Species
What is the largest population of a species that an environment can support?
Carrying capacity
List the 4 spheres of the Earth
Lithosphere (land)
atmosphere (air)
hydrosphere (water)
biosphere (life)
This process is performed by ALL organisms, even plants. It is the process in which glucose is broken down with the help of enzymes to produce energy, carbon dioxide and water.
Cellular Respiration
This type of organism feeds on both animals and plants
Omnivore
This is an interaction between two or more organisms trying to acquire the same resource in the same habitat.
Competition
What is the maximum number of offspring that a species could produce if resources were unlimited?
Biotic potential