Ch 2: Ecosystems and Ecology

are quantitative models which are usually measured for a given area and time.

________ is the conversion of organic matter into carbon dioxide and water in all living organisations, releasing energy.

________: is a community and the physical environment it interact with.

________ or geometric growth: if no limiting factors are affecting or slowing down growth.

________: the process by which green plants make their food from water and carbon dioxide using energy from sunlight.

________: when one partner is helped and another is significantly harmed.

________: the study of how organisms interact with the environment.

________: relation between two species where everyone benefits and no one suffers.

________: make their own food from carbon dioxide and water using energy from sunlight.

________: when one animal (predator), eats another animal (prey)

________: the environment in which a species normally lives.

________: immigration (moving into the area), emigration (moving out of the area)

________: relationship between two species in which one species lives in or on another (host), gaining food from it.

________: make their own food from simple compounds.

A(n) ________ is the position that an organism occupies in a food chain, or a group of organisms in a community that occupy the same position in food chains.

________: a group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time, which are capable of interbreeding.

________ is a group of populations living and interacting with each other in a common habitat (same place)

________: feed on other consumers to get energy.

A(n) ________ describes the particular set of abiotic and biotic conditions and resources to which an organism or population responds.

A(n) ________ is the flow of energy from one organism to another.

________: a herbivore animal eating a green plant some plants may have defence mechanisms.

________: between members of the same species.

________: the study of the factors that cause changes to population sizes.

________: point where a plant is neither adding biomass nor using it to stay alive.

________: non- living physical factors that influence the organisms and ecosystems.

describes the actual conditions and resources in which a species exists due to biotic interactions

factors which slow down growth of a population as it reaches it carrying capacity

the study of the factors that cause changes to population sizes

between members of the same species

individuals of different species could be competing for the same resource

states that two species competing for the same resources cannot coexist

when one animal (predator), eats another animal (prey)

a herbivore animal eating a green plant some plants may have defence mechanisms

relationship between two species in which one species lives in or on another (host), gaining food from it

relation between two species where everyone benefits and no one suffers

when one partner is helped and another is significantly harmed

if no limiting factors are affecting or slowing down growth

starts with exponential growth, no limiting factors affect the growth

population grows exponentially at first then collapses → called diebacks

point where a plant is neither adding biomass nor using it to stay alive

make their own food from simple compounds

are quantitative models which are usually measured for a given area and time

shows the rate of flow of energy or biomass through each trophic level

conversion of energy into biomass over a given period of time. It is the rate of growth or biomass in plants and animals

total amount of something made as a result of an activity

amount left after deductions are made; what you have left, always lower than the gross amount

total gain in energy or biomass of an organism before any reductions

gain in energy or biomass that remains after deductions due to respiration

total gain in energy or biomass by green plants. It's the energy converted from light to chemical energy by photosynthesis in green plants

total gain in energy or biomass by green plants after allowing for losses to respiration.

the natural pathways by which essential elements of living matter are circulated

nitrifying bacteria in the soil which are able to convert ammonium to nitrates

denitrifying bacteria in waterlogged and anaerobic conditions

can measure the quantities of energy entering and leaving the animal or population

largest crop or catch that can be taken from the stock of a species without depleting the stock

is a collection of ecosystems sharing similar climatic conditions

part of the earth inhabited by organisms

change in community and ecosystem aking and environmental gradient due to changes in altitude, latitude, tidal level or distance from shore/coverage by water

process of creating life in an area where no life previously existed

when an established community is suddenly destroyed, an abridged version of succession starts

long life, slower growth, late maturity. Fewer large offspring, predator, high trophic level

short life, rapid growth, early maturity, prey, lower trophic level