ECOSYSTEMS VOCAB

Levels of Organization Biosphere- Made of all the ecosystems on Earth Ecosystem-A collection of living things & the environment they live in Habitat-Natural, physical environment of an organism Organism-Any living system Populations-All individuals of a species in a given area Community-Consists of populations of different species that interact

Survival of the Fittest Adaptations-Any characteristic of an organism that makes it better able to live in its habitat Evolution-Changes in hereditary features of a species over time Natural Selection-Darwin’s theory of evolution States that organisms best adapted to their environment are more likely to survive & pass their traits to their offspring

Roles in the Ecosystem Producers-Organisms (green plants) that can make their own food by photosynthesis Consumers-Organisms that can’t their own food Decomposers-Break down the bodies of dead organisms

Herbivore-Eats plants Carnivore-Flesh-eating animals Omnivore-Eats plants & animals Predator-Feeding of 1 organism on another Prey-Food for larger organisms

Sun-Source of energy Photosynthesis-Process where plants use light energy to produce food CO2 + 2H2O + sunlight ---> O 2 + (C H2O)n + H2 O or... carbon dioxide + water + sunlight ---> oxygen + carbohydrate + water

Respiration-Process where organisms break down food to release energy Glucose + Oxygen = Carbon dioxide + Water + 36 ATP C6H12O6 + 6O2 = 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + 36 ATP

Abiotic Factors-Non-living factors in an ecosystem Limiting Factors-limit the amount of organisms an ecosystem can support Space, Food, Water, Disease Abiotic Factors-Non-living factors in an ecosystem Water, air temperature, amount of sunlight, nutrients Water-Respiration, photosynthesis, & digestion can only take place in the presence of water

Soil-Type of soil determines types of plants & organisms in that location Light & Temperature- Availability of sunlight major factor determining where green plants live

Biotic Factors-Living organisms in the environment Dichotomous Key- Examples: plants & animals Dichotomous Key- Classifies organisms using a detailed list of traits

Symbiotic Relationships Symbiosis-Any close relationship between 2 or more DIFFERENT species

Commensalism Commensalism-Benefits 1 species but does not harm or help the other Example-Anenomes & Clownfish

MUTUALISM Benefits both species

PARASITISM Benefits the parasite & harms the host