Home > Flashcards > Biology > Ch.17-20

Details Title: Ch.17-20 Description: Biomes, population , food chain Total Flash Cards: 34 Created: 05/10/2004 14:51:12	To study from this set of flash cards, or to create your own your own study flash cards, register HERE. If you are already a registered user, CLICK HERE.
Cards Term Predation Definition An interaction between species in which one specie, the predator, eats the other, the prey Term Competition Definition More than one organism tries to use a resource at the same time in the same place Term Symbiosis Definition Relationship in which two species live closely together Term Parasitism Definition One organism benefits at the expense of the other, which is harmed in the process Term Mutualism Definition benefits both partners Term Commensalinsm Definition One species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed Term Ecosystem Definition All the organisms in a given area , along with the nonliving (abiotic) factors with which they interact; a biological community and its physical environment Term Biotic factor Definition a living component (organism) of a biological community Term Abiotic factor Definition a nonliving component of an ecosystem, such as air, water, or temperature Term Niche Definition A populations role in its community; the sum total population's use of the biotic and abiotic resources of its habitat Term Biome Definition A major type of ecosystem that covers a large geographic region Term Exponential growth model Definition A mathematical description of idealized, unregulated population growth Term Predator- Prey Definition Consumer/-organisms eaten by a predator Term Ecology Definition scientific study of how organsims interact with their environment Term Density - Dependent factor Definition A population - limiting factor whose effects intenify as the poulation increases in size- increased death rate Term Density -independent factor Definition A population limiting factor whose occurence and effects are not affected by population density.-- freeze in the fall Term Terrestrial biomes Definition Savanna Desert Tundra Temperate grassland Tropical Forest Chaparral Tempertae deciduous forest coniferous forest Polar ice Term Two types of water biomes Definition freshwater and marine Term Marine biomes Definition estuaries Coral reefs open ocean seas Term Freshwater Biomes Definition Lakes Ponds Rivers Streams Term Four characteristics of a population Definition growth rate density geographic location age Term Three factors that affect population size Definition growth rate death rate birth rate Term Conditions that are necessary for a population to have EXPONENTIAL GROWTH Definition no limits and unlimited resources Term Conditions that will cause a population to have a logistic growth Definition limits on growth and limited resources Term Why does the number of individuals in an exponentially growing population increase more rapidly over time ? Definition growth is constant Term Trophic pyramid Definition Trophic pyramids are used by scientists to model the flow of energy and organic matter through ecosystems. In most ecosystems, the amount of energy and matter found in each successive trophic level decreases in quantity. This observation is related to assimilation efficiencies and the fact that many organisms have defense mechanisms to reduce the chance of being consumed. Term Carbon cycle Definition Term phosphorus cycle Definition The phosphorus cycle occurs when phosphorus moves from land to sediments in the seas and then back to land again. The main storage for phosphorus is in the earths crust. On land phosphorus is usually found in the form of phosphates. By the process of weathering and erosion phosphates enter rivers and streams that transport them to the ocean. Once in the ocean the phosphorus accumulates on continental shelves in the form of insoluble deposits. After millions of years, the crustal plates rise from the sea floor and expose the phosphates on land. After more time, weathering will release them from rock and the cycle's geochemical phase begins again. Term phosphorus cycle Definition Term Nitrogen cycle Definition n most ecosystems nitrogen is primarily stored in living and dead organic matter. This organic nitrogen is converted into inorganic forms when it re-enters the biogeochemical cycle via decomposition. Decomposers, found in the upper soil layer, chemically modify the nitrogen found in organic matter from ammonia (NH3 ) to ammonium salts (NH4+ ). This process is known as mineralization and it is carried out by a variety of bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi. Term Nitrogen cycle Definition Term The Pyramid of Energy Definition Term The Pyramid of Biomass Definition Term Pyramid of numbers Definition