Introduction to Ecosystems (College Board AP® Environmental Science): Flashcards
0Still learning
Know0
Define ecosystem.
Was this flashcard helpful?
Cards in this collection (19)
Define ecosystem.
An ecosystem is a community of living organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system within a specific area.
What are the abiotic components of an ecosystem?
The abiotic components of an ecosystem are its non-living parts, such as soil, water, air, sunlight, temperature, humidity, and minerals.
Define population.
A population is a group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time.
What must organisms be able to do to belong to the same species?
Organisms of the same species can interbreed to produce fertile offspring; this is the biological species concept.
Define community.
A community is all of the different populations of different species living and interacting in the same area at the same time.
Define niche.
A species' niche is its role within an ecosystem, including where it lives, how it gets its energy, and how it interacts with other species and its physical environment.
True or False?
Two species can share the same niche in an ecosystem indefinitely.
False.
Two species in the same niche compete for the same resources, so one out-competes the other; the losing species must move to a different niche or go extinct from that ecosystem.
Define habitat.
A habitat is the local environment in which an organism, species, population, or community normally lives.
How does an increase in prey numbers affect a predator population?
An increase in prey numbers causes the predator population to increase, because more food is available.
What effect do predator-prey cycles have on the two populations?
Predator-prey cycles limit the population sizes of both the predators and the prey.
Define symbiosis.
Symbiosis is a close and long-term interaction between two different species in an ecosystem.
True or False?
In commensalism, both species benefit from the interaction.
False.
In commensalism, one species benefits while the other is unaffected, for example barnacles attached to a whale.
Define mutualism.
Mutualism is a type of symbiosis in which both species benefit from the interaction.
In parasitism, the parasite benefits while the is harmed.
In parasitism, the parasite benefits while the host is harmed.
What is the difference between intraspecific and interspecific competition?
Intraspecific competition is between individuals of the same species, while interspecific competition is between individuals of different species.
Define resource partitioning.
Resource partitioning is the division of resources among species to reduce competition.
What is temporal partitioning?
Temporal partitioning is when species use the same resource at different times, such as nocturnal and diurnal animals hunting at separate times.
Three warbler species feeding at different heights in the same conifer trees is an example of partitioning.
Three warbler species feeding at different heights in the same conifer trees is an example of spatial partitioning.
What is morphological partitioning?
Morphological partitioning is when species evolve physical differences so they use resources differently, such as birds with different beak shapes feeding on different parts of the same plant.
Sign up to unlock flashcards
or