BIO ECology

The study of living things in relation to each other and their non living environment

All the populations living and interacting in a given environment.

Any group of individuals of the same species living in a given area at the same time

The organisms that first populate a community

A self-sustaining dynamic community of organisms and their non-living environment.  It includes organisms, abiotic factors and energy flow.

A major ecological grouping of organisms on a broad geographical basis  Characterized by its climatic and soil conditions.  The predominant plants give the biome its name.  There are six major land biomes: o Tundra o Taiga o Temperate Deciduous Forest o Tropical Rain Forest o Grassland o Desert Tundra  Treeless region in the far north with permanently frozen subsoil (permafrost).  Plants – moss, lichen, small plants  Animals – polar bears, flies, birds Taiga  Northernmost forests below the tundra.  Plants – coniferous trees  Animals – moose, wolves, rodents, birds, insects

Treeless region in the far north with permanently frozen subsoil (permafrost).  Plants – moss, lichen, small plants  Animals – polar bears, flies, birds

Northernmost forests below the tundra.  Plants – coniferous trees  Animals – moose, wolves, rodents, birds, insects

Contains trees that shed leaves during cold winter and grow them during warm summer.  Plants – maple, oak, birch  Animals – deer, fox, squirrel

Region of high temperature and abundant rainfall located near the equator.  Richest terrestrial biome in terms of numbers of plants and animal species, especially birds, insects, vines

Less rainfall than deciduous forests and has few trees.  Plants – Grasses and small leafy plants  Animals – Grazing animals like bison

Land biome with the least amount of precipitation (less than 25 cm/year) with extreme temperature differences between night and day.  Plants – cactus, water-conserving plants  Animals - snakes, rodents

The part of the earth (soil, water, air) that contains living organisms.

Elements which are cycled between organisms and their environment.  Examples: Nitrogen, Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Phosphorus

An organism that can produce its own food from inorganic substances.  Example: plants, algae

An organism that feeds on other organisms or their products.

Plant eating animal.

Meat eating animal.

Animal that eats both plants and animals

A carnivore that kills animals to eat

An organism eaten by another organism

A carnivore that eats dead organisms that they did not kill.

Organism that breaks down dead organic material to obtain energy and raw materials for life.  Examples: saprophytic bacteria, fungi

An organism that obtains its energy and nutrition from once living organic matter.  Example: mold, mildew, mushroom, yeast