Biology Cards for exam

• All the interacting parts of a biological community and its environment.
• i.e.- Aquarium

• An ecosystem that is capable of withstanding pressure and giving support to a variety of organisms.
• i.e.- Ocean, Tropical Rainforest, Dessert.

• The term for the living parts of an ecosystem.
• i.e.- The plants and/or animals in the ecosystem.

• The term for the non-living parts of an ecosystem.
• i.e.- Rocks, dirt, water, etc.

• Th hard part of Earth's surface. (Yellow)
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• All the water found on Earth. (Dark Blue)
• i.e.- Lakes, oceans, ground water, etc. 
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• The layer of gases above Earth's surface. (Light Blue)
• i.e.- air, greenhouse gases, etc.
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• The regions of Earth where living organisms exist. 
• i.e.- Rainforest, ocean, etc.
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• Chemicals that are essential to living things and are recycled through the Earth.
• i.e.- Fat, protein, vitamins.

A process in which nutrient levels in aquatic ecosystems increase, leading to an increase in the populations of primary producers.

• A process that changes solar energy into chemical energy.
• (equation below is the equation for photosynthesis. Note: Water and light must be present for photosynthesis to happen)
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• A catergory of organisms that is defined by how the organisms gain their energy.
• i.e.- Tertiary consumers, producers, etc. (see full list in photo)
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The total mass of living organisms in a defined group or area.

• A measure of the amount of energy or biomass transferred from one trophic level to the next.
• i.e.- see diagram below
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A process in an organism ingests materials, especially toxins, faster than it eliminates them.

• A process in which the concentration of injected toxins increases from one trophic level to the next.
• i.e.- see diagram below
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A process that releases energy from organic molecules, especially carbohydrates, in the presence of oxygen.

A process that releases energy from organic molecules, especially carbohydrates, in the absence of oxygen.

Atmospheic gases that prevent heat from leaving the atmosphere, thus increasing the temperature of the atmosphere.

The warming of the Earth as a result of greenhouse gases, which trap some of the energy that would otherwise leave Earth.

Rain, snow, or fog that is unnatually acidic due to gases in the atmosphere that react with water to form acids.

All the individuals ofa species that occupy a particular geographic area at a certain time.

• Accelerating growth that produces a j-shaped curve when the population is graphed against time.
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A factor that limits the growth, distribution, or amount of population in an ecosystem.

• The size of a population that can be supported indefinitely by the available resources and services of an ecosystem.
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• The way in which an organism occupies a position in an ecosystem, including all the necessary biotic and abiotic factors.
• i.e.- ocean, tropical rainsforest, front lawn

• An organism that kills and consumes other organisms.
• i.e.- crocidile, stork, fisheagle

• An organism that is eaten as food by the predator.
• i.e.- hare, small fish 

• A symbiotic relationship between two species in which both species benifit from the relationship.
• i.e.- soft-shell turtle and a crocidile 

• An organism whose nicche is dependant on a close association with a larger host organism.
• i.e.- white tailed deer and a brainworm

• When two or more organisms compete for the same resource, in the same location at the same time.
• i.e.- lizard and a crocidile

Use that does not lead to long term depleation of a resource or affect the diversity of the ecosystem from which the resource is obtained.

The period of time that is required for a population to double in size

A measure of the impact of an individual or a population on the environment in terms of energy consumption, land use, and waste production.

A pattern of activity that leads to a decline in the function of an ecosystem.

Use of the Earth's resources, including land and water, at levels that can continue forever.

The benifits experienced by organisms, including humans, that are provided by sustainable ecosystems.

The change of non-desert land into desert, which may result from climate change or from unsustanable farming or water use.

A form of tourism that is sensitive to health of an ecosystem and involves recreational activities provided by sustainable ecosystems.

The number and variety of organisms found in a specific habitat

To legally guard from harm a species that is listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern

• A place where there is an exceptionally large number of species in a relatively small area
• 
• i.e.- tropical areas

All the populations of the different species that interact in a specific area or ecosystem

• A species that is so abundant that it has the biggest biomass of any community mmembers
• i.e - primary producers (needed in ecosystems)

• A species that can greatly affect population numbers and the health of an eecosystems.
• i.e. - classic keystone species would be small preditors preventing herbivores eliminating plants.

• The breeding of rare or endangered wildlife in controlled settings to increase ppopulations
• i.e. - seahorses are captive bred to increase population.

• A species that causes such a dramatic changes to landscapes that it creates a new eecosystems
• i.e. - beavers (streams into aquatic ecosystems)

The series of changes in ecosystems that occurs over time following a disturbance

The destruction of habitats, which usually results from human activities

The practice of clearing forests for logging or other human uses, and never replanting them

• A species that is accidentally or deliberately introduced to a new location, usually as a result of human activity
• i.e. - zebra mussels

• A species that can take over the habitat of native species or invade their bodies
• i.e. - kudzu (refer to picture below)
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The use or extraction if resources until it is depleted

The death of all individuals of a species

The current accelerated rate of extinctions on Earth

The renewal of degraded or destroyed ecosystems through active human intervention 

The regrowth of a forest, either through the planting of seeds or trees in an area where a forest was cut down

The use of a species to control the population growth or spread of an undesirable species

The use of living organisms to clean up contaminated areas naturally.

The use of organisms to add essential nutrients to depleted soils