Understanding Sustainable Ecosystems

Trophic Levels

Primary Consumer

These organisms consume Producers

Secondary Consumer

These organisms consume Primary Consumers

Tertiary Consumer

These organisms consume Secondary Consumers

Trophic Efficiency

This explains how efficient energy is transferred from one tropic level, to the next

Herbivore

Herbivores are organisms that obtain all their energy from consuming plants

Carnivore

Carnivores are organisms that obtain their energy for consuming other animals

Omnivore

Omnivores are organisms that can obtain their energy from consuming both plants, and animals

Food Web

A system of interlocking and interdependent food chains.

Competition

When animals fight other animals for resources because there’s not enough for everyone.

Biome

These are very large communities of organisms that reside in certain areas/regions. Organisms may choose to reside in these ares due to the climate.

Community

Ecological communities are very similar to our own. This term often relates to 2 or more species occupying a given area

Population

Populations show the amount of one species currently residing in an area

Terrestrial

This type of ecosystem is only found on biomes. There are 6 of these ecosystems. tundra, taiga, temperate deciduous forest, tropical rain forest, grassland , deserts.

Hydrosphere

This is the total volume of water on, under the surface, above the surface, minor planet, or natural satellite

Aquatic

Aquatic is basically the relationship to water, meaning that if a plant or animal is aquatic it likely lives and thrives in water

Biosphere

Also known as the ecosphere, is the sum of all essentialed ecosystems worldwide

Biotic Factors

These are the living components of an ecosystem. They are sorted into three groups: producers or autotrophs, consumers or heterotrophs, and decomposers or detritivores.

Carrying Capacity

The amount of organisms an ecosystem can support

Sustainable

When something's able to be sustained at a certain level or rate.

Exponential Growth

When a growth rate becomes ever more rapid in proportion to the total growing size/number

Limiting Factors

Factors that when subject to even the smallest of changes, can lead to some undeniable change

Cellular respiration

The process of breaking sugar into a form that the cell can use as energy.

Energy

A quantitative property, that has the ability to transfer to an object. Energy can be something as simple as food

Photosynthesis

This is the manner in which plants get energy through sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water.

Nutrients

A substance that provides nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life.

Alien Species

These organisms are not native to the area they
currently reside in, This can lead to problems, such
as food shortages

Endangered

The population of these species are dwindling, thus
they may become extinct in the near future

Extinct

Species that are extinct simply don't exist anymore, there
are no population of these species left

Captive Breeding

This is the process of raising and maintaining animals
in controlled environments, such as zoos, and other
conservation facilities. These can allow endangered
species to continue to breed safely

Invasive Species

An invasive species is non native to an area and is likely to cause environmental harm to an area.

Predation

The act of an animal preying on another animal

Habitat

the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.

Habitat Loss

Leading to loss of habitat. hings such as urban sprawl, and
pollution are leading to this

Atmosphere

The atmosphere is a layer of gasses that surrounds the earth

Stewardship

Making sure things are sustainable usually involving conversations.

Extirpated

To be rooted out and destroyed completely

Succession

A number of people or things sharing a specified characteristic and following one after the other

Abiotic Factor

phenomenon that affect the environment but are not alive rain wind snow sleet.

Bioremediation

To use naturally or man induced microorganisms to break down pollutants in an polluted site and rehabilitate it.

Overexploitation

This explains the harvesting of wild species faster than the population can recover.

Reforestation

The restocking of existing woodlands and forests, whether this be from natural, or intentional restocking

Symbiosis

Interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association.

Mutualism

Symbiosis beneficial to both animals involved.

Parasitism

living as a parasite where One party (the parasite) benefits from the second animal while making the second animal feel physical discomfort

Commensalism

Symbiosis when two different organisms neither gain or lose from each other.

Predatation

An animal preying On another animal.

Niche

A niche is the job of an organism .

Bioaccumulation

When an organism accumulates chemicals,
such as pesticides

Biotic Factors

are the living components of an ecosystem. They are sorted into three groups: producers or autotrophs, consumers or heterotrophs, and decomposers or detritivores.

Biomagnification

Concentrations of toxins in organisms, which comes as a result when these organisms ingest other plants or animals, in which toxins are more widely dispersed

Competition

when animals fight other animals for resources because there’s not enough for everyone.

Biocontrol

The method of controlling pest organisms, such as insects and weeds, by using other organisms