Biology

Unit 8 Study Guide

General terms:
● Species = A group of living organisms capable of interbreeding
● Population = A number/group of individuals living in a particular region/area
● Community = A group of species within a particular area
● Ecosystem = A group of organisms and their (physical) environment
● Biome = A group of ecosystems with similar climates and species
○ Determined by temperature, climate, and other environmental factors
○ Chaparral biome
■ Latitudes 30-50º N / 30-50º S
■ Temperatures range from 30-100ºF
■ Precipitation ranges from 10-17 in./year, mostly during winter
● Abiotic = Non-living environmental factors
● Biotic = Living environmental factors
● Niche = The role of an organism in its community

● Biosphere = A planet grouped with all of its organisms/species and biomes (Earth)
Flow of Energy
● Heat energy from the sun is transferred to producers (lowest trophic level), then to the
consumers (next 3 trophic levels)
○ 10% of the original amount of energy is retained after each interaction
■ 100% to 10%, 10% to 1%, 1% to 0.1%, etc.
■ The other 90% is released as heat energy
● Food chain = Group of frequently-interacting species classified by dominance within
their ecosystem
● Food web = All of the overlapping food chains within an ecosystem
● Trophic level = Group of organisms in an ecosystem on the same level in their food chain

● Energy pyramid = Consists of 4 trophic levels

○ Producers/autotrophs: Responsible for the transfer of energy from the sun to
usable chemical energy for other organisms
■ Includes plants, trees, algae, bacteria, etc.
■ Converts energy from abiotic sources into energy stored in organic
compounds through photosynthesis
○ Consumers: Obtain energy by feeding on lower-level consumers or producers
■ Herbivores (2nd trophic level): Consumers that only feed on producers
 ■ Carnivores (3rd & 4th trophic levels): Consumers that only feed on other
consumers
■ Omnivores (2nd-4th trophic levels): Consumers that feed on both
producers and other consumers
○ Scavengers: Consumers that obtain energy by feeding on waste and dead
organisms
○ Decomposers: Microscopic consumers that decompose dead organisms
● Biomagnification = Accumulation of toxins throughout the trophic levels of a food chain
○ The concentration of toxins increases after each interaction between 2 organisms
Community Interactions
● Predation = Predator-prey interactions
○ Predators and prey limit each other’s population as a result of these interactions
■ Predation chain reaction: When predators feed on prey, the prey’s
population decreases – with a low supply of food, the predator’s
population decreases – with fewer predators, the prey’s population thrives
● Competition = When 2 individuals compete for the same resource in their environment
○ Interspecific competition = Competition for resources between 2 individuals of
the same species
○ Intraspecific competition = Competition for resources between 2 individuals of
different species
● Symbiosis = Long-lasting relationship between two organisms
○ Mutualism = Symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit
○ Commensalism = Symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the
other is neither benefited nor harmed
○ Parasitism = Symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other
is harmed

Population Growth
● Exponential growth = Occurs when resources are exceedingly plentiful
○ Creates a j-shaped growth curve
○ Usually unsustainable (for long periods)
● Logistic growth
○ Creates a S-shaped growth curve
○ Results in a stable population around its environment’s carrying capacity
● Carrying Capacity
○ Population size that is most suitable for a species’ environment
 ● Density-dependent factors = A factor that is affected by the population’s size/density
○ Harmful with a larger/more dense population
○ Examples: Predation, competition, disease, resource availability
● Density-independent factors = A factor that is not affected by the population’s
size/density
○ Examples: Human activities, natural disasters such as fires, floods, hurricanes,
and earthquakes

The Carbon Cycle

● Movement of carbon into and out of the atmosphere
○ Burning of fossil fuels
○ Decomposition of dead organisms
○ Plant and animal respiration