Principles of Ecology — Flashcards

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The term 'ecology' was coined by German scientist Ernst Haeckel in 1866.

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Ecology is the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and their environment. It comes from the Greek words 'oikos' (household) and 'logos' (study), meaning the study of organisms in th…

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The two main components are: (1) Abiotic components – non-living factors like light, temperature, water, soil, and gases; (2) Biotic components – living organisms such as plants, animals, and microorg…

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Physical abiotic factors include sunlight, temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind, atmospheric pressure, and soil structure. These influence the survival and distribution of organisms.

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Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus are essential inorganic substances. They form part of biomolecules like proteins, nucleic acids, and ATP, and are recycled through biogeochemical cycles.

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Organic components are complex molecules like carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and humic acids. They are formed from dead and decaying matter and are partially dissolved in water or settle as sediment…

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Producers (autotrophs) make their own food using sunlight—e.g., green plants. Consumers (heterotrophs) depend on others for food—e.g., deer, lions. Decomposers break down dead matter—e.g., bacteria, f…

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Plants are autotrophs because they synthesize their own food using sunlight, CO₂, and water. Animals are heterotrophs because they cannot make their own food and must consume other organisms for energ…